Archive for December, 2025

1.International Workshop “(Re)Thinking the Role of Religion in Social and Humanitarian Action: Preaching in a Transnational Approach – Middle East (19th – 21st Centuries)”, Centre Marc Bloch, Berlin, 18-19 June 2026

This workshop seeks to explore the links between preaching and socio-humanitarian action in the contemporary Middle East. The chosen approach is deliberately cross-cutting: it brings Islam, Judaism, and Christianity into dia-logue, while situating the Middle East within a global perspective.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 February 2026. Information: Contact anr.predicmo@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Call for papers: Ruins and Memory in the Muslim World: Typologies and Motifs (622-1800 CE, Leiden University, 14-16 September, 2026

Muslims interacted with the remains of pre-Islamic history present in their contemporary landscapes, and how the physical ruins of the pre-Islamic past were visualised, imagined and put to use in historical, theological and other literary contexts, and in material formats too.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 February 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/9wejc3ej

 

 

 

 

 

3. Interdisciplinary Summer Academy: “Reading the City: Epigraphy and Space in Istanbul in Ancient, Byzantine, and Ottoman Times”, Orient-Institut Istanbul, 21-27 September 2026

This interdisciplinary Summer Academy invites advanced MA students, doctoral candidates, and early postdoctoral researchers to explore the role of epigraphy in shaping Istanbul’s urban, sacred, and imperial spaces across antiquity, the Byzantine era, and the Ottoman period.

Through seminars and field excursions, participants will engage directly with epigraphic monuments – from palatial gates to Bosporus shorelines – while discussing their spatial, performative, and material dimensions. The Academy encourages interdisciplinary dialogue bridging philology, history, and art history in a collaborative and inspiring environment.

Deadline for applications: 3 January 2026. Information: https://oiist.org/call-for-applications-reading-the-city/

 

 

 

 

 

4. Riwaq Book Prize / Call for Nominations – Deadline: 31 January 2026

Nominations of Outstanding Recent Monographs in Arabic Studies, Islamic Studies, and Related Middle Eastern Studies Invited for the „Riwaq Prize for Research and Culture“ by “The Divan – Arab Cultural Centre” (Berlin) and the “Orient-Institut Beirut (OIB)”

The prize is awarded in three language categories (Arabic, English, German). Monographs in the fields of philosophy, history and cultural studies, art and architecture, literature, linguistics, and translation studies published in their original language between 1 January 2022, and 31 January 2026, are eligible for nomination.

Deadline for nominations: 31 January 2026. Information: https://riwaqbookprize.com/en/

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Call for Book Chapters on “Watery Worlds: Decolonial Ecologies and the Mediterranean”,

Watery Worlds positions the Mediterranean as an environment where ecological volatility, colonial history, and decolonial futures intersect. By placing literary and cultural texts in dialogue with environmental humanities and blue humanities frameworks, the volume aims to illuminate the world-making capacities of water – how its flows, depths, and absences shape modes of belonging and unbelonging, practices of remembrance, and evolving imaginaries of place.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/mr3yedcb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. CFP: Conveying Meaning through Iconic Visual Languages: Theory, Practice, and Didactics – A interdisciplinary Exchange

https://networks.h-net.org/group/announcements/20134475/cfp-conveying-meaning-through-iconic-visual-languages-theory-practice

1-3 July, 2026; abstracts: 5 January, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Persian Language & Cultural Immersion Summer School | Yerevan | 2026
Applications are now open for the 2026 Persian Language & Cultural Immersion Summer School organized by ASPIRANTUM in Yerevan, Armenia — a unique opportunity to combine intensive Persian study with exceptional cultural immersion.
Apply here:https://aspirantum.com/courses/persian-language-summer-school

Testimonials from ASPIRANTUM’s Persian language program alumni are available here: https://aspirantum.com/testimonials

