A dear and respected friend of IIIT, an impeccable gentleman, and a top-notch scholar, Professor Louis Cantori passed away earlier this week at his home, surrounded by his wife of 50 years, Joan Cantori, and their sons and daughter. Professor Cantori's last academic appointment was as professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Professor Cantori fought courageously against serious illness during the last four years of his life. Late last year he delivered a synopsis of his then-ongoing work on Islam and conservatism at a seminar at IIIT. Given the choice of being on the phone or attending in person, he chose to drive a long distance to attend in person. He was a frequent presence at IIIT events and ...

Eight prominent religious leaders from Egypt representing eight different religious sects visited IIIT on May 6, 2008. The delegation came to the US as part of the State Department International Visitor Program entitled "Religion and Society: A Dialogue" with the purpose of promoting mutual understanding of the role of religion in society, the relationship of church and State, the American Muslim community, its institutions, and the status of other religious groups in the US.  

Anwar Ibrahim, a trustee of IIIT, is one of the most important hundred persons in the world today, according to TIME magazine. Datu Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been a tireless champion of moderation and democratic values in the Muslim World.

IIIT France has released its 2008 publications. These are:

1. Pluralisme et Reconnaissance
2. Islamophobie dans le monde moderne
3. Le problème de la méthodologie dans la pensée islamique
4. Oumma, la communauté charismatique

IIIT staff and directors, joined by their counterparts at Sterling Management Group, gathered on April 25, 2008 to recognize and thank Mr. Akbar Ali Mir for 20 years of service. Akbar Mir has decided to retire at the end of April and spend time with family and to enjoy his grandchildren. He has worked dedicatedly and diligently with several directors in different departments during the past twenty years, first at Marjac Investments and then at IIIT.

As part of the State Department's International Visistor Program entitled "Religion and Society: A Dialogue," two delegations of religious scholars and unviersity professors visited IIIT on April 17 and  April 18, 2008.

Dr. Shaban Mir, Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University ,will join IIIT in the summer of 2008 as a non-resident Research Fellow. Dr. Mir was awarded a post-doctoral research grant to edit her doctoral dissertation about Muslim women in American university campuses into a book.