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‘Deraa’ (inner dress), Central Region, Bani Tamim Tribe, 2009 © Art of Heritage (see page 14) About the London Institute (LMEI) Volume 7 - Number 8 April-May 2011 Th e London Middle East Institute (LMEI) draws upon the resources of London and SOAS to provide teaching, training, research, publication, consultancy, outreach and other services related to the Middle Editorial Board East. It serves as a neutral forum for Middle East studies broadly defi ned and helps to create links between Nadje Al-Ali individuals and institutions with academic, commercial, diplomatic, media or other specialisations. SOAS With its own professional staff of Middle East experts, the LMEI is further strengthened by its academic Narguess Farzad SOAS membership – the largest concentration of Middle East expertise in any institution in . Th e LMEI also Nevsal Hughes has access to the SOAS Library, which houses over 150,000 volumes dealing with all aspects of the Middle Association of European Journalists East. LMEI’s Advisory Council is the driving force behind the Institute’s fundraising programme, for which Najm Jarrah it takes primary responsibility. It seeks support for the LMEI generally and for specifi c components of its George Joff é programme of activities. Cambridge University Max Scott Stacey International Sarah Searight Mission Statement: Society for Arabian Studies Kathryn Spellman Poots Th e aim of the LMEI, through education and research, is to promote knowledge of all aspects of the Middle AKU and LMEI East including its complexities, problems, achievements and assets, both among the general public and with Sarah Stewart LMEI those who have a special interest in the region. In this task it builds on two essential assets. First, it is based Ionis Th ompson in London, a city which has unrivalled contemporary and historical connections and communications with Society for Arabian Studies, the Middle East including political, social, cultural, commercial and educational aspects. Secondly, the LMEI Saudi-British Society is closely linked to SOAS, the only tertiary educational institution in the world whose explicit purpose is to Shelagh Weir SOAS provide education and scholarship on the whole Middle East from prehistory until today.

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LMEI Board of Trustees 4 16 23 Professor Paul Webley (Chairman) EDITORIAL Liwa: journal of the National BOOKS IN BRIEF Director, SOAS Center for Documentation and H E Sir Vincent Fean KCVO Research, United Arab Emirates Consul General to Jerusalem Geoff rey King Dr Ben Fortna, SOAS 5 25 Professor Graham Furniss, SOAS FEEDBACK IN MEMORIAM Professor Robert Hillenbrand Th e death of a distinguished Edinburgh University 17 generation of scholars Dr Karima Laachir, SOAS Manhattan comes to Makkah Mr Charles Richards 6 Samar Al-Sayed Professor Annabelle Sreberny, SOAS INSIGHT Professor Sami Zubaida Th e Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty – 26 Birkbeck doomed to failure? LISTINGS: APRIL-MAY LMEI Advisory Council Patrick Seale 18 EVENTS Th e British Foundation for the Lady Barbara Judge (Chair) Study of Arabia Professor Muhammad A. S. Abdel Haleem Near and Middle East Department, SOAS Sarah Searight H E Khalid Al-Duwaisan GVCO 8 Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Kuwait THE GCC STATES Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani Arab International Women’s Forum Th e Gulf and its Indian entanglements Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa 19 President, University College of Bahrain Caroline Osella POETRY Professor Tony Allan Saad al-Humaidin and Suad al- King’s College and SOAS Mubarak al-Sabah Dr Alanoud Alsharekh LMEI and Fellow, St Antony’s College 10 Mr Farad Azima Heritage Foundation Th e battle for infl uence: women’s 20 Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif suff rage in Kuwait ROAD TO JERICHO Art and Archaeology Department, SOAS Lindsey Stephenson ‘Th e message is always much Dr Noel Brehony stronger through music’ MENAS Associates Ltd. Randa Safi eh on a concert tour of Mr Charles L. O. Buderi Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP British, American and Palestinian Dr Elham Danish 12 musicians coming soon to London Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Away from oil and towards Professor Nasser D. Khalili innovation: the drive to diversify Nour Foundation Gulf economies Mr Kasim Kutay Moelis & Company Kenneth Wilson 22 Ms Heidi Minshall REVIEWS: BOOKS Middle East & North Africa Research Ottoman Brothers: Muslims, Group, Foreign & Commonwealth Offi ce Christians, and Jews in Early Mr Rod Sampson Barclays Wealth, 14 Twentieth-Century Palestine by Dr Mai Yamani Th e Art of Heritage collection: a Michelle U Campos Carnegie Middle East Centre history of Saudi Arabia in textiles Roberto Mazza Michelle Motiwalla and Pramod Founding Sponsor and Kumar Member of the Advisory Council Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber MBI Al Jaber Foundation

