by LAWRENCE NEMEH for ISLAMiCommentary on MAY 7, 2013: At Arabic Night this past April, Duke students and faculty came together to celebrate Arab culture through music, food and poetry. Four students in the AMES department – Mayyadda Major, Ryan Gaylord, Desmond Lee and I – debuted our interpretation of the Arabic rap song “La Lildictatoria” or “No [...]
by BANU GÖKARIKSEL for ISLAMiCommentary on May 6, 2013: The veil is a piece of fabric that is politicized like no other. It is the persistent topic of fiery political debates and possibly the most stigmatized, praised, banned, and enforced article of clothing. And it continues to be one of the most misunderstood, stereotyped, and contested [...]
“Islamophobia is the name given to the virulent anti-Islamic prejudice that has been hyped by the news media and seized upon by cynical politicians. Five essays by six specialists on Islam in America provide important insights into Islamophobia as a conflict over American identity during a time of crisis. The authors clarify the way that [...]
by JULIE POUCHER HARBIN, EDITOR, ISLAMiCommentary, on APRIL 30, 2013: For more than 10 years the annual Building Bridges Seminar has brought together a range of internationally recognized Christian and Muslim scholars for intensive study. Texts from the Christian and Islamic traditions are used as the basis for discussion in an annual program that includes public [...]
by JULIE POUCHER HARBIN, EDITOR, ISLAMiCommentary on April 29, 2013: China last week warned of a terrorist threat facing the nation following deadly clashes on April 23 in Xinjiang (the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) that left 21 dead — the worst episode of violence in four years. The dead included 16 Uyghurs, three Han Chinese, and [...]
Haiyun Ma: Go West at What Cost? China’s Pivot on Middle East Studies
by HAIYUN MA for ISLAMiCommentary on MAY 10, 2013: This week China’s new president, Xi Jinping, separately hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas — meetings that some analysts say is indicative of China’s desire for a more pro-active role in Middle East diplomacy. The timing of the visits of Abbas [...]
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