Participants may choose a 6–10 week program (120–200 hours) starting on June 21, 2026. Classes are offered at beginner, elementary, and intermediate levels and include 4 hours of daily instruction focused on grammar, reading, speaking, writing, listening, and vocabulary.
Alongside rigorous language training, the program features a rich calendar of cultural events and trips, fully included in the participation fee:

• Garni Temple & Geghard Monastery excursion
• Aragats Mountain, Amberd Fortress & Yezidi tent visit
• Ejmiatsin, Yezidi Temple & medieval mausoleum tour
• Khor Virap, Noravank & Areni-1 Cave (world’s oldest winery)
• Lake Sevan day trip
• Celebration evenings, certificate ceremonies, and welcome/farewell events
• Optional activities: khachkar carving workshop, Armenian brandy tasting, culinary evening, Matenadaran visit, Blue Mosque visit, and more.

Deadlines:
Early Discount: February 25, 2026
Regular Application: May 21, 2026
Apply here: https://aspirantum.com/courses/persian-language-summer-school
For questions, contact khachik@aspirantum.com or WhatsApp: +37491557978

 

 

 

 

 

8. University of South Carolina – Instructor Modern Middle East Studies
https://networks.h-net.org/jobs/69570/university-south-carolina-instructor-modern-middle-east-studies

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. “Ḥabīb al-ḥaqq’sMiftāḥ al-ḥuqūq: A Persian Treatise on the Qurʾān and the Bible by a Catholic Missionary in the Persianate World,” in:Mission Studies 42 (2025) Issue 3: Special Issue: Indo-Persian Missions and Their Interreligious Challenge, 426–450.

D Halft,

https://brill.com/view/journals/mist/42/3/article-p426_7.xml?ebody=Abstract%2FExcerpt

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. University of Massachusetts – Amherst – Assistant Professor – History of Art & Architecture (Islamic)

Closing date: Jan 2, 2026

https://networks.h-net.org/jobs/69569/university-massachusetts-amherst-assistant-professor-history-art-architecture

 

 

 

 

 

11. Online Study Opportunity – Exploring Christian Arabic Manuscripts

I am excited to offer a new online learning opportunity designed to help you build confidence in reading Christian Arabic manuscripts.

Starting on day one, 6 December 2025, at 7am UTC (UK time), I have uploaded the first manuscript excerpt (“An Episode in the War on Book Theft”). You have nearly two days to decipher, transcribe and translate it at your own pace. On day two at 7pm, I will upload my transcription and translation with explanatory notes so you can compare your work and deepen your understanding. On day three at 7am, the next excerpt will be released, followed on day four at 7pm by my annotated solution—and the cycle continues.

I will respond to questions in the comments section about each manuscript for seven days after uploading my transcription and translation of it. Throughout the course, I will also share practical strategies for deciphering manuscripts and point you to helpful resources.

You will encounter a rich mix of manuscript excerpts: some short and approachable, others longer and more challenging (up to a full page). The content will range from brief literary passages to sizable colophons and fascinating readers’ notes. The age and provenance of the manuscripts will similarly be varied, from Egypt to Iraq, from the ninth to the nineteenth century. One thing will remain constant: every piece will be genuinely exciting to explore.

This study opportunity is offered by subscription at £49 per month and will initially run as a five-week trial. If enough learners subscribe, the programme will continue until 6 June 2026 (confirmation will be given on 6 January 2026). For the duration of the trial, the back catalogue of manuscripts, transcriptions and translations will be accessible to those joining with delay until the end of the five-week trial period.

Click here to register and subscribe: https://buymeacoffee.com/krisztinaszilagyi

All manuscript images, transcriptions, translations and explanatory notes will appear on this website.

This programme is recommended for learners with at least an intermediate level of Arabic (Classical or Modern Standard). The stronger your Arabic, the quicker your progress will be!

