BeyondIslamophobiaKhaliliLectureTheatre

SOAS,UniversityofLondon7­8June2014

SpeakerAbstracts(inalphabeticalorder)

ChrisAllenIslamophobiaintheBritishPolicySpaces:inretrospectandprospectAbstract:ItisalmosttwodecadessincethepublicationofthereportoftheCommissiononBritishMuslimsandIslamophobiabytheRunnymedeTrust.Entitled,“Islamophobia:achallengeforusall”,thereportremainssignificantnotonlyforbringingIslamophobiaintothepublicandpoliticalspacesbutsotoofortheimpactithadonshapingandinfluencingpoliticalandacademicdiscoursesaboutthephenomenon.Whilstitslegacyisundoubted,thereportwasoriginallyconceivedasapolicydocument.Settingout60recommendations,thereportarguedforwide‐reachingchange.Thequestionisthough,wasitsuccessful?Sincethereport'spublication,theBritishsocio‐politicallandscapehasundergonesignificantchange.UnderstandingsofIslamophobiahavechangedashavethepoliticiansandpoliciesthathavebeensoughttotackleit.Nowadays,Islamophobiaisreferredtoinrelationtosuchpolicyareasasequalities,security,counter‐terrorandintegrationamongothers.ButdoesthismeanthatIslamophobiahasbeentackledanymoreeffectively? ThispapertakesacriticalretrospectiveonthepolicyimpactoftheRunnymedereportasalsoarangeofdifferentpolicydevelopmentsandinitiativesthathavesincesoughttoaddresstherisingspectreofIslamophobiaintheBritishsetting.ConsideringdevelopmentsunderboththeNewLabourandCoalitiongovernments,thispaperwillseektoconsidertheapproachesandpolicyinterventionsemployedtobetterunderstandrespectivesuccessesandfailures,asalsowherethegapshaveoccurredthathave‐attimes‐eitherdirectlyorindirectlycreatedfurtherproblems.ThispaperwillconcludewithaconsiderationofwhatlessonshavebeenlearnedfromtheBritishpolicyspacesandwhatthosespacesmightlooklikeintheforeseeablefuture.Biography:DrChrisAllenisaLecturerinSocialPolicy.HeisbasedintheInstituteofAppliedSocialStudiesattheUniversityofBirmingham.Forthepastdecadeandahalf,ChrishasbeenundertakingresearchintothephenomenonofIslamophobia.HavingcompletedhisArts&HumanitiesResearchCouncil(AHRC)fundeddoctoralstudiesthatexploredthediscourseandtheoryofthephenomenonatBirmingham,hehassincegoneontodevelopresearchthathashadsocial,politicalandpublicappeal.Aswellasappearingregularlyinthemedia,inrecentyearsChrishasworkedalongsideGovernmentinanadvisorycapacitycurrentlysittingasanindependentexpertontheCross‐GovernmentAnti‐MuslimHatredWorkingGroupbasedintheDepartmentforCommunities&LocalGovernmentandhasregularlysubmittedwrittenandoralevidencetotheAll‐PartyParliamentarygrouponIslamophobia.AswellasIslamophobiahisotherresearchinterestsinclude:theroleoffaithandreligioninthepublicandpoliticalspaces;issues

arounddiversity,multiculturalismandsuper‐diversity;equalitieslegislation,policyandpractice;inclusion,exclusion,integrationandcohesion."

*HouriaBouteldjaIslamophobiaisastateracismAbstract:Idon’tbelieveitmakessensetocharacterizeIslamophobiaasa“feeling.”Theterms“representation”and“imaginary”areoftenused,evenasIslamophobiaisinstitutionalized.Infact,thereareIslamophobiclaws.The2004Frenchlaw,forexample,isalawagainstyoungwomenwhoweartheheadscarf,alawthattransformed–Iwouldevensaybetrayed–thesecularspiritofthe1905law.Secularitymeansneutralityofthestate:thestateiswithoutreligion,neutral,andthereforeneitheratheistnoragnostic.Withthe2004law,thestate’sdutyofneutralitybecomesthedutyofthecitizen.TospeakofIslamophobiaassentimentisaeuphemism.Islamophobiaisfirstandforemoststateracism.Isay“racism”becausetheword“Islamophobiacanseemvague.Thereisadebateaboutwhetheritismoreaccuratetouse“Islamophobia”or“Muslimophobia.”Forme,itisessentialtodefinetheterm.WhetherweuseMuslimophobiaorIslamophobia,bothmustbeunderstoodasstateracism.Suchracismhasnopurposeotherthantomaintainapopulationinasubalternstate.Theterm“Muslim”isitselfproblematic.IamaMuslim,although25yearsago–whenIwasalreadyaMuslim–Iwasn’tconsideredone.AtthattimeIwasconsidereda“beurette”orasecond‐generationimmigrant.Self‐identifyingasaMuslimisnotaproblem;it’sevenasourceofpride.However,thefactthatIamautomaticallyconsideredaMuslimbothersme.Afterall,non‐Muslimsarenotidentifiedaboveallbytheirreligion.Itisawayofdefiningcitizensaccordingtocategoriesandclassificationsputinplacebypublicpolicyanddebate.AwholepopulationisautomaticallyclassifiedasMuslimwithoutdifferentiatingthepracticing,agnosticoratheistsamongthem.WeareplacedintheMuslimcategoryregardlessofoursubjectivity.Biography:HouriaBouteldjais,inherownwords,anindigenousactivist,subvertingtheoftenderogativelyusedwordandwearingitasanexpressionofherAlgerianheritagewithintheFrenchcolonialcontext.Borntoimmigrantworkingclassparents,HouriagrewupinFrance,andhassinceachievedgreatsuccessbybeingsingledoutbytheFrenchRightasabitofarabble‐rouser.Shecutsacontroversialfigure,particularlyinherroleasspokespersonforthePartyoftheIndigenousRepublic.Itisananti‐racist,anti‐imperialistpoliticalparty,whichencourages“aspaceofself‐organizationforallthosewhowanttoengageinthefightagainstracialinequalitythatconfinesblacks,ArabsandMuslimssimilartothatofnativestatusintheformercolonies”.

