A panel of five scholars addressed the intellectual roots of Islamophobia and how Muslim scholars should address this phenomenon, at a panel discussion at IIIT on Wednesday October 17, 2007. The title of the discussion was “Islamophobia: The Intellectual's Response”. Moderated by Dr. Abubaker Al Shingeiti, IIIT, the panel included Dr. Louis Cantori, Dr. Sulayman Nyang (who was present by phone), Dr. Robert Crane, Dr. Muhammad Nimir, and Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad.

The University of Science and Technology (UST) - a private, nonprofit institution in Yemen’s capital city Sana'a, with a number of campuses around the country – has entered into an agreement with International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) under which IIIT is advising the faculty and administration of UST on curriculum and new program development, according to IIIT vice president Dr. Jamal Barzinji.

Paul Scham, Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute shared his work on the Arab-Israeli historical narratives and their role in peace possibilities. He also shared his perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian summit hosted by President George Bush in Annapolis, Maryland, at a meeting with IIIT staff on Tuesday, November 26.

The Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS) held its 36th Annual Conference on October 26-28 at the University of Maryland's College Park campus in Maryland. Twenty seven panelists presented papers in seven panels on topics within the conference theme “Perils of Empire: Islamophobia, Religious Extremism and the New Imperialism”. Dr. Mamdouh Mamdani of Columbia University delivered the keynote address at the Annual Banquet on Saturday night. A detailed report of the conference will be posted on the AMSS and IIIT websites early next  month. [Click here for conference information and the full conference program.]

A group of scholars and leaders from Islamic and other faiths whom IIIT officials had interacted or worked with during the past year got together at the Friends of IIIT iftar/dinner on October 3 at the IIIT headquarters.

A group of 25 Muslim women leaders from around the world attended a seminar on 'Islamic Jurisprudence for Minorities and the Revival of the Higher Objectives of Sharia' by IIIT vice president Dr. Jamal Barzinji at IIIT on July 13.

A Pakistani delegation from “Ittihad Tanzeemat Madaris Deenia (ITMD)” visited IIIT on Friday June 29, 2007. They were invited to the US by the Department of State as part of the “Islamic Education in the US”, a part of the Department’s Visitor Leadership Program.

Egyptian Muslim scholar Dr. Ahmed Subhi Mansour presented the findings of his current research on "Hadd al rajm" (penalty of stoning) in Sharia to an invited audience at IIIT HQ on July 20. Dr. Mansour is working on a book based on his ongoing resarch in this subject.

Imam Tariq Oubrou, a leading Imam in the French Muslim community visited IIIT headquarters on July 20 as part of a State Department sponsored visitors program. Besides presenting and discusing the situation of Muslims in France, Imam Tariq also addressed a panel of IIIT interns who have been taking courses and doing research projects during their internship at IIIT.