Archive for January, 2026

Please join us at 5 pm (UK time) on Monday, 12 January, for the book launch of the volumes in honour of Professor Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi, titled From the Letter to the Spirit, with participation of the dedicatee, volume editors and contributors. The details of this publication can be found on the publisher’s website: https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503618159-1

To join, please register for either online or in-person attendance at https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/book-launch-honouring-amir-moezzi/

1. New Book “A Pedagogical Grammar of Arabic by al-Qazwīnī al-Naǧǧār: Edition and Study” by Almog Kasher, Harrassowitz-Verlag, December 2025, 184 Pages

This study presents a critical edition of an anonymous pedagogical Arabic grammar, identifying its author as Ṭāhir al-Qazwīnī al-Naǧǧār. It highlights its unorthodox pedagogical features and argues that it likely underlies the renowned Lubāb al-ʾiʿrāb al-māniʿ min al-laḥn fī al-Sunna wa-l-Kitāb, composed by the prolific Sufi ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Šaʿrānī.

Information: https://tinyurl.com/4w9wkavk

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Open Call for Submissions for Emruz Festival 2026 (NYC)

We are proud and excited to announce the Open Call for Submissions for Emruz Festival 2026, taking place April 29 – May 3, 2026 in New York City.

Emruz Festival is a spring, biennial, multi-day festival celebrating artists of Middle Eastern, Southwest Asian, and North African (MENA / SWANA) descent. The festival will feature performances, concerts, theater works, short film screenings. We aim to create space for artistic exchange, experimentation, and community gathering.

Spanning several days, Emruz Festival presents a dynamic blend of open-call submissions and curated works, showcasing projects ranging from finished pieces to works-in-progress. Across disciplines—from theater, music, and film—artists are invited to put their work on its feet, share it with the community, and engage with New York City audiences at large.

This year, we are honored to collaborate with Brooklyn Art Haus and Cheers Cinema, which will host selected works throughout the festival.

We warmly welcome submissions from emerging artists across all disciplines. We especially encourage narrative-driven works—projects that speak to what is dear to the artist’s heart and seek to engage contemporary audiences in New York City in meaningful ways. We strongly recommend responding thoughtfully to all application questions, as each submission will be reviewed with care and attention. Emruz Festival provides performance/screening space, production support, and representation of your work as part of the festival. Submission to the Emruz Festival is free.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Decision Notification: February 16, 2026
• Festival Dates: April 29 – May 3, 2026

Apply Here!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchZ1dj2DMOdPT2ZwrC6GKCpA5V6fSDLui8b4gTDbUchvGrgQ/viewform?pli=1

 

 

 

 

 

3. Northwestern University – Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship
https://networks.h-net.org/jobs/69646/northwestern-university-keyman-modern-turkish-studies-postdoctoral-fellowship

 

 

 

 

 

4. Bahçeşehir University, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences has designated the Middle East as the theme for its inaugural Interdisciplinary Regional Studies Conference to be held in 2026. This conference aims to address current and historical issues related to the Middle East from an interdisciplinary perspective and to create a productive, deliberative, and comprehensive academic platform by bringing together researchers, experts, and graduate students studying the region.

Researchers wishing to participate in the conference must submit their abstracts of at least 250 and no more than 500 words and relevant keywords by March 15, 2026. Applications will only be accepted via the online form.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15, 2026
• Acceptance Notification: March 30, 2026
• Registration Opens: April 1, 2026
• Registration Deadline: April 15, 2026
• Conference Dates: May 7-8, 2026

CONFERENCE VENUE 

The conference will be held in person at the Fazıl Say Conference Hall in the South Campus of Bahçeşehir University in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. All sessions and panels will be held in the relevant halls within the campus, and the detailed program will be shared with participants before the conference date.

CONTACT INFORMATION

bau.bck@eas.bau.edu.tr

Contact Information

bau.bck@eas.bau.edu.tr

Çırağan Caddesi Osmanpaşa Mektebi Sokak No: 4 – 6 34353 Beşiktaş, ISTANBUL / TURKEY

Contact Email

bau.bck@eas.bau.edu.tr

URL

https://bau.edu.tr/news/19506-interdisciplinary-regional-studies-conference-mid…

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany – Professor for the History of the Islamic World
https://networks.h-net.org/jobs/69670/johannes-gutenberg-university-mainz-germany-professor-history-islamic-world

 

 

 

 

 

6. CFP – From the Balkans to Bengal in Baltimore: Engaging Diasporas, Shaping Publics, and Reimagining Islamic Art in American Museums- Deadline February 15
🗓 Conference Dates: September 24-25, 2026
📍 Location: UMD, College Park, and Baltimore
📬 Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2026
🔗 Submit Here: https://forms.gle/4saumkLZiNAxP8EE7
Conference Overview
How should American museums that present Islamic art engage the diasporic communities that are increasingly recognized as key public constituencies? What strategies might best encourage communities to move from viewing art to responding to it—and in doing so, reshape how it is interpreted in public spaces?