Contact Information

Dr Krisztina Szilagyi

Contact Email

ks591@cam.ac.uk

URL

https://buymeacoffee.com/krisztinaszilagyi

1.The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is pleased to announce that we are accepting paper abstracts for the 16th annual Gulf Research Meeting (GRM), the annual academic conference highlighting critical issues of importance to the Gulf region and providing a basis for undertaking and engaging in academic and empirical research. GRM 2026 will take place in Cambridge (UK) from July 21-23, 2026.

1. GRM workshops cover a wide range of topics in the fields of politics, economics, environment, culture, energy, security, and the social sciences as they relate to the GCC states and the wider Gulf region.
   GRM 2026 Workshops:
   The Economic Architecture and Diplomacy of Climate Change in the Gulf: Financing the Transition
   Digital Media, Strategic Communication, and Soft Power in the Gulf: Public Diplomacy in a Transforming Region
   GCC-Sub-Saharan Africa Economic Relations: Energy, Mining, Infrastructure, and Food Security
   Overlapping Ambitions: State-Led Economic Diversification and Mounting Intra-GCC Competition
   Rational Agency and Uncertain Futures: AI’s Role in the Gulf Region
   Gulf–South Asia Relations in an Era of Deepening Interdependence
   Emerging Technologies and Defense Industrialization in the GCC: Navigating the Localization–Outsourcing Dilemma in the AI Era
   The GCC–EU Economic Bilateral Partnership: Strategic Opportunities and Economic Diplomacy
   Gulf Gas Strategies
   Mobilizing Diasporas and Gulf Private Investors for the Reconstruction and Development of Syria and Lebanon
   The GCC and Infrastructure Connectivity in the Changing Geopolitical and Geoeconomic Landscape
   Humanitarian Diplomacy and Mediation in the Gulf: Pathways to Regional Stability
   We welcome applications from both established academics/scholars as well as young and emerging researchers.
   For the descriptions of workshops and other information: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfresearchmeeting.net%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C559a36a888c1491bef5508de319f257e%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C639002756754863676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=G1m7db5EDgOTcxAnXz3s%2F%2F%2F3h5eUVSefd80q6pXpEis%3D&reserved=0.
   You are strongly invited to read the Participants Guidelines: https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfresearchmeeting.net%2Fw%2FGRM2026-ParticipantsGuidelines-Updated-2025-11-18.pdf&data=05%7C02%7C%7C559a36a888c1491bef5508de319f257e%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C639002756754893326%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QAIJBDJYSoNEFvf%2B6zI7MEFtFtPpobbUkU2s6cr1aPY%3D&reserved=0
   The GRM 2026 poster can be downloaded here<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfresearchmeeting.net%2Fw%2FGRM2026-CallPaperPoster.pdf&data=05%7C02%7C%7C559a36a888c1491bef5508de319f257e%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C639002756754911032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RinJGGr30K6A5DwiPn29Ea51vH0ai7j5KIma%2Bn%2BauG4%3D&reserved=0>.
   The deadline for applications is January 5, 2026.
   Applications should be submitted at:
   https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gulfresearchmeeting.net%2Fregister-paper-user&data=05%7C02%7C%7C559a36a888c1491bef5508de319f257e%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C639002756754927691%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4bcB7nP0GX3Rwy4aVGaWg0w8WLq%2FiwcTSU%2Fezwe4YVU%3D&reserved=0
   For questions, please contact us at grm@grc.net<mailto:grm@grc.net>.
   We are looking forward to receiving your application and please send this announcement to colleagues in your network.
   Best regards,
   Gulf Research Center (GRC)

 

 

 

 

2. The Alwaleed Centre (University of Edinburgh) is hosting an online event on 11 December at 4pm reflecting on the devastating war in Sudan. All are welcome, and further details can be found below. To register for free CLICK HERE.

