Middle East studies in the News

Grant for Islamic Studies Put on Indefinite Hold [on the International Institute of Islamic Thought]

by Elizabeth Redden
Inside Higher Ed
January 8, 2008

http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/01/08/temple

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/4655

In deciding to indefinitely delay accepting or declining a think tank's offer to fund an endowed chair in Islamic studies, Temple University officials determined that no decision would be made pending the completion of post-September 11 federal investigations of the Virginia-based International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) — a private, nonprofit institution "concerned with general issues of Islamic thought and education." The institute was the subject of a 2002 search warrant in connection to a federal investigation of the financing of groups accused of terrorist activities.

The university's inaction, however — which eventually led to the institute withdrawing its $1.5 million offer in December with plans to resume negotiations with other institutions — has spurred concerns about the chilling of intellectual inquiry in Islamic studies by mobilized interests.

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Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.

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