*ShenazBunglawalaEngagingCommunitiesinChallengingIslamophobia?

Biography:ShenazBunglawalaisHeadofResearchatENGAGE.ShehastaughtundergraduatecoursesinpoliticalscienceattheLSEandKing’sCollege,London.ShenazsitsontheResearchExcellenceFramework2014expertsub‐panelforTheologyandReligiousStudiesandadvisesonvariousAHRC/ESRCresearchprojects.SheisaNon‐ResidentExecutivetotheRazakSchoolofGovernmentinMalaysiaandsitsontheexecutivecommitteeofFaithinEurope.

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MadelineClementsSeeingBeyond?EngagementswithIslamophobiainPakistaniartexhibitedinBritaininthepost­9/11decadeAbstract:ThispaperwillfocusonhowworksofcontemporaryPakistanivisualartexhibitedindiasporic,Britishcontextsinthewakeof9/11,7/7andtheon‐going“war‐on‐terror”,engage,challenge,andregistertheimpactof,(Western)Islamophobia.Thequestionsitproceedstoaskwillinclude:whatpicturesofMuslimsandIslamdosuchartworkspaint,whatistheirpolitical/aesthetic/socialfunction,whodotheyserve,wheredotheysitwithinaparticularcuratorialvision,andhowdotheirdifferenttreatmentsofMuslimstereotypesandsubjectshinderorhelpviewersasweattempttomovebeyondfearofIslamandtowardadeeperunderstandingofwhatitisthatinstilsit? Itwillhaveatwo‐partfocus.First,itwillconsidercontinuitiesanddiscontinuitiesofapproachamongartworksdisplayedinexhibitionsincluding‘BeyondthePage’(AsiaHouse/ManchesterArtGallery,2006‐7),‘TheBritPak’(MICAGallery/SouthBankCentre,2011),and‘DifferentFacesofPakistan’(AsiaHouse,2012).Second,itwillturntotheworksincludedintheexhibition,‘SecondGlance/DoubleTake’,aimingtointegratethemintothediscussionstakingplacearoundMuslimsandtrustwithinthebodyofthe‘BeyondIslamophobia’conference.Biography:MadelineClementshasaBAinEnglishfromOxford(2001)andanMAinNationalandInternationalLiteraturesinEnglish(2009)fromLondonUniversity’sInstituteofEnglishStudies.InApril2014shewasawardedherPhD.HerAHRC‐fundeddoctoralthesiswasentitledOrientingMuslims:MappingGlobalSpheresofAffiliationandAffinityinContemporarySouthAsianFiction.ThebookversionisforthcomingwithOxfordUniversityPressPakistan.In2012,whilestudyingforherPhD,Madelineundertookatwo‐monthResidencyattheNationalCollegeofArtsinLahore.Herencounterswithartiststherearecentraltohernewresearch,whichaskshowartandliteraturefromPakistanrepresentandre‐imaginewhattherightsofcitizenshipmeanforembattledminoritycommunitieswithintheformalequalitiespromisedbythepostcolonialnation‐state.InAugust2014shewillreturntoPakistanasAssistantProfessorofEnglishatFormanChristianCollege,Lahore.Shehasspokenatfestivals,seminarsandconferencesintheUKandPakistan,andherarticlesandreviewshaveappearedinarangeofpublications.

