Happy Ramadan to all! Muslims living in Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and the greater tri-state region will begin observing the annual fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan on July 9, 2013. For the next 28 to 30 days, mosques throughout the region will have daily prayers, programs, and dinners throughout the month. CERIS wishes all a happy month of Ramadan. Please visit the website of local mosques for more information about specific activities during this special month.
Muslims in a Global Context is a semi-annual mini-course series for students, educators, and the broader community to learn from faculty experts and practitioners about issues of critical importance to the understanding of countries with significant Muslim populations. Each term the cluster of countries changes. Speakers for this session include: Dr. Juan Cole, University of Michigan (Monday, November 11), Dr. James Hoesterey, Emory University, Dr. Sidharth Chandra, Michigan State, Dr. Azlan Tajuddin, LaRoche College.
Frankincense and myrrh, the Queen of Sheba, Lawrence of Arabia: these elements figure prominently in Western perceptions of Arabia. Recent discoveries in the region, however, have exposed a richer history of Arabian art and culture. In conjunction with the exhibition Roads of Arabia at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH), this course surveys the visual traditions of the Arabian Peninsula from its most ancient settlements to its modern Islamic cultures and critically examines their collection and display in museums in the Middle East and abroad.
Each year during the month of Ramadan, the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh invites the greater Pittsburgh community to join their members in breaking their fast and recognizing those in Pittsburgh that have contributed to bridging relations between communities in our beautiful city. The Islamic Center is pleased to have as their featured speaker, Ihsan Bagby. Dr. Bagby is Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky. His research for the last 10 years has focused on Muslims in America. He is a board member on the Council of Islamic Relations.
Educators are invited to attend dinner and a book discussion on Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo. Boo explores how Muslims, Hindus, and Christians sharing a slum in India's financial capital, Mumbai, have been dealing with the daily implications of global change, intensifying inequality, and repeated efforts to incite religious conflict. Shortlisted for numerous prizes, the book recently won the 2012 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
Join Conflict Kitchen for a special five-course Persian meal prepared by our chef with special guests, under the tent, for dinner conversation about Iranian life, culture, and politics.
To make a reservation email info@conflictkitchen.org include the number of people attending, dietary restrictions, and your phone number. Conflict Kitchen will get back to you to confirm your reservation. Seating is limited.
Price: $45 per person
*BYOB
The Humanities Center at the University of Pittsburgh is with a focus on “Pakistan/Sri Lanka: The Military In Humanity,” with a keynote address by Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa and contributions from discussants Ms. Frederica Jansz and Dr. Arjuna Parakrama, chaired by Professor Susan Z Andrade.
American Middle East Institute, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
June 13 - November 15, 2013 Experience more than 7,000 years of largely unknown cultural history of the Arabian Peninsula in Roads of Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on view at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, June 22–November 3, 2013. Roads of Arabia examines the impact of ancient trade routes that traversed the peninsula, carrying precious frankincense and myrrh to the Mesopotamian and Greco-Roman world and allowing for a vibrant exchange of both objects and ideas.
Last Summer and October, when riots broke out in Rakhine state in Burma, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were displaced from their homes. Many fled to neighboring countries, often being killed or drowned in the process, while many more were placed into camps for Internally Displaced People. The conditions of these camps are generally very bad, and disease and starvation are frequent. Many of these camps are literally under blockade by the Burmese government.
The UN has described the Rohingya of Burma as one of the most persecuted groups of people in the entire world.