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 3 EEDITORIALDITORIAL

DDearear RReadereader

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, designed by I M Pei and Jean-Michel Wilmotte

Sarah Searight, MEL Editorial Board

he fl uidity of events in the Middle relevant in this respect: for instance, the in the UAE, described by Geoff rey King East region will be well known power of money in the construction boom as ‘an essential point of reference for Gulf Tto our readers, and its impact is in Makkah, the diffi culty Kuwaiti women regional studies’, and from Saudi Arabia, unpredictable. For this reason, although this face in making their newly acquired vote the Art of Heritage collection – the crucial issue is focused on the Gulf Cooperation eff ective (they have fi nally acquired four preservation of the country’s material Council (GCC) states, our ‘Insight’ seats in the national assembly) and the need culture. Th ese are heartening developments contribution by the renowned Middle East to diversity GCC economies partly in order at a time of widespread regional commentator Patrick Seale assesses an old to provide employment in the private sector. disturbance. Equally appropriate is Randa issue still pertinent to the entire region: the Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman have all been Safi eh’s article on a concert tour of British, future of the Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty shaken by protests for better representation American and Palestinian musicians in the post-Mubarak era. and better employment prospects. coming soon to London that aims to change As we know, the Gulf states, too, have However, this issue also draws the public’s image of Palestine by bringing had their share of upheavals. It is therefore attention to some of the exciting cultural to as wide as possible an audience the apt to look at the region in terms of developments within the GCC. Alongside chance to hear the cry of Palestinians for poverty, unemployment and corruption – the architectural fl amboyance of new freedom through music. aggravated by rising food prices – rather museums up and down the Arabian shore, than merely oil wealth. Several of the it is good to read of two developments: the articles in the current issue are indeed arrival of Liwa, a new journal published

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I JUST read the article ‘Wither Sanctions?’ I HAVE been really enjoying reading THE NEW format is wonderful. in Th e Middle East in London. I must admit the magazine – I am keen to contribute Congratulations! that I really enjoyed it. I have passed it to sometime. our partners and everyone showed a lot of Norbert Hirschhorn MD interest in reading it. Karen Zarindast, Persian TV, BBC World Service Shahrzad Atai, solicitor at GSC solicitors I’M sorry that the LMEI magazine only LLP comes out six times a year now. It was a WHAT A wonderful surprise I had when monthly highlight. I opened my copy today – thank you and Fiona Elliott CONGRATULATIONS on the new your team so much for putting Hojat’s work magazine format and image. It looks on the cover, it looks brilliant. I haven’t had fantastic! time to read the whole issue yet but it looks like you have all been working hard! Charles Buderi, LMEI Advisory Council Janet Rady, Janet Rady Fine Art Al SAQI BOOKS

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26 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RH www.alsaqibookshop.comApril-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 5 IINSIGHTNSIGHT

As political upheavals sweep across the Middle East and North Africa, veteran journalist Patrick Seale off ers his thoughts on the likely future of the agreement TThehe IIsrael-Egyptsrael-Egypt PPeaceeace TTreatyreaty

– doomed to failure?