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JohnLEspositoIslam,Islamophobia&theRoleMediainAmericaAbstract:Negativeimagesanddiscourse,anti‐Muslimsentiments,discriminationandviolenceareoftenascribedtofalloutfrom9/11.Infact,themodernrootsofIslamophobiaaretobefoundinthelastdecadesofthe20thcentury,whichprovidedthebackdropforanexponentialincreaseinanti‐Muslimdiscourseandbehavior.ThispresentationwilllookattheriseandexponentialgrowthofIslamophobiainAmerica,theroleofmedia,especiallythe“OrganizedIslamophobiaNetwork”insocialmedia,anditsimpactonAmericanpoliticsandtheimagevs.therealityofAmericanMuslimsinpopularculture.Biography:JohnL.EspositoisUniversityProfessor,ProfessorofReligionandInternationalAffairsandofIslamicStudiesandFoundingDirectorofthePrinceAlwaleedbinTalalCenterforMuslim‐ChristianUnderstandingatGeorgetownUniversity.Hismorethanforty‐fivebooksinclude:IslamophobiaandtheChallengeofPluralisminthe21stCentury,TheFutureofIslam,WhoSpeaksforIslam?WhataBillionMuslimsReallyThink(withDaliaMogahed),UnholyWar:TerrorintheNameofIslam,IslamandDemocracy(withJ.Voll).Editor‐in‐ChiefofOxfordIslamicStudiesOnlineandTheOxfordEncyclopediaoftheModernIslamicWorld,hiswritingshavebeentranslatedintomorethan35languages.AformerPresidentoftheAmericanAcademyofReligion,theMiddleEastStudiesAssociationandoftheAmericanCouncilfortheStudyofIslamicSocieties,EspositohasservedasaconsultanttotheU.S.governmentandgovernments,corporations,universities,andthemediaworldwide.

*PeterGottschalkIslamophobia:AnImperialInheritanceAbstract:FormsofIslamophobiaandanti‐Muslimsentimentvaryasdramaticallyastheyaredisparatehistoricallyandgeographically.However,unsettlinglysimilarsetsofprejudiceshavebecomeevidentinBritain,India,andtheUnitedStates.Whilecurrentscholarshiphasscrutinizedbiasesresultingfrompost‐colonialconditions,transnationalthreats,andrecentnativism,thecommonheritageofantipathiesexportedthroughBritishcolonialandimperialendeavorsdemandmoreattention.BritonsdevelopedathomeandtransportedabroadtropesofIslamicinvasion,Muslimtyranny,masculinefanaticism,andfeminineoppression.WhetherconsciouslyencounteringMuslimsintheirnewforeignhomesornot,officialsandintellectualsinstantiated“theMuslim”as

ananalyticfigurebywhichtogaugevarioussocialmaladies.Whileitremainscrucialtorecognizetheracial,nationalist,andreligiousenmitiesthatcanfuelcontemporaryeruptionsofIslamophobiaandanti‐Muslimsentiment,elaboratingthehistoricallydeepwellspringofprejudiceremainsessentialfornon‐Muslimstoconfrontthisunwelcomesocialinheritanceinordertodiffusethenegativesensibilitiesithasenduringlyinformed.Biography:PeterGottschalkisProfessorofReligionatWesleyanUniversity.Peter’sresearchandteachingconcentrateonthedynamicsofculturalinterpretationandconflictinthecontextofIslam,Hinduism,andtheWest.Heisinterestedparticularlyinunderstandinghowassumptionsofmutualantagonismformbetweengroupsdespiteevidenceofreligiousconfluence.HehasappearedonCNN,AirAmerica,VoiceofAmerica,andNationalPublicRadio,whilehisworkhasbeenmentionedinUSAToday,TheNewYorkTimes,andtheOnFaithwebsiteofTheWashingtonPost.PeteristheauthorofBeyondHinduandMuslim:MultipleIdentityinNarrativesfromVillageIndia(OxfordUP,2000).HecollaboratedwithMathewN.Schmalz(CollegeoftheHolyCross)ineditingEngagingSouthAsianReligions:Boundaries,AppropriationsandResistance(SUNYPress,2011),andincreatinganinteractivewebsitecalled‘AVirtualVillage’(2001).Heco‐wrote,withGabrielGreenberg,Islamophobia:MakingMuslimstheEnemy(RowmanandLittlefield,2007)ThisvolumedemonstrateshowAmericanshavehadendemicfearsaboutIslamandMuslimssincebeforethenation’sfounding.Usingpoliticalcartoons,PeterandGabrielshowthatdespitethedifferentformsIslamophobiahastakeninresponsetoshiftingsocial,political,andeconomiccontexts,stereotypedMuslimshaveservedasafoilusedtoproveAmericannormality.Mostrecently,PeteriscompletingabookforOxfordUniversityPressonthehistoryofBritishrepresentationsofIndiansduringtheRaj.