This conference explores the transformative ways diasporic communities from the Balkans to Bengal interact with Islamic art in North America. The organizers invite submissions from scholars and museum professionals that identify challenges and opportunities for local actors to engage with global histories of Islamic art. The conference will bring those ideas together with artists and community leaders advancing the needs of local Muslim communities in Baltimore and the wider DMV.

This 2-day conference combines discussions of historical and theoretical foundations with those of the concrete, present challenges of migrant communities as they define their place in the contemporary world. We welcome papers that present experiences with normative and dissident approaches to cultural heritage in migrant societies (pre- and post migration), and that introduce real-world projects and collaborative practices that center community voices, challenge traditional narratives, and reimagine what museum spaces can be—especially in politically and culturally complex moments.

Day One of the conference will be on campus at UMD, College Park, and will include a full day of panel discussions followed by a keynote lecture in the evening, to coincide with a walkthrough of an exhibition of Islam & Print at the University of Maryland Art Gallery. Day Two of the conference will include a visit to the Walters Art Gallery and presentations focused on diasporic Muslim communities in Baltimore.

We welcome paper submissions on a wide range of topics related to the display of arts of the Islamic world, including but not limited to:

Diasporas and Institutions
● How diasporic communities interact with and shape historical collections and Museums
as contact zones for dialogue and cultural negotiation

States, Memory, and Identity
● Reckoning with borders, belonging, and the politics of display
● How museums participate in crafting national and diasporic memory
● The role of Islamic art in narratives of statehood, citizenship, and cultural identity

Community-Led Interpretation
● Community-authored labels, co-curation, and grassroots storytelling
● Empowering communities to shape how Islamic art is displayed

Technology & Immersion
● The potentials of AR/VR, digital storytelling, and immersive tools that connect past to present
● Expanding access and empathy through tech

Contemporary Art and Counterculture
● Connecting Islamic heritage to contemporary practitioners
● Contemporary Islamic art as critical engagement and action

Museum Practice in Challenging Moments
● Navigating Islamophobia, censorship, and contested publics
● Curating in politically charged environments

Who Should Submit?
We invite proposals from scholars across disciplines: Art Historians and Historians (South Asia, MENA, Museology, Migration and Diaspora), museum practitioners (Curators, Educators, Collections staff), Artists, Community Organizers & Heritage Advocates, and Technology/Digital Humanities collaborators.

Submission Guidelines:
Papers (20 minutes):
1. Title of presentation or project
2. Abstract (300–500 words)
3. Short bio (150 words)
4. Optional: links to media, images, or work samples
📞 Questions? Contact us at sslinglu@umd.edu
Contact Email

sslinglu@umd.edu

URL

https://forms.gle/4saumkLZiNAxP8EE7

For further information, click here.

1. Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies

TIAIS INAUGURAL  ARTICLE PRIZE COMPETITION WINNER

We are also pleased to announce Professor Michael Rapoport of Florida Atlantic University as the recipient of the TIAIS inaugural Article Prize for his essay, “The Unambiguous Truth (al-ḥaqq al-ṣarīḥ): Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī on Philosophy and the ‘Truth’ in His Compendium (Mulakhkhaṣ).” Professor Rapoport’s work exemplifies exceptional analytic precision and carefully reasoned analysis, challenging current scholarly perspectives in offering a nuanced interpretation of the interplay between theology and philosophy in two of Rāzī’s important works. His essay combines meticulous textual reading with fruitful scholarly debate, advancing Rāzī studies and postclassical Islamic intellectual history in innovative and promising directions. Professor Rapoport’s article will be published in the first issue of TIAIS’ new Open Access journal, Islamic Intellectual Traditions.

https://tokatinstitute.org/news/tiais-inaugural-article-prize-winner

 

 

 

 

 

2. Introduction to Persian Manuscripts: Classical Persian through Living Books online course, which will start on January 26 and last for two weeks.

https://ferdowsi.org/introduction-to-persian-manuscripts-2026/

Ferdowsi School of Persian Literature

Yerevan, Armenia

Website: www.ferdowsi.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. CfP: International Meeting of the SBL

Biblical Traditions in Islamic Contexts unit at the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (https://members.sbl-site.org/cfp-detail-im?z7412e263df1640689761ab72b66f59df=00fb281888-9c7f-46b6-b3e6-bad4fc23df7c&z423c93b755704c19a0e7ac980d5d638c=00fb281888-9c7f-46b6-b3e6-bad4fc23df7c).

Proposals are not limited to comparing Islamic texts (e.g., Qur’an) with the biblical traditions. They could also be about biblical communities, their biblical reception, transmission, etc, under Islamic rule throughout history. So, the scope is more expansive than you may think.

The conference is scheduled to take place from 5 to 9 July 2026, down under in Adelaide, Australia.

If you live in Australasia or the Asia-Pacific, this is a rare opportunity for a conference coming near you.

If you live elsewhere, then what better excuse to visit that amazing part of the world?
The deadline for paper or session proposals is 15 January 2026.