srael has been unnerved by Egypt’s peace, since a dominant Israel saw no need characterised the Middle East to this day, Revolution. Th e reason is simple: it fears to compose or compromise with Syria or as well as to the sharpening of popular Ifor the survival of the 1979 Peace Treaty the Palestinians. grievances, and the inevitable explosions – a treaty which, by neutralising Egypt, Instead, the Treaty opened the way for that have followed. guaranteed Israel’s military dominance over Israeli invasions, occupations and massacres Emboldened by the Treaty, Israel smashed the region for the next three decades. in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981 and, By removing Egypt – the strongest and for strikes against Iraqi and Syrian nuclear the following year, invaded Lebanon in most populous of the Arab countries – sites, brazen threats against Iran, the 44-year a bid to destroy the PLO, expel Syrian from the Arab line-up, the Treaty ruled out occupation of the West Bank and the cruel infl uence and bring Lebanon into Israel’s any possibility of an Arab coalition that blockade of Gaza and for the pursuit of a orbit. Israel’s 1982 invasion and siege of might have contained Israel or restrained ‘Greater Israel’ agenda by fanatical Jewish killed some 17,000 Lebanese and its freedom of action. As Israel’s Foreign settlers and religious nationalists. Palestinians. In an act of great immorality, Minister, Moshe Dayan, remarked at the In turn, Arab dictators, invoking the Israel then provided cover (and arc-lights) time: ‘If a wheel is removed, the car will not challenge they faced from an aggressive and to its Maronite allies as they engaged in a run again.’ expansionist Israel, were able to justify the two-day slaughter of helpless Palestinians Western commentators routinely describe need to maintain tight control over their at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. the Treaty as a ‘pillar of regional stability’, populations by means of harsh security Israel remained in occupation of southern a ‘keystone of Middle East diplomacy’, a measures. Lebanon for the next 18 years, until driven ‘centrepiece of America’s diplomacy’ in the Th e Israeli-Egyptian Treaty has out in 2000 by Hizbullah guerrillas. So Arab and Muslim world. Th is is certainly contributed hugely to the dangerous much for the Peace Treaty’s contribution to how Israel and its American friends have instability and raw nerves that have Middle East peace and stability. seen it. But for most Arabs, it has been a disaster. Far from bringing peace, the Treaty ensured an absence of Far from providing stability, it exposed them to Israeli power. Far from bringing peace, since a dominant Israel saw no need to compose peace, the Treaty ensured an absence of or compromise with Syria or the Palestinians

6 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 Th e origins of the Peace Treaty can be traced to the diplomacy of Henry Kissinger, Whether the Treaty survives or not, Egypt’s alliance with President Nixon’s National Security Adviser Israel will not be the intimate relationship it was at the time of the October War. Anxious above all to protect Israel and contemptuous of Palestinian and Syrian aspirations, the prevailing wisdom in Washington. strategic environment. Israel ‘lost’ Iran when Kissinger manoeuvered Egypt’s Anwar Th e Obama administration is reported to the Shah was overthrown in 1979. Th is was al-Sadat out of his alliance with both Syria have told Egypt’s military chiefs that they followed by the emergence of a Tehran- and the Soviet Union, and towards a cosy must maintain the treaty. In turn, Egypt’s Damascus-Hizbullah axis, which has sought relationship with Israel and the United Supreme Military Council has said that to challenge Israel’s regional hegemony. States. Egypt will honour existing treaties. So there Over the past couple of years, Israel has also With the 1975 Sinai Disengagement will evidently not be any revocation of the ‘lost’ Turkey, a former ally of real weight. Agreement, Kissinger removed Egypt from Treaty. No one in Egypt or in the Arab It is now in danger of ‘losing’ Egypt. Th e the battlefi eld – a fateful decision that led world favours a return to military action, threat looms of regional isolation. directly to the Camp David accords of 1978, nor is ready for it. Still, the Treaty may well Moreover, Israel’s relentless seizure of and the Peace Treaty of 1979. Sadat may be put on ice. Palestinian land on the West Bank and its have hoped for a comprehensive peace, We do not yet know the colour of the refusal to engage in serious negotiations involving the Palestinians and Syria. But next Egyptian government. In any event, with the Palestinians and Syria on the basis he was out-foxed by Israel’s Prime Minister it will be hugely preoccupied with pressing of ‘land for peace’ have lost it many former Menachem Begin, a fervent Zionist who domestic problems for the foreseeable supporters in Europe and the United States. was determined to destroy Palestinian future. If, as is widely expected, this It is well aware that it faces a threat of ‘de- nationalism and prevent the return of the government will have a strong civilian legitimisation’. West Bank to the Arabs. Begin was happy component drawn from the various strands How will Israel react to the Egyptian to return the Sinai to Egypt in order to keep of the protest movement, adjustments of Revolution? Will it move troops to its the West Bank. Egypt’s foreign policy must be expected. border with Egypt, strengthen its defences, Weakened at home by pro-Israeli It is highly unlikely that Egypt will desperately seek allies in the Egyptian forces, President Jimmy Carter witnessed continue Hosni Mubarak’s policy – deeply military junta now temporarily in charge, unhappily the scaling down of his peace embarrassing to Egyptian opinion – of and plead for still more American aid? Or eff ort from its original multilateral aims to colluding with Israel in the blockade of will it make a determined bid to resolve its a mere bilateral outcome – a separate Israeli- Gaza. Nor is the new Egypt likely to persist territorial confl icts with Syria and Lebanon Egyptian peace. Washington swallowed in Mubarak’s hostility towards the Islamic and allow the emergence of an independent Israel’s argument that the Treaty ruled Republic of Iran and the two resistance Palestinian state with its capital in East out the threat of a regional war and was movements, Hamas and Hizbullah. Jerusalem? therefore in America’s interest. Egypt’s army Whether the Treaty survives or not, Egypt’s Israel urgently needs to rethink its was given $1.3bn annual USA subsidy. Th is alliance with Israel will not be the intimate security doctrine. Th is is the clear lesson of was not to make it more warlike, on the relationship it was. the dramatic events in Egypt. Dominating contrary, to keep it at peace with Israel. Th e Egyptian Revolution is only the latest the region by force of arms – Israel’s Defence of the Peace Treaty remains demonstration of the change in Israel’s doctrine since the creation of the State – is increasingly becoming less of a viable option. It serves only to arouse ferocious and growing resistance, which must eventually erupt into violence. Israel needs a revolution in its security thinking, but of this there is as yet no sign. Only peace, not arms, can guarantee Israel’s long-term security.