*NathanLeanAManufacturedPrejudice:TheThree‘I’sofIslamophobiainAmericaAbstract:Inthepastdecade,scholarshipfocusingonthephenomenonofIslamophobiahasparseditsorigins,manifestations,consequencesandevenitsdefinition.Muchoftheexistingliteratureconfiguresitasanugly,albeitunintended,consequenceofavarietyofthings:adefensivereactiontopronouncedculturaldifferences;aresponsetoglobalization,growingMuslimpopulationsandimmigration;andtheresultofmediamalpracticeorWesternforeignpoliciesintheMiddleEast.Theseexplanationsareimportantandhelpful.ButwhatifIslamophobiaisnotonlyanaftereffectorresponse?WhatifitisalsoapointofdeparturefromwhichexaggeratedfearsoforprejudicestowardsMuslimsaredeliberatelyengineeredinordertoachieveotherparticularaims?ThispaperwillexamineIslamophobiaasaproductthatismarketedtotheAmericanpublicthroughthreespecificoutlets:Imperialism,Institutionalization,andIndustry.Ineachcase,IwilldemonstratehowthedemonizationofMuslimcommunitiesthroughreinforcednegativestereotypesisanecessaryprerequisiteto:advanceAmericaninfluenceandsecurenationalinterestsabroad;bolsteradomesticsecurityapparatusandpromotepoliciesat

home;andsustainlucrativecareersthatreinforceperceivedthreatsandadvocateideologiesthroughthedisseminationof(mis)information.ThenetresultisamutuallyreinforcingrelationshipwherebytheexploitationofMuslimsforpersonalorpoliticalgainfostersanti‐Muslimprejudiceamongstapublicthat,inturn,supportsandevendemandssuchpractices.Biography:NathanLeanistheResearchDirectoratGeorgetownUniversity’sProjectonPluralism,ReligiousDiversityandIslamophobiaatthePrinceAl‐WaleedBinTalalCenterforMuslim‐ChristianUnderstanding.Formerly,hewastheEditor‐in‐ChiefofAslanMedia.Heistheauthorofthreebooks,amongthemtheaward‐winningTheIslamophobiaIndustry:HowtheRightManufacturesFearofMuslims.Hisfourthvolume,TheChangingMiddleEast:PowerandPoliticsinAnAgeofRevolutionwillbepublishedinearly2015.HiswritingsonIslamophobiahavebeenfeaturedintheLosAngelesTimes,theNewYorkDailyNews,theWashingtonPost,theChristianScienceMonitor,CNN,andSalonamongothers.

*MaleihaMalikShariaCourts,MinorityLegalOrdersandLiberalDemocracyAbstract:ThepaperfocusesonrecentcontroversiesaboutsharialawthathavebeenanimportantsourceoftheracialisationofMuslimsintheUK,USAandCanada.MyargumentisthatitisimportanttodistinguishbetweenthedifferentclaimsmadebyMusliminrelationtosharialaw.Themainissueisthatthedevelopmentofaseparateparallellegalsystembutratherthemodestaccommodationofreligiousnormsindiscreetareas.Howshouldaliberalpoliticalorderandthestatelegalsystemrespond?Myargumentdevelopsinthreeparts.Insectionone,Isuggestthattheterm‘minoritylegalorder’isamoreaccuratetermthanparallellegalsystems.Insectiontwo,IexaminethepastexperienceofWesternlegalsystemsbecauseitprovidesanimportantcontextforunderstandingthepresentrelationshipbetweenminorities,pluralismandlaw.Insectionthree,Ideveloparangeofoptionsthatallowfortheaccommodationofaminoritylegalorderinaliberaldemocracy.Biography:MaleihaMalikisaProfessorinLaw.ShestudiedattheUniversityofLondonandUniversityofOxford.SheisabarristerandamemberoftheHonourableSocietyofGray’sInn.MaleihaMalik’sresearchfocusesonthetheoryandpracticeofdiscriminationlaw.Shehaswrittenextensivelyondiscriminationlaw,minorityprotectionandfeministtheory.Sheistheco‐authorofaleadingtexttitledDiscriminationLaw:TheoryandPracticewhichwaspublishedin2008.AmonghermanyotherpublicationsonMuslims,lawanddiscrimination,ishergroundbreakingwork,PatternsofPrejudice:Anti­MuslimPrejudiceintheWest,PastandPresent.(2008).Sheis,alongwithDrJonWilsonfromtheDepartmentofHistoryatKCL,theco‐ordinatoroftheAHRCprojecton‘TraditionsinthePresent’whichexplorestherelevanceof'tradition'incontemporarysocieties.MaleihaMalik'scurrentresearchfocusesontheintersectionbetweensexualandculturalequality,anditexplorestheadjustmentsthatmayneedtobemadetofeministtheoryto

accommodateincreasingculturalpluralism.SheteachescoursesinJurisprudenceandLegalTheory,DiscriminationLawandEuropeanLawtoundergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.