Sudan in Perspective: The Conflict, Its Drivers and the International Community

Thursday 11 December, 16.00-17.30 online via Zoom

Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a devastating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).  Both groups are backed by external actors whose competing interests have further intensified the humanitarian crisis on the ground. The RSF, which is armed and supplied by the United Arab Emirates, stands accused of genocide in Darfur. On the other hand, SAF, which has allied with the Islamist Movement in Sudan and receives support from several regional countries, has also been accused of committing atrocities and human rights violations. Despite the scale of atrocities, mainstream legacy media and the broader international community have largely remained bystanders, taking little meaningful action to name or sanction the warring parties and their supporters.

In this timely online conversation, will be joined by Hamid Khalafallah (University of Manchester), who will trace the genealogy of the current conflict in Sudan and shed light on the geopolitical entanglements that continue to fuel it, and Award-Nominated Journalist Mat Nashed, who will respond with reflections on covering Sudan. Chaired by Dr Mira Al Hussein (University of Edinburgh).

To register for free CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

 

3. From Closure to Sharing: Exploring Research Data on the

Heritage of Afghanistan and Neighbouring Territories

Second French–Italian Summer School

Paris, 15–19 June 2026

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

This summer school is primarily intended for PhD candidates and Master’s students in the

Humanities and Social Sciences working on Afghanistan or its neighbouring countries. The training will be led by domain specialists and/or digital humanities scholars.

Participants will be accommodated at the Maison des Chercheurs on Campus Condorcet

(Aubervilliers, metro line 12, Front Populaire, Paris). Accommodation, meals and local transport

during the summer school will be covered by the organisers.

Travel to Paris is the responsibility of the participants, who should seek support from their home

university or research lab. Financial aid may be granted under specific criteria.

Applications (in either English, French, or Italian) must be submitted by 31 December 2025 to:

ismeo@ismeo.eu , with cc to m.baldi@ismeo.eu  and claire.jeannet@inalco.fr .

For further information, contact the above.

 

 

 

 

4. Zahra Institute:

Final Speaker Series event of the year. Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 17, and join us for an insightful lecture by Janet Klein:

Topic: Violence and Security in Kurdistan in the Long Twentieth Century
Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern
Speaker: Janet Klein, University of Akron

👉 Register now by clicking here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/v-G52vs9TXamSgZhX9Jw4w#

For more details about this and other upcoming programs, see the attached flyer and visit our website: www.zahrainstitute.org.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Library of Congress Junior Fellow Program 2026 application open

The Library has opened the application for the 10-week Junior Fellow Summer Program 2026. The South Asian Collection will host one project. The application closes January 2. This is a paid, on-site program at the Library in Washington, DC. Undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates are welcome to apply. Applicants must be US citizens. Below are the project descriptions. Please share with any students you think might be interested.

See Junior Fellow website for more details and the application.

For additional information, please contact Charlotte Giles (chgi@loc.gov) or message us through Ask-a-Librarian at ask.loc.gov/asia.

Enhancing Accessibility to an Ephemeral South Asia

Valuable pieces of ephemera trace shifts in ideas, issues of importance, and the diversity of views in society at the time of their distribution. For this Asian Division onsite project, the Junior Fellow will enhance the discoverability and accessibility of the South Asian Pamphlet Collection and United States Information Agency (USIA) Pamphlet Collection. The first collection is organized by 150 themed subcollections, dating from 1904 to 1993. The onsite fellow will have the opportunity to identify and research these rare materials. The fellow must have at least an advanced-intermediate level of reading and writing in a minimum of one of these South Asian languages – Hindi, Urdu, and/or Bengali – with a strong preference for two or more.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Journées d’études sur l’Asie centrale 

Centrale Asie : (Re)penser une région dans l’espace et dans le temps

Le GIS Moyen-Orient et mondes musulmans (MOMM), l’INALCO, l’Institut français d’études sur l’Asie centrale (IFEAC), le Centre de recherche sur le Monde iranien (CeRMI) (UMR 8041, CNRS / Sorbonne Nouvelle / Inalco / EPHE) et le Centre de Recherche Europes-Eurasie-CREE (EA 4513, Inalco) vous invitent aux Journées d’études sur l’Asie centrale intitulées “Centrale Asie : (Re)penser une région dans l’espace et dans le temps”.

