Muslim Students' Association (MSA) is an organization dedicated to serving the Muslim students on campus and educating the campus community about Islam and Muslims. The MSA has created a series of videos cleverly using the format of the NBC comedy The Office, integrating Muslim daily rituals to inform viewers about the practices and challenges of young Muslim adults.
Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Pittsburgh
In this colorful modern-day parable of good and evil, a humble village electrician devotes his compassion and ingenuity to destitute
neighbors in a wind-swept valley of Kyrgyzstan. Played with wry humanity by writer-director Aktan Arym Kubat, the trusting Mr. Light
strikes a suspect bargain with a rich developer running for local office, as unemployment threatens the survival of the community.
Stoking a dream to supply wind-generated electricity to the whole valley, the modest visionary comes up against an increasingly dark
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar. “This powerful novel about a 9-year-old boy and his absent father offers an unnerving portrait of life in the Libya of Muammar Qaddafi. “
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Sami Hermez, Visiting Professor of Contemporary and International Issues, University of Pittsburgh. The CERIS faculty Book discussion is open to all educators. There will be a light dinner served at 5:30 PM with book discussion to begin at 6:00 PM.
In 10 short episodes, 10 Egyptian directors imagine different narratives of the first 18 days of the Egyptian Revolution, culminating in the ouster of Mubarak (10 directors, 2011, 125 min).
The second installment in "Conversation on Europe" -- a series of interactive videoconferences for 2012-13 -- the EUCE/ESC brings experts together via remote connection to discuss the range and level of European influence in the Middle East. Europe has, until recently, been an attractive model for countries in democratization, because of the non-threatening, non-military way Europe—and the EU in particular—attracted adherents. Almost two years after the Arab Spring, does Europe retain any influence, any ability to influence events?
The exhibition provides a beautiful and fascinating look at the diversity of ceramics made in ancient Persia (what is now present-day Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan). Produced for both the luxury and middle-class markets, these vessels, bowls, pitchers, and bottles reflect numerous cultural and artistic influences and an aesthetic sensibility that seems startling modern.
Annual listing of best reads on the Middle East for 2012 selected by L. Carl Brown, the professor emeritus of history at Princeton University, was Middle East reviewer for Foreign Affairs for the January/February through May/June issues this year. John Waterbury, the William Stewart Tod professor of Politics and International Affairs emeritus at Princeton became Middle East reviewer for Foreign Affairs.
Jelaluddin Rumi, the 13th century Muslim mystic poet, was truly one of the most passionate and profound poets in history. Now, today his presence still remains strong, due in part to how his words seem to drip of the divine, and startle a profound remembrance that links all back to the Soul-Essence. Born in what is present day Afghanistan in 1207, he produced his master work the Masnawi which consists of over 60,000 poems before he died in 1273. The best way to fully say in words his impact, is that he has the ability to describe the Indescribable, Ineffable-- God.