 

 

 

 

 

4. International Workshop “Radical Imaginations – Rethinking Gender Justice in the Middle East and North Africa”, Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, 6-7 July 2026

The workshop will bring together scholars working on gender justice, law, lived experience, and social change across the MENA region. It aims to create space for critical, interdisciplinary conversations that rethink dominant frameworks and open new analytical and political possibil-ities.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/yc589pyd

 

 

 

 

 

5. International Conference: “Entrenchment and Experiment: Situating Authoritarian Turkey in the 1930s and 1940s”, University of Hamburg, 1-2 October 2026

This conference and the subsequent book project invite scholars to contribute cutting-edge research on authoritarianism as lived and practiced in Turkey between 1931 and 1950. We are especially interested in contributions that consider issues of institutional experimentation, state-society relations, and rule of law (including states of exception and legal arbitrariness).

Deadline for abstracts: 16 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2yzercmz

 

 

 

 

 

6. 2nd Edition of the Rabat Policy Forum: “Fractured Social Contract: Citizens, State, and Trust in Institutions in MENA”, Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA), Rabat, 9-10 October 2026

This forum seeks to foster a high-level academic and policy dialogue on rebuilding state-society trust and envisioning a renewed social contract grounded in participation, protection, and pro-vision. Themes: The Old Social Contract. – The Role of Parliament in Shaping a New Social Contract. – Institutional Prerequisites for a New Social Contract. – New Social Movements and the Renewal of the Social Contract.

Deadline for abstracts: 28 February 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2ny7mnbs

 

 

 

 

 

7. Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) for History of the Middle East, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Preference will be given to candidates whose research expertise aligns with one of the following broad thematic areas: 1) Gender and sexuality; 2) War, revolution, and society; 3) Science, technology, and medicine. Expertise in public history and/or digital history will be considered an asset.

Deadline for appllications: 16 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/epebjk4d

 

 

 

 

 

8. Postdoctoral Fellowship (2 Years) in the Study of Turkey and Its Diasporas in a Global or a Comparative Perspective, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Scholars in all branches of the Social Sciences and Humanities may apply. We welcome and encourage applications from early career scholars whose work focuses on nondominant and underrepresented groups including religious, ethnic, and LBGTQ minorities and otherwise mar-ginalized groups.

Deadline for applications: 26 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/3bfxh473

 

 

 

 

 

9. Summer School for Persian Language, Yerevan, Armenia, 6-10 weeks, 21 June – 28 August 2026

Courses are available at beginner, elementary, and intermediate levels and focus on all core language skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary. Small class sizes ensure close interaction with experienced instructors and rapid progress. Participants will also benefit from a strong cultural immersion component, including guided excursions.

Deadline for applications: 21 May 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/2mdhwru9

 

 

 

 

 

10. Chapters for the Volume “On Ottoman Objects: A Sourcebook for the Cultural Herit-age of the Ottoman Peoples”, Edited by Ceren Abi, Published by Gordium

The volume seeks to expand the existing literature on cultural heritage in the Ottoman context by foregrounding the perspectives and experiences of the empire’s many communities – Mus-lim and non-Muslim, urban and rural, elite and subaltern. While it will include sources produced by individuals associated with the Ottoman state apparatus, it also aims to feature provincial voices and materials produced in different languages.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 May 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/27jn2upy

 

 

 

 

 

11. Chapters for “The Handbook of Ecofeminism” (Focus on Ecofeminists from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia)

The volume opens with foundational ecofeminists and environmental activists. Between these sections, contributors examine how ecofeminist perspectives foster more holistic scientific par-adigms, promote ethical responsibility toward nonhuman animals, and cultivate affirmative spir-itual practices. The volume demonstrates that ecofeminism is not only a critical framework for exposing injustice but also a generative force for imagining and enacting emancipatory futures.

Deadline for abstracts: 13 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/ywbtfkam

 

 

 

 

 

12. Articles on how authoritarian ideas, practices, and technologies circulate transnationally — with a focus on the SWANA (South-West Asia and North Africa) region as a key hub of exchange.

If your research touches on authoritarian diffusion, surveillance, policing, regime learning, counter-revolution, digital repression, or international linkages between democracies and autocracies – Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu and Paola Rivetti at Dublin City University would love to hear from you!

Deadline for abstracts: 10 January 2026. Information: https://tinyurl.com/4z73fyvr

 

 

 

 

 

13. The new issue of “CyberOrient” (Vol. 19, Issue 2, 2025) is available for free at the link https://cyberorient.net/

Articles on “The War of Humor: A Visual Content Analysis of Israel’s Information Warfare in France and Spain” by Ninon Bouteloup. – “Finishing the Fight for Freedom: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Strategic Communication of the “Freedom Jihad” Narrative Frame on X” by Bořivoj Nachtmann. – “Lurking Terror in Andor: The Subaltern from Above” by Emir Alışık.

 

 

 

Fatimid succession to Imam al Mustansir