Cet événement est organisé avec le soutien d’Eur’Orbem (UMR 8224, CNRS / Sorbonne Université), de l’Institut d’études de droit public (IEDP) (EA 2715, Université Paris-Saclay), de ZooStan (IRL 2023, CNRS / Université Al-Farabi) et de l’ANR Ceremoniac.”

Dates et lieu de l’événement

Jeudi 11 et vendredi 12 décembre 2025 (09h00-18h00)

INALCO – Maison de la Recherche (2, rue de Lille – Paris 7e) – Auditorium Dumézil

Information et programme

Sur le site web du CeRMI : https://cermi.cnrs.fr/centrale-asie-repenser-une-region-dans-lespace-et-dans-le-temps/

Sur site web de l’Inalco : https://www.inalco.fr/evenements/centrale-asie-repenser-une-region-dans-lespace-et-dans-le-temps

 

 

7. UCLA: the Pourdavoud Institute

Legacies of Ancient Persia: New Episode Available

Episode 33 features Dr. Olga M. Davidson, a research fellow with the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations at Boston University, who joins Lexie as she recounts her serendipitous steps towards specializing in Persian epic literature, particularly the Shahnameh, and its comparative significance alongside Greek classics, the rich cross-cultural connections that shape her research, the importance of the Shahnameh, and her ongoing projects, her views on the current state of Persian studies in academia and the potential for greater inclusion in high school curricula.

Olga M. Davidson earned her Ph.D. in 1983 from Princeton University in Near Eastern Studies. She started her teaching career with a series of yearly appointments as lecturer, and then in 1992 she became an Assistant Professor at Brandeis University; from 2000 to 2005, she continued there as an Associate Professor. Meanwhile, from 1986 to 1991, she was Faculty Dean of Currier House, Harvard College. During her years as professor at Brandeis, she organized the creation of a Concentration in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, and she served as the chair of that concentration from 1992 until 1997. A course she regularly taught at Brandeis was “The Woman’s Voice in the Muslim World.” In 2007-2008 she was Visiting Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Comparative Literature, at Boston University and, starting in 2009, she has been affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations at Boston University, as Research Fellow. Since 1999, she has been Chair of the Board, Ilex Foundation.

https://linktr.ee/legaciesofancientpersia

 

 

 

 

 

8. International and Interdisciplinary Conference “Philosophy and Poetry in Islamic Contexts”, University of Erlangen, 14-17 January 2026

The conference explores the diverse interrelations between philosophical thought and poetic expression in Islamic cultures, ranging from the reception of Greek philosophy to modern poetic forms and aesthetic discourses. The contributions address various historical periods, geographical regions, and literary traditions, with particular focus on philosophical theories of poetry, poetic forms of philosophical expression, and dialogues between poets and philosophers.

Deadline for registration: 7 January 2026. Information and program: https://tinyurl.com/f727and3

 

 

 

 

 

9. Appel à communication : Résistances et solidarités transnationales avec les artistes et intellectuel·les de Turquie (depuis 1980)” Inalco, 20 mars 2026

Axes et problématiques : Les réseaux de solidarité. – La censure et l’autocensure. – Les stratégies de resistance. – Les mythes du procès, de la prison et de l’exil. – La question du genre. – La dimension géographique. – Les approches comparatistes.

Date limite : 15 décembre 2025. Information : https://tinyurl.com/bd7sfeau

 

 

 

 

 

10. Mediterranean Seminar Workshop “Food and Foodways across the Mediterranean World”, University of Oregon, Eugene, 22-23 May 2026

Papers will deal with any aspect of the production, distribution, consumption or representation of food and foodways in the Mediterranean world from Antiquity to the present, whether literal or metaphorical, historical or imagined, as seen from disciplinary perspectives as diverse economic, social, cultural, or political history, literature, history of philosophy, history of science and medicine, art and art history, musicology, anthropology or any related humanities and social science disciplines.

