Join Ambassador Akbar Ahmed as he discusses his new book, Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration, and Identity. The fourth in a quartet of studies examining relations between the West and the Muslim world, Journey into Europe explores Islam in Europe and the place of Islam in European history and civilization on the basis of fieldwork spanning the length and breadth of the continent. Ambassador Ahmed will be joined by Lord Bhiku Parekh and the event will be chaired by SOAS Pro-Director Professor Stephen Hopgood.
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies in the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. He belonged to the senior Civil Service of Pakistan and was the Pakistan High Commissioner to the U.K. and Ireland. He has also taught at Harvard and Princeton Universities and holds a PhD in Anthropology from SOAS.
Lord Bhikhu Parekh is Emeritus professor at the Universities of Hull and Westminster. He is the author of several widely acclaimed books including A New Politics of Identity (2008) Rethinking Multiculturalism (2000) and recently Debating India: Essays on Indian Political Discourse, published by Oxford University Press, India. He is the recipient of the Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize for Lifetime Contribution to Political Philosophy, BBC’s Special Lifetime Achievement Award, and Padma Bhushan from the President of India. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, past President of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Member of the House of Lords.
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Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration, and Identity
Europe today confronts complicated and controversial issues surrounding its Muslim population including Sharia law, terrorism, the building of mosques, female dress, and the pressures of immigration and multiculturalism.
Akbar Ahmed, the world renowned Muslim anthropologist, is now embarking on a new study of Islam in Europe which will take him and his international team across the continent.
Journey into Europe is the fourth part of an unprecedented quartet of award-winning books exploring relations between the West and the world of Islam after 9/11.
For media interviews or other enquiries, please contact Patrick Burnett at patrickb@american.edu.
Graphic courtesy of Abbas Maysam Zahedi (abbzah.com)
Professor Akbar Ahmed’s Journey into Europe research project, studying Muslim life in Europe, is supported and funded by the Stiftung Mercator Foundation.
Journey into Europe 