Akbar Ahmed
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Why I dedicated my book on Islam to AU researcher Frankie Martin
When I launched my new book Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration, and Identity about Islam in Europe at SOAS in London earlier this summer, the renowned political theorist Lord Bhikhu Parekh chaired the session. Lord Parekh was a...September 24, 2018 1844 0 -
A scholar’s outreach through research and diplomacy
Image: Professor Ahmed ith Vice Chancellor Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman on stage at MUST in Mirpur Credit: Prof Ahmed’s Office Diplomacy can get a bad rap, sometimes even characterized as all talk and no substance. But on top...September 14, 2018 1353 0 -
The man who reformed understanding of Islam among African-Americans
Not long after 9/11, I was invited to the White House to attend an Iftar dinner given by President George W. Bush. Some of the most prominent Muslim leaders in the United States were there, including...August 25, 2018 856 0 -
In Swat, an organization strives for health and education for women, children
The world has come to know Swat through the extraordinary Malala and how she stood up heroically for girls’ education. It is also well worth taking the time to learn of Swat’s other extraordinary female heroes....July 29, 2018 1664 0 -
Sonoma Valley Authors Festival – American hospitality in troubled times
The Lodg, the venue of Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Photo: SVAF/Twitter Image In early May, Zeenat and I had the privilege of traveling to Sonoma, California to speak as part of the inaugural Sonoma Valley Authors...June 30, 2018 1074 0 -
What spirits be these in the town of Newton and Hawking!
The River Cam from the Green Dragon Bridge, Photo: FinlayCox143/Wikimedia Commons In the town of Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking, there dwell strange spirits, and there are strange happenings, that science cannot fully explain....June 2, 2018 1149 0 -
Journey into Europe offers an antidote to negative portrayals of Muslims
Author Prof. Jocelyne Cesari engages in dialogue with Ambassador Akbar Ahmed at Georgetown University on March 26, 2018. In the eyes of most Europeans, Muslims have come to represent fanaticism, fundamentalism, and female suppression, subjugation and...April 17, 2018 2258 0 -
Focusing on interfaith work in contradictory and confusing times
Photo:Dr. Edward Kessler via Woolf Institute Twitter We live in contradictory and confusing times: on the one hand, we have the cases of widespread murder and mayhem on the basis of religion and race and, on...December 3, 2017 1794 0 -
How the documentary on Jinnah is relevant to the new generation
Three decades ago, when I began the Jinnah Quartet, which came to consist of the feature film, Jinnah (1998), starring Christopher Lee; the documentary, Mr. Jinnah: The Making of Pakistan (1997); the graphic novel, The Quaid:...August 19, 2017 2003 0