Deadline for workshop proposals: 15 February 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/5hy45sr9

 

 

 

 

 

11. Conference “Counter-Islamophobia: History, Theory, and Praxis”, International Islamophobia Stu-dies Research Association, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22-24 May 2026

Proposed themes: Interdisciplinary or comparative approaches to counter-Islamophobia praxis. – Empirical Case Studies and Best Practices of counter-Islamophobia. – Historical and archival work that traces structures, logics, or resistance to Islamophobia. – Theoretical interventions that reframe or expand the scope of Islamophobia Studies. – Regional studies, especially from the Global Majority.

Deadline for abstracts: 15 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/3ha7zt5p

 

 

 

 

12. CfP: Ottoman Slaveries and Typologies of Unfreedom, Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS), University of Bonn, 24-26 June 2026

The conference explores how different configurations of slavery and dependency shaped, enabled, or constrained the agency of enslaved individuals. Rather than viewing agency as the antithesis of domination, we aim to examine it as a relational and context-dependent capacity – one that emerged within, and was shaped by, the very structures of asymmetrical dependency that defined Ottoman slavery.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 December 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/nhesftxp

 

 

 

 

 

13. “Meeting of Graduate Students in Islamic Art, Architecture, or Archaeology” at the “21st Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society”, University of Frankfurt, 2 July 2026

The graduate meeting will consist of papers given by graduate students based on their current research. Any topic relating to Islamic Art and Architecture or Islamic Archaeology is welcome.

Deadline for abstracts: 15 December 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/ed78jypu

 

 

 

 

 

14. 12 Fellowships and Awards of the “W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research (AIAR)”, 2026-2027

AIAR supports an annual Fellows program that brings US, Israeli, Palestinian and other international scholars together in the shared pursuit of research excellence. Applications are open to students and scholars of the humanities and social sciences studying any aspect of cultural development in the southern Levant from deep prehistory to the Early Modern period.

Extended deadline for applications: 19 December 2025. Information: https://aiar.org/fellowships

 

 

 

 

 

15. Call for Articles for the “The Middle East & North Africa Journal on Violence and Extremism”

MENAVEX is a biannual, peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to advancing critical research and dialogue on violence, extremism, and their global implications. It serves as a multidisciplinary platform where scholars, practitioners, and policymakers exchange innovative insights and evidence-based analyses

Deadline for articles: 15 December 2025. Information: https://tinyurl.com/ckfjty2e

 

 

 

 

16. New books:

 

“Gateway to the Mediterranean: An Environmental History of Late Ottoman Izmir” by Onur Inal, Cambridge University Press

Information and content: https://tinyurl.com/mpjswrza

 

Open Access Issue of “Anthropology of the Middle East”:

This is a special issue entitled, “Middle Eastern Migrants in East Asia: Navigation of Identity, Religion and Belonging.”

Content and online articles: https://tinyurl.com/3u2tew46

 

 

Launch of the TRANSLAPT Book Series: “Empires in Translation: Intersections of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish in the Eastern Mediterranean

This series is dedicated to exploring the vital roles of translation, language, and cultural exchange in shaping the history of the early modern Eastern Mediterranean. The series will highlight the complex dynamics of interaction among Arabic, Persian, and Turkish traditions. The first volume, a monograph by Philip Bockholt titled “Türkische Übersetzungen aus dem Arabischen und Persischen: Akteure, Adaption und Rezeption in der Frühen Neuzeit”, is scheduled for publication in spring 2026.

