ISIM Research – New ISIM Fellowships

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

ISIM Research
New ISIM Fellowships available

The International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) invites applications for ISIM Short-Term Fellowships. These are available to prospective ISIM PhD and Post-Doctoral Fellows, and are intended to develop research projects to be submitted to external funding agencies.

ISIM conducts and promotes interdisciplinary research on contemporary social, political, cultural, and intellectual trends and movements in Muslim societies and communities. ISIM promotes and hosts research projects that are informed by a social science perspective, fit in with the general research profile of ISIM, and preferably are related to the specific research programmes directed by the ISIM Chairs (see www.isim.nl). (more…)

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Bombers had targeted Casablanca landmarks: papers – washingtonpost.com

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, Morocco.

Bombers had targeted Casablanca landmarks: papers – washingtonpost.com
Bombers had targeted Casablanca landmarks: papers

By Lamine Ghanmi

RABAT (Reuters) – A Moroccan who was blown up in a Casablanca Internet cafe was part of a gang of suicide bombers who planned to attack landmarks in Morocco’s commercial capital, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Abdelfattah Raydi, 23, blew up a belt of explosives he was carrying on Sunday night, killing himself and wounding four people after a tussle with the owner of the Web cafe in a suburb that is home to Casablanca’s largest slum.

“Five young men recruited by a man in the area of Hay Mohammedi were ready to carry out suicide bombings in Casablanca,” said Annass daily, which is considered to be well-informed on security matters.Assabah newspaper said the blast was accidental. The real target had been Casablanca’s police and paramilitary headquarters, restaurants and hotels, the paper said, citing unnamed security agencies. (more…)

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Poverty-stricken Morocco bomber served jail time – washingtonpost.com

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, Morocco.

Poverty-stricken Morocco bomber served jail time – washingtonpost.com
Poverty-stricken Morocco bomber served jail time

By Zakia Abdennebi

DOUAR ESCUELA, Morocco (Reuters) – Neighbors of a Moroccan suspected suicide bomber portray him as a religious man who tried in vain to lift his family out of poverty after his release from a prison term for membership of a militant group.

But no one in this fly-blown Casablanca slum raided overnight by police was able to explain why Abdelfattah Raydi detonated a belt of explosives in an Internet cafe on Sunday night, blowing himself to pieces and wounding four people.

(more…)

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Special interest: Academic freedom in Italy – Stefano Allievi / 1

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Italian Professor of Sociology and expert in Islamic matters, Stefano Allievi, has been convicted to pay a monetary fine of 3,000 euros and to six months in prison (!) because of of aggravated libel.

Professor Allievi has been sentenced for the opinions he expresses about Adel Smith and his actions in his book Italian Islam, published by Einaudi. Adel Smith is a controversial Muslim, famous for his radical opinions and fiery gestures on various subjects (especially his polemic against the crucifix)
In many regards this is an extraordinary case. Allievi has written a lot about recent debates about Islam in Italy in which for example he engaged in a critical manner with  Oriana Fallaci’s discourses. According to Allievi he has been under police protection for a while because he invited Tariq Ramadan to speak in his university; something that according Allievi has led to serious threats and intimidation by the local extreme right. Allievi has taken a stand for the guarantee of freedom of speech and expression of Muslims themselves.
Allievi will appeal but this first sentence is important of course because it is an infringement of academic freedom and an important precedent for all scholars working on these and related issues.
In order to support Stefano Allievi and academic freedom you can sign the petition here.  You can read his Open Letter here.

Today Dominio Publico will publish Allievi’s book (in Italian) entirely on their site.

If there is more news, I will publish it in a new post.

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