Patrick Seale is a renowned journalist and leading writer on the Middle East, and the author of several books, most recently Th e Struggle for Arab Independence (2010)

(Opposite) Anwar El Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter sign the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978 (Left) Protesters in Tahrir Square, February 2011

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 7 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES © Fillippo Osella Caroline Osella explores the history and contemporary mutual interdependence of the Gulf-Indian relationship

TThehe GGulfulf aandnd iitsts IIndianndian eentanglementsntanglements

s an anthropologist working in to consumer goods and prestige it brought. over and over would proudly show me Kerala, South India, I realised as Young girls hoped to marry migrants, around shopping malls, hotel lobbies, Asoon as I arrived for fi eldwork in dreaming of clean newly built villas public parks. And over and over I would 1989 that I would have to visit the Gulf. furnished with those elusive and utterly hear the claim: ‘We built this place: there India’s economy in those days was still a desirable consumer goods. was nothing here before. We had the closed one, and I was working in a rural Th e Indian economy liberalised in 1991, technological know-how, the skills. Th is area. Th e Gulf seemed mainly to exert wage diff erentials closed and the Kerala place was just desert. Th ey had nothing.’ its infl uence in that village in the form fl ood was confi dently predicted to thin to Th is is, of course, an exaggeration, which of a vigorous economy of migration and a trickle – but it never did, despite various overlooks the pre-oil Gulf economies smuggling. A period of Gulf migration ups and downs in the job market and the in areas such as pearl fi shing and date off ered village young men a chance to political situation, as Dr Adam Hanieh here cultivation and an export trade that escape rural unemployment and make in SOAS Development Studies has been fl ourished all around the Indian Ocean. But some money with which to begin to build a exploring. the hyperbolic claim of the Indian migrant house and start a family. Migration graft ed When I eventually (in 1995) fi rst visited is a way of resisting the diminishing eff ects itself into local expectations as a normal the Gulf, I understood how far an academic of a label like ‘temporary labour migrant’ part of the ideal male life cycle, and a spell label like ‘temporary labour migration’ and of claiming relationship to a place that in the Gulf came to act as a rite of passage, misses the point; and – frankly – is doing would try its best to refuse that relationship turning callow rural boys into work-craft ed political work. Th e South Asia-Gulf – or the obligations and connection that proper adult men – men of substance and connection has nothing temporary or relationship brings. worldly experience. Every family wanted ephemeral about it. Another common claim is that ‘we run to have a migrant in it, for the cash, access Malayalis (as Keralites know themselves) this place; the locals would be helpless