Information: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/serial/eit-b/html

 

Hikmat International Institute:

‘It is with deep sorrow that we received the news of the passing of Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina [3 December, 2025]. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, students, and all those whose lives were touched by his scholarship and character. May God grant him forgiveness, mercy, and everlasting peace.
Dr. Sachedina was a distinguished scholar whose contributions to Islamic thought—particularly in Shi‘i theology—continue to influence and inspire. We at the Hikmat International Institute were honored to host him as an instructor during our 2021 International Intensive Academic Course on Shi‘i Studies, where he delivered an insightful and memorable session on “Doctrine of Imam Mahdi and the Occultation.”
In honor of his legacy, and so that students, researchers, and all those interested in academic Islamic studies may benefit from his work, we are making this session available to the public. The lecture can now be viewed on the official YouTube channel of the Hikmat International Institute.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HABa778NB3U

See also: https://x.com/themaydan/status/1996370470091018395

The Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies, a biannual peer-reviewed journal indexed by Project MUSE, invites submissions on all aspects of Shi‘i studies. Topics include but are not limited to Shi‘ism and:

• The Qur’an and hadith
• History
• Ritual practice and material culture
• Literature
• The ḥawzah
• Islamic law
• Philosophy
• Spirituality
• Contemporary issues

Submissions may be emailed to to jsis@islamic-college.ac.uk.

More information is available at: https://islamic-college.ac.uk/research-publications/journal-of-shia-islamic-studies/

Warmest wishes,

Amina Inloes

Managing editor

Journal of Shi ‘a Islamic Studies

Monthly Talk: The Beginnings of Modern Shiʿism

1. CfP: The Bible in Middle Eastern Manuscript Traditions

University of Rome  Rome Tor Vergata, 22-24 April 2026

The workshop seeks to highlight the diverse scribal practices, transmission histories, and cultural interpretations that have shaped the reception of the Bible across the region.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/yt59eh64

 

 

 

 

 

2. Up to five Postdoctoral Researchers (f/m/d)

Full-time (TV-L E13) | three years

in Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”, (1 April 2026)

The Cluster of Excellence “Transforming Human Rights”, based at

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), addresses

fundamental questions about the potential and limits of human rights

in the context of several major worldwide transformation processes.

The Cluster’s Postdoc program is unique both in content and scope

providing an exceptional environment to unite outstanding talents and

to prepare them for human rights careers in academia and praxis. For

more information, see: https://www.humanrights.fau.eu/research-chren/exc-transforming-hr

Deadline for applications: 5 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/462wh5ns

 

 

 

 

 

3. Neues Buch: “Die Edelvögel der Fürsten von Hama – _Die Futuwwah-Jagd in Syrien, 12. bis 17. Jahrhundert” von Thomas Bauer, Ergon Verlag, 488 S.

Information und Einleitung: https://tinyurl.com/39e5bekc

 

 

 

 

 

4. New Book “The Damascus Events – The 1860 Massacre and the Destruction of the Old Ottoman World” by Eugene Rogan, Penguin, 416 pages

This remarkable book recreates one of the watershed moments in the history of the Middle East: the ferocious outbreaks of disorder across the Levant in 1860 which resulted in the massacre of thousands of Christians in Damascus. Eugene Rogan brilliantly recreates the lost world of the Middle East under Ottoman rule.

Information and Introduction: https://tinyurl.com/43tvx88y

 

 

 

 

 

5. New Book “Disability in the Arab World – Interdisciplinary Perspectives” Edited by Monika Baar & Amany Soliman, University Press, 290 pages

This interdisciplinary volume, with contributions from psychology, sociology, history, linguistics, and development studies, provides new insights into disability in the MENA region. While recognizing the significance of the medical approach, the authors seek to expand existing frameworks by including social, cultural and human rights perspec-tives.

