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FEATURED COMMENTARY

Media Silent as Indian Muslims Forego Holiday
Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor
Posted: 12/17/08

[Published, Media for Freedom, December 17, 2008] Millions of Muslims across India decided to temper or even cancel festivities on their most cherished week of holy yearly celebrations, Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son in obedience to God and His mercy upon him as a result, in protest of violent acts committed in the name of Islam by the criminals who murdered so many in Mumbai. READ MORE

RECENT COMMENTARY

After the Shooting Stops
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Candidate
Posted: 11/28/08

[Published, The Guardian, November 28, 2008] Post-catastrophe finger-pointing is both natural and necessary. Crisis responders frequently call for accountability ("Government, why didn't you protect us?") and summon mass appeals to rationality ("Why did this happen?"). Mumbai was no different. Hardly a manic minute passed after the massacre before Pakistan was pulled into the frame. The range of speculation regarding the origins of the Deccan Mujahideen – from the more formal Inter-Services Intelligence in Islamabad to the more renegade Lashkar-e-Taiba in Karachi - was unsurprising. READ MORE

Liberal Persuasions
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 06/28/08

[Published, The Economist, June 28, 2008] I attended the recent conference on Islam in Kuala Lumpur and can confirm that the Dutch preference for pre-empting religious flare-ups was well expounded not only by a Dutch lawyer, Famile Fatma Arslan, whom you mentioned, but also by an adviser to the Dutch foreign ministry (“When religions talk”, June 14th). READ MORE

Conference Cites a Growing Gap in Muslim-Western Relations
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 06/17/08

[Published, Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 17, 2008] Last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, suffering internal political setbacks and susceptible to overthrow by opposition, hosted a major tete-a-tete on the growing gap between the Muslim world and the West. The prime minister is a moderate; his agenda was laudable: to strategize sensible solutions to bridge the divide between Islam and countries considered quintessentially "western," with particular emphasis on the United States, the European Union, and Australia. READ MORE

Morocco a Stable East-West Bridge
Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Student, and Andrew Kessinger
Posted: 05/07/08

[Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith" Blog, May 7, 2008] Between Afghanistan and America, situated at the crossroads of Eastern-Western civilization, lies a low-key ally in the fight against religious intolerance and extremism: Morocco. Despite the headlines painting this region as the new front on terror, Moroccans object to their country becoming a base for western-focused extremism and are determined to prevent Al Qaeda from securing a foothold in this corner of the Maghreb. READ MORE

A Mufti, A Christian and a Rabbi
Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor
Posted: 03/12/08

[Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith", March 12, 2008] In the West, "A Mufti, a Christian and a Rabbi ..." is often how a good interfaith joke begins. But I live inside this reality. I am a rabbi and my Syrian colleague, Hind Kabawat, is a Christian Arab. We have worked for four years with the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, in both Damascus and Aleppo. READ MORE

A Debate That's Way Too Loud
Marci Moberg , ICAR M.S. Student
Posted: 03/11/08

[Published, Washington Times, March 11, 2008] Danish efforts to discourage the screening of Geert Wilders' film ("TV stations refuse anti-Muslim film," World, Friday) may diminish the risk for violence but miss the greater risk of growing intolerance.In recent months, Mr. Wilders has called for Dutch Muslims to renounce their religion or leave the country and has labeled the Koran a fascist book. Though the Netherlands has remained mainly tolerant, Mr. Wilders and his supporters threaten to shift attitudes toward a perception of mismatching values and identities between Muslim immigrants and the country's citizens. READ MORE

Working Against the Problem, Not Each Other
Rebecca Cataldi, ICAR M.S. Student
Posted: 02/07/08

[Published, The American Muslim, February 7, 2008] In the years since 9/11, war and terrorism have led to much discussion over whether a “clash of civilisations” is occurring between the United States and the Muslim world. This turmoil, however, has inspired many others to work even harder to promote dialogue and understanding between our cultures. Ordinary” Americans and people of the Muslim world have a particularly critical role to play in this process by reaching out to one another in friendship. When we do, we will come to appreciate not only how unique and diverse we all are, but how many of our deepest values we share in common. READ MORE

The Missing Two-Way Street
Marci Moberg and Jay Moon, ICAR M.S. Students
Posted: 12/01/07

[Published, ICAR News, Vol. 1, Issue 4, December 2007] In an effort to win hearts and minds, the Bush administration’s public diplomacy initiatives in the Muslim World have failed to do either. It squandered opportunities to gain valuable insight into anti-U.S. sentiment, opting instead for a psychological operations-style campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of U.S. foreign policy to the Middle East. As Muslim opinion of the U.S. continues to plummet in the wake of Karen Hughes' resignation, the public diplomacy shop faces an uphill battle. READ MORE