*PeterMoreyMuslimMiseryMemoirs:ExoticSuffering,TruthandGenreAbstract:Inthispaper,Iwillexamineanexampleofasub‐genrethathasexperiencedanexponentialboominpopularityandsalessince9/11:thosetextsIwouldcallMuslimmiserymemoirs.ThesetextspartakeinlargemeasureoftheculturalistdiscoursethatseesMuslims,andMuslimlands,asinherentlydifferentandthreatening.TheydepictIslamasasourceofoppression,drawingonanOrientalisthistoricaltemplatethatforgoodmeasurealsoevokesrecognisablehistoricaltypesofenemyandthekindsofrepressionofminoritiesandwomentheWesthassupposedlyeradicated.Hencetheytendoftentoinscribetheregionstheydepictsomewhatschizophrenically:asapotentialthreattothosefreedomscherishedintheWestifleftunconfronted,andintermsofabackwardnessthatrendersthemsupineinthefaceofaneo‐imperialprojectofrescue,modernisationandenlightenment.TheiroverarchingmessageappearstobethatrescuebytheWest,whichistosaytheUnitedStatesmilitary,cannotcomesoonenoughforthebenightedfiguresthathaunttheirpages,sufferingallmannerofdeprivationandabuseinthenameofIslam.Examplesofthissub‐genreincludeAzarNafisi’sReadingLolitainTehranandKhaledHosseini’sTheKiteRunner,butthispaperwillconcentrateonAsneSeierstadt’sjournalisticaccountTheBooksellerofKabul(2004).Iwillarguethat,despiteitsseeminglyconfidentmoralprognosis,TheBooksellerofKabulatthesametimedisplaysanunexpectedlevelofanxietyabouttheprojectof'unveiling'theEasttotheWest,andinparticularaboutthelegitimacyofwritingasamodeofconveyinganothercultureinapoliticallyfraughtcontext.Thisoftenresolvesitselfthroughquestionsofgenreandthedifficultyofmaintainingcleargenericlimits.Biography:PeterMoreyisProfessorofEnglishandPostcolonialStudiesattheUniversityofEastLondon.Hehaspublishedwidelyinthefieldsofcolonialandpostcolonialliteraryandculturalstudies,particularlyintheareaofSouthAsiananddiasporaliterature.Hisbooksinclude,FictionsofIndia:NarrativeandPower(EdinburghUP,2000),RohintonMistry(ManchesterUP,2004),AlternativeIndias:Writing,NationandCommunalism(Rodopi,2006),FramingMuslims:StereotypingandRepresentationafter9/11(HarvardUP,2011)andCulture,DiasporaandModernityinMuslimWriting(Routledge,2012).Between2007and2010hewasPrincipalInvestigatorintheAHRCNewtorkaward‐fundedproject,FramingMuslims,whichexploredtherepresentationofMuslimsincontemporary,historicalandgeographicalcontexts.HeiscurrentlyRCUKGlobalUncertaintiesLeadershipFellowdirectingtheMuslims,TrustandCulturalDialogueProject.

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FiyazMughalOn­lineHatred&Anti­MuslimPrejudice Biography:Fiyazhasover15yearsexperienceinthecommunityandvoluntarysectorinpositionsthathaveincludedsocialpolicylobbying,projectandgeneralmanagement,andconflictresolutionwork.HehasworkedinanumberoforganizationsprovidingtrainingtowomenrightthroughtoEuropeantransnationalfaithrelatedprogrammesandadviceandinformationprojects.HeistheFounderandDirectorofanon‐profitorganization,FaithMatters(www.faith‐matters.org)whichworksonreducingextremismanddevelopingplatformsfordiscourseandinteractionbetweenMuslim,Sikh,ChristianandJewishcommunitiesrightacrosstheUK.FiyazwaspreviouslyaCouncillorinHaringey(2006‐2010)andaCouncillorinOxford(2002‐2004).HewasalsoappointedtobeontheWorkingGroupforCommunitiesthatwaslinkedtotheExtremismTaskForcedevelopedin2005afterthe7/7bombings.HewasappointedbythethenSecretaryofStatefortheDepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernmenttobeamemberoftheLocalDeliveryAdvisoryGrouponPreventingViolentExtremism.HewasalsoappointedastheAdvisortotheLeaderoftheLiberalDemocrats,NickCleggMP,oninterfaithandpreventingradicalisationandextremismbetween2009‐2010.FiyazwashonouredinJune2009byHerMajestytheQueenandwasbestowedwiththeHonouroftheOrderoftheBritishEmpire.HeisalsofounderanddirectorofTellMama,anorganisationdedicatedtorecordingandcounteringIslamophobia.

*GeoffreyNashIslamophobia,Postcolonialism,andContemporaryBritishLiteratureAbstract:IscontemporaryBritishliteratureIslamophobic?HowimportantandinfluentialisliteratureasasiteinthebroaderconfigurationofIslamophobia?DoestheembeddingofIslamophobicnotionsandmessageswithinliteraturecontributesignificantlytothewiderIslamophobiawithinsociety?Whatrolehavewell‐knownindividualauthors,thecelebritiesofliterature,hadinthedisseminationofanti‐Islamicideas?Duringthedecadesince9/11,BritishliteraturehasbeenonevehicleamongothersforconveyingnegativeclichésaboutIslamandMuslims.Thisinturnbuildsonaperiod,emergingoutoftheRushdieAffair,duringwhichanti‐Muslimdiscoursebecamealmoststandardandhegemonicamongintellectuals.Theperspectivemightbestretchedevenfurtherbacktotheeraofcolonialism.‘Inmanyways,theconceptofIslamophobianotonlypossessesacurrentrealitybasedonexistingpolitics,butthereisanhistoricallegacythathastakenshapepreciselybecauseofthecolonialexperience’(Abbas2013:17).Whatpart,ifany,doespostcolonialismplayinIslamophobicrepresentationsofMuslimsinrecentBritishliterature?Inaddressingtheseissues,thepaperarguesthatthestancesadoptedtowardsIslaminpostcolonialwritinghaveoftenbeencomplicitinactivelydisseminatingIslamophobicattitudes,orattheveryleastinreinforcingthem.Howeverrecentpostcolonialwritingcanalsobepotentiallyliberatinginenteringintopositive

dialoguewithaspectsofMuslimbeliefandpracticesignpostingthewaytowardsamorehealthyinteractionbetweenpostcolonialandMuslimvoices.Biography:GeoffreyNash’sworkfocusesonwesternwritingthataddressestheMiddleEastandtheIslamicworld.HisexpertiseencompassesArab‐AmericanandEuropeanwritingontheMiddleEast.HehasaparticularinterestinOrientalismandtheOrientalists,travelwriting,ArabAnglophonefictionandIslamicthemesincontemporaryBritishfiction.AmonghisrecentpublicationsaretheeditedvolumePostcolonialismandIslam(2013)andhismonograph,WritingMuslimIdentity(2012).

*ShereneRazackLaw’sPreoccupationwiththeMuslimPsyche:HowMuslimsAreBodiesOutsidetheLawAbstract:AskedtoofferanopinionofOmarKhadr’s“riskofdangerousnessasaviolentjihadist,”stateappointedpsychiatristWelnerconductedasevenhourinterviewwithKhadratGuantanamo.Havingnopriorexperienceinassessing“jihadists,”WelnerconsultedwithDanishpsychologistNicolaiSennels.WellknowninEuropeforhisracistviewsofMuslims,Sennelsbelievesthat“massiveinbreedingwithintheMuslimcultureduringthelast1,400yearsmayhavedonecatastrophicdamagetotheirgenepool.”MuslimsaregeneticallyunabletointegrateintoEuropeansocietyandtheypossessaninborncapacitytobeviolent.AsIhaveshowninCastingOut,thisbiologicalviewofMuslimdegeneracyhasgainedcurrencyinEuropeanandNorthAmericancourtsandparliaments,ofteninasopenlyracistaformasinSennels’opinions,butalsodisguisedasmoderateargumentsaboutMuslimculturalincapacitytointegrate.InthispaperIconsiderhowlaw’scontemporarypreoccupationwiththeMuslimpsycherendersallMuslimsaslessthanhuman.Iexplorethelogicofthisevictionbothfromlawandfromhumanity.Biography:ShereneRazackisaprofessorinthedepartmentofSociologyandEquityStudiesinEducationattheUniversityofToronto.Herresearchandteachinginterestslieintheareaofraceandgenderissuesinthelaw.HermostrecentresearchinvestigatesthedeathsofAboriginalpeopleheldinpolicecustodyinCanada.HerbooksincludeCastingOut:TheEvictionofMuslimsFromWesternLawandPolitics(2008),DarkThreatsandWhiteKnights:TheSomaliaAffair,PeacekeepingandtheNewImperialism(2004),aneditedcollectionRace,SpaceandtheLaw:UnmappingAWhiteSettlerSociety(2002),LookingWhitePeopleintheEye:Gender,Race,andCultureinCourtroomsandClassrooms(1998)andCanadianFeminismandtheLaw:TheWomen’sLegalandEducationFundandthePursuitofEquality(1991).

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StephenSheehiPost­Islamophobia:IslamophobiainPost­RacialAmerica.Abstract:Overthepastseveralyears,thepublicdiscussionandmainstreamdisavowalofIslamophobiainAmericanmediaandcivilsocietyhasservedasacounterweighttothesteadyflowofindividualandprogrammaticcampaignsofracistslander,racialprofiling,andhateactsagainstMuslimsandArabsintheUnitedStates.ThispresentationexaminesthedomesticpoliticsofthishatespeechagainsttheoverwhelmingpublicreactionagainstIslamophobiain“post‐racial”America’scivilsocietyandmedia.WewilldiscoverthattheressentimentbetweenwhitemajoritarianNorthAmericancultureanditsracializedminorities,inthiscaseArabandMuslimAmericans,isdeterminedlessbyastigmatizationofIslamophobiaitselfthanmediatedbyablendofclassinterestsanddomesticpoliticsthatperpetuallymanageandreconfigureAmerica’sracialhierarchyinrelationtoitssocio‐economicstructure.ThisanalysisrootsitselfinanunderstandingtheIslamophobiaisanideologicalformationinterwovenintoAmericanpolity,historyandculture;acomplexpoliticalandculturalphenomenonthatoperatesacrosspoliticalparties,classes,andracialgroups.Assuch,thisanalysis,whichisindebtedtotheworkofAlthusser,OmiandWinant,andFrye‐Jacobson,concludeswithacriticalexaminationofMuslimandArabAmericancollusionwiththeracializedhierarchyintheUnitedStates,ahierarchythatishistoricallyandpoliticalinformedbyclasscollusionbetweenmiddle‐classMuslimandArabAmericansandmainstreamWhiteAmerica.Biography:StephenSheehiisAssociateProfessorofArabicandArabCultureandtheDirectoroftheArabicProgramattheUniversityofSouthernCarolina.Hisworkinterrogatesvariousmodalitiesofself,society,andpoliticaleconomywithintheArabworld.Hisfirstbook,FoundationsofModernArabIdentityofferedanewparadigmforunderstandingthefoundationalwritingofArabintellectualsofthe19thcenturyArabRenaissance.AmonghisotherpublicationsisIslamophobia:TheIdeologicalCampaignAgainstMuclims(Atlanta:ClarityPress,2011)whichexaminestheriseofanti‐Muslimandanti‐ArabsentimentsintheWestfollowingtheendoftheColdWar.TheargumentofthebookisthatIslamophobiaandanti‐ArabsentimentsareanideologicalcomponentofNorthAmericancultureandarisefromtheUnitedStates’racehistoryasmuchasforeigninterests.Hehasalsopublishedextensivelyonphotography,art,literature,politics,andintellectualhistoryandhaslecturedinternationallyincludingattheHumanRightsCouncilinGeneva,OrganizationofIslamicCooperationinIstanbul,andtheLibraryofCongress.HeiscurrentlycompletingapioneeringstudyofthehistoryofphotographyintheArabworld.

*AsmaaSolimanYoungMuslimsinGermanyandtheirUsageofNewMediatoCounterIslamophobia

Abstract:ThispaperexaminestwoyoungGermanMuslimswhobothusetheinternetdifferentlytoresistIslamophobicattitudesandnegativeassociationswithIslamandMuslims.OneofthemisNuriSenay,ayoungMuslimmanwhofoundedmuslime.tv,anonlinewebsitethatshowsshortdocumentaryvideosaboutMuslimlifeinGermany.TheotheroneisKuebraGuemuesaywhoisknownforherblogEinFremdwoerterbuchthatshedslightonherpersonallifeandviewsasaMuslimgirllivinginGermany.ThepapercontextualisesthecasestudieswithintheoreticalcriticismsraisedtowardstheHabermasianpublicsphereandscholars’conceptualisationofcounterpublics.Itfindsoutthatmuslime.tvaswellasEinFremdwoerterbuchcanbothbeseenascounterpublicsthatchallengeIslamophobia,whichisvisiblewithinthemainstreampublic.BothonlineplatformsgivevariousinsightsintoMuslims’lifestylesthatconnectMuslimswithpositivecharacteristicsandthatbringforwardaMuslimidentity’snormality.TheyalsousenewmediatocriticiseIslamophobicexpressionsandtofeatureIslamophobicattacksthatareratherignoredinthemainpublic.Biography:AsmaaSoliman,fromAachen,Germany,isaresearchassistantatMuslims,TrustandCulturalDialogueinLondon.ShehaspreviouslyworkedforseveralmediacompaniesandresearchprojectsinGermany,EgyptandtheUK,mostlyinrelationtoreligion,Islamandinterculturaldialogue.In2011shejoinedtheUniversityCollegeLondon’sCentreforMultidisciplinaryandInterculturalInquirywheresheisfinalisingherPHD.HerresearchtopicisonMuslimyouthcultureinGermany.AsmaataughtcoursesinEuropeanStudies,MediaCulture,ArtsandCultureandSecurityStudies.ShewroteseveralarticlesaboutMuslimsinEurope.ShereceivedherBAinArts&CulturefromMaastrichtUniversity,herfirstMAinMediaCultureandhersecondMAinInternationalPoliticsfromCityUniversityLondon.SheisinvolvedinmanyNGOsincludingUPF(UniversalPeaceFederation),StEthelburga’sCentreforReconciliationandPeace,SOLIYAandUNAOC(UnitedNationsAllianceofCivilisations).

*SarahSoyeiCreatingCriticalThinkers:EducatingYoungPeopletoRejectIslamophobiaAbstract:YoungpeoplearefedIslamophobicmessageseveryday,viatraditionalandsocialmedia,familyandfriends.Thesecreateaclimateoffear,encourageanger,intoleranceanddivisionwithinschoolsandcommunities.Iftheyaretorejectprejudice,youngpeopleneedtobeprovidedwithanalternativemessagetothatespousedbypopulistpoliticiansandmedia.However,educatorscanfeeltrepidationintacklingissuesofIslamophobiaduetoalackofknowledge,trainingandsupportinundertakingthiswork.Overthepast7years,IhaveworkedwithhundredsofeducatorsandthousandsofyoungpeoplethroughoutEnglandtodeliverworkshopsaimedatchallengingIslamophobicattitudesandpractices,deconstructingmisconceptionsaboutMuslims

andequippingpeopletothinkcriticallyabouttheinformationthattheyreceive.Priortoandduringtheworkshops,participantsareencouragedtosharetheirquestionsandconcernsinorderforthesetobeaddressed.ThispresentationwilloutlinethecurrentstateofplaywithregardstoIslamophobiawithintheeducationsystem,highlighttheprevalentthemesthatIhaveencounteredinundertakingthisworkandshowcasethetechniquesthatIhaveemployedinordertocreateapositiveculturechangewithinschools.Biography:SarahSoyeiisHeadofPartnershipsatEqualiTeach.SheobtainedadistinctioninherMAinEqualOpportunitiesandSocietyandhasauthoredseveralpublicationsinthefield,includingresearchintothebarrierstotacklingracismandpromotingequalityinEngland’sschools,guidanceforInitialTeacherTrainingprovidersandco‐authoringinternationalguidelinesoncounteringintoleranceanddiscriminationagainstMuslims.Sarahhasworkedinthefieldofequalityanddiversitytrainingandconsultancyforover10yearsandduringthistimehasoverseenthedevelopmentanddeliveryofeducationalprogrammesworkingwithover200,000people.Thesehaveincludedprogrammesofworkcommissionedbythegovernment,EHRC,theFootballFoundation,over20LocalAuthoritiesandprivatesectororganisationssuchasPartnershipsinCare.ShehasdeliveredpresentationsattheHouseofCommons,London’sCityHallandseveralnationalandinternationalconferences.

*AbdoolkarimVakilPresentattheCreation?:IslamophobiaandtheMakingofMuslimsAbstract:ThispaperexplorestheusesandabusesofhistoryforIslamophobia.Biography:AbdoolKarimVakilisLecturerinContemporaryHistoryinthedepartmentsofHistoryandofSpanish,Portuguese&LatinAmericanStudiesatKing'sCollegeLondon.Hisworkfocuseson19thand20thcenturyPortugueseintellectualandculturalnationalism,identitypolitics,colonialism,postcolonialism,IslamandMuslimpolitics.Heisco‐editorwithS.SayyidofThinkingThroughIslamophobia:GlobalPerspectives(Hurst,2011).AbdoolKarimcurrentlychairstheMuslimCouncilofBritain'sResearchandDocumentationCommittee.

*AminaYaqinInterculturalandfamilialtalesoftrustandmistrust:the“halal”romanceofLeilaAboulela’sMinaret

Abstract:IninterviewsLeilaAboulelaisoutspokenaboutan"Islamicindividualism"inhernovels.ThatherfictionisrespondingtoIslamophobiaisevidentinboththeTranslatorandtheMinaret.InthispaperIwishtoanalysethelatternovelasanexampleofaliteraryresponsetoIslamophobiathroughitscharacterisationofadiasporicSudanesefemaleprotagonistNajwa.Herstoryrepresentsacomplicatedimmigrantnarrativeoftrustandmistrustnoticeablyinherpersonalrelationshipsguidedbyvaryingimpulsesofemotionandreason.SheisrejectedbyboththesecularistandtheIslamistinherpursuitoflove,andherneedtobelovedinthewayshewantsseemstobeansweredonlybylivinganeverydaymodestIslamiclifestylethatendsinpilgrimage.MypaperwillengagewithreadingsofAboulela’sfictionasa‘domesticmulticulturalromance’andits‘Islamicturn’towardagencyalongsideareadingofSabaMahmood'sPoliticsofPiety.Biography:AminaYaqinisSeniorLecturerinUrduandPostcolonialStudiesandChairoftheCentrefortheStudyofPakistan.Herresearchinterestsincludecolonialandpostcolonialliteraryandculturalstudies.Sheisco‐author(withPeterMorey)ofFramingMuslims:stereotypingandrepresentationafter9/11(HarvardUniversityPress,2011)andco‐editorofCulture,DiasporaandModernityinMuslimWriting(Routledge,2012).Herarticleshaveappearedinpeer‐reviewedjournalssuchasInterventions,ComparativeCriticalStudies,FashionTheoryandJournalofWomen’sHistory.ShehasbeenCo‐DirectoroftheAHRCfundedInternationalResearchNetworkFramingMuslimsfrom2007‐2010andiscurrentlyProjectPartnerfor‘Muslims,TrustandCulturalDialogue’aninterculturalresearchprojectfundedbytheRCUK.HerpublicationsontwentiethcenturyUrduliterarytrendsincludeajournalspecialissueonthecelebratedPakistanipoet,FaizAhmadFaiz(Pakistaniaat,2013).ShehaspublishednumerousarticlesinpeerreviewedjournalsontheUrdupoetsKishwarNaheedandFahmidaRiaz,UrdufictionandautobiographyandthecontextsandintertextsofUrduinEnglishfictionbywriterssuchasNadeemAslam,AnitaDesai,FawziaAfzalKhanandSalmanRushdie.SheisworkingonhernextbookTwentiethCenturyWomen’sPoetryfromPakistan:feministresistanceandgenderedsubjectivities.SheisalsoknownasatranslatorofUrduliteratureandrecentlycontributedtoHowardBrenton’sPartitionplay,DrawingtheLine.