Information and table of content: https://lup.be/book/disability-in-the-arab-world/

 

 

 

 

 

6. Livre nouvelle : L’humanité de Muhammad – Une lecture chrétienne de la vie du Prophète” de Craig Considin,Éditions Fenetres

Information : https://tinyurl.com/59jptakf

 

 

 

 

 

7. Livre nouvelle : “De la charia au droit musulman” de Baudouin Dupret, Presses de SciencesPo, 170 pages

Ce livre montre la façon dont la jurisprudence, l’histoire et les sciences sociales peuvent se combiner pour contribuer efficacement à la compréhension du droit dans la société.

Information et sommaire : https://tinyurl.com/4dh2hsbj

 

 

 

 

 

8. “US Imperialism After the Cold War in the Middle East and Latin America”, Special Issue of the Journal “Middle East Critique”, Volume 34, 2025

Information and table of content at https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ccri20/34/4

 

 

 

 

 

9. Join the Freer Research Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art on Tuesday, December 9, 12–12:40 pm EST for the online program Sneak Peek | Picture Perfect: Hamida Banu Begum’s Portraits of Power.

In an empire where visual representation meant power, Hamida Banu Begum (ca. 1527–1604) achieved something remarkable—her image appears in at least nine surviving Mughal court paintings from her lifetime. As wife of Emperor Humayun (r. 1530–56 with interruptions) and mother of his successor Akbar (r. 1556–1605), she played a prominent role in the political and cultural landscape of the subcontinent.
In this online talk, Professor Mika Natif examines Hamida Banu’s visual representations as records of her projected status and the empire’s political dynamics. Analyzing her portraits alongside primary sources reveals Hamida Banu’s role as co-sovereign—a Padishah begum—to her son Akbar. Yet, the paintings appear only in illustrated court chronicles and albums, restricting their viewing to limited and selected audiences. This raises questions about patronage and Hamida Banu’s cultural agency. The research for this talk comes from Natif’s current book project dedicated to the portraits and patronage of Hamida Banu.
This program is part of the monthly lunchtime series Sneak Peek, where staff members and outside scholars share personal perspectives and new research related to the collections of the National Museum of Asian Art.
Mika Natif is Associate Professor of Art History at The George Washington University, specializing in Islamic art and cultural exchanges between Muslim societies and Europe. Her research focuses on Islamic painting and illustrated manuscripts from Mughal India, Central Asia, and Iran. She authored Mughal Occidentalism (2018) and co-edited Eros and Sexuality in Islamic Art (2013). Her current work explores women’s portraiture, patronage, and artists in Mughal India, including a forthcoming monograph on Hamida Banu Begum, Emperor Akbar’s mother. Natif has held fellowships from MIT, Harvard, the Mellon Foundation, Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, and Dumbarton Oaks.

Contact Information

Lizzie Stein, Freer Research Center

National Museum of Asian Art

Contact Email

FreerResearchCenter@si.edu

URL

https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/search/event:193388058/

 

Date: 9 May 2026

Location: In-person at The Islamic College (London, UK) and online

Papers are welcome on any aspect of Shiʿi studies, including but not limited to theology, philosophy, mysticism, law and jurisprudence, contemporary issues, history, anthropology, sociology, art, literature, the ḥawzah, ritual practice, and interfaith/intrafaith studies. Papers may address any branch of Shiʿism.

Special theme: the study of the Qur’an. This year, we are hosting special panels on the study of the Qur’an. We particularly encourage the submission of papers on topics such as Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr), past and present; the history and compilation of the Qur’an; Qur’anic manuscripts; translations of the Qur’an, classical and modern; or any other topic pertaining to the study of the Qur’an.

Publication: Presenters will have their work featured in conference proceedings and/or an edited volume on the Qur’an published by ICAS Press, offering an opportunity for quick, quality publication of research.

Submit an abstract at: https://islamic-college.ac.uk/conference-on-shii-studies-submit-an-abstract/

E-mail enquiries to: shiistudies@islamic-college.ac.uk

Abstract deadline: 15 January 2026

Online presentations: Limited slots for online presentations are available. When submitting your abstract, indicate whether you would like to present in-person or online. This option cannot be changed.