Understanding Islamophobia
Richard Rubenstein, ICAR Professor
Posted: 06/15/07

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ICAR News Network Islam FEATURED COMMENTARY Media Silent as Indian Muslims Forego Holiday Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor Posted: 12/17/08 [Published, Media for Freedom, December 17, 2008] Millions of Muslims across India decided to temper or even cancel festivities on their most cherished week of holy yearly celebrations, Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son in obedience to God and His mercy upon him as a result, in protest of violent acts committed in the name of Islam by the criminals who murdered so many in Mumbai. READ MORE RECENT COMMENTARY After the Shooting Stops Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Candidate Posted: 11/28/08 [Published, The Guardian, November 28, 2008] Post-catastrophe finger-pointing is both natural and necessary. Crisis responders frequently call for accountability ("Government, why didn't you protect us?") and summon mass appeals to rationality ("Why did this happen?"). Mumbai was no different. Hardly a manic minute passed after the massacre before Pakistan was pulled into the frame. The range of speculation regarding the origins of the Deccan Mujahideen – from the more formal Inter-Services Intelligence in Islamabad to the more renegade Lashkar-e-Taiba in Karachi - was unsurprising. READ MORE Liberal Persuasions Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 06/28/08 [Published, The Economist, June 28, 2008] I attended the recent conference on Islam in Kuala Lumpur and can confirm that the Dutch preference for pre-empting religious flare-ups was well expounded not only by a Dutch lawyer, Famile Fatma Arslan, whom you mentioned, but also by an adviser to the Dutch foreign ministry (“When religions talk”, June 14th). READ MORE Conference Cites a Growing Gap in Muslim-Western Relations Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 06/17/08 [Published, Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 17, 2008] Last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, suffering internal political setbacks and susceptible to overthrow by opposition, hosted a major tete-a-tete on the growing gap between the Muslim world and the West. The prime minister is a moderate; his agenda was laudable: to strategize sensible solutions to bridge the divide between Islam and countries considered quintessentially "western," with particular emphasis on the United States, the European Union, and Australia. READ MORE Morocco a Stable East-West Bridge Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Student, and Andrew Kessinger Posted: 05/07/08 [Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith" Blog, May 7, 2008] Between Afghanistan and America, situated at the crossroads of Eastern-Western civilization, lies a low-key ally in the fight against religious intolerance and extremism: Morocco. Despite the headlines painting this region as the new front on terror, Moroccans object to their country becoming a base for western-focused extremism and are determined to prevent Al Qaeda from securing a foothold in this corner of the Maghreb. READ MORE A Mufti, A Christian and a Rabbi Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor Posted: 03/12/08 [Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith", March 12, 2008] In the West, "A Mufti, a Christian and a Rabbi ..." is often how a good interfaith joke begins. But I live inside this reality. I am a rabbi and my Syrian colleague, Hind Kabawat, is a Christian Arab. We have worked for four years with the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, in both Damascus and Aleppo. READ MORE A Debate That's Way Too Loud Marci Moberg , ICAR M.S. Student Posted: 03/11/08 [Published, Washington Times, March 11, 2008] Danish efforts to discourage the screening of Geert Wilders' film ("TV stations refuse anti-Muslim film," World, Friday) may diminish the risk for violence but miss the greater risk of growing intolerance.In recent months, Mr. Wilders has called for Dutch Muslims to renounce their religion or leave the country and has labeled the Koran a fascist book. Though the Netherlands has remained mainly tolerant, Mr. Wilders and his supporters threaten to shift attitudes toward a perception of mismatching values and identities between Muslim immigrants and the country's citizens. READ MORE Working Against the Problem, Not Each Other Rebecca Cataldi, ICAR M.S. Student Posted: 02/07/08 [Published, The American Muslim, February 7, 2008] In the years since 9/11, war and terrorism have led to much discussion over whether a “clash of civilisations” is occurring between the United States and the Muslim world. This turmoil, however, has inspired many others to work even harder to promote dialogue and understanding between our cultures. Ordinary” Americans and people of the Muslim world have a particularly critical role to play in this process by reaching out to one another in friendship. When we do, we will come to appreciate not only how unique and diverse we all are, but how many of our deepest values we share in common. READ MORE The Missing Two-Way Street Marci Moberg and Jay Moon, ICAR M.S. Students Posted: 12/01/07 [Published, ICAR News, Vol. 1, Issue 4, December 2007] In an effort to win hearts and minds, the Bush administration’s public diplomacy initiatives in the Muslim World have failed to do either. It squandered opportunities to gain valuable insight into anti-U.S. sentiment, opting instead for a psychological operations-style campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of U.S. foreign policy to the Middle East. As Muslim opinion of the U.S. continues to plummet in the wake of Karen Hughes' resignation, the public diplomacy shop faces an uphill battle. READ MORE Understanding Islamophobia Richard Rubenstein, ICAR Professor Posted: 06/15/07 News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Sri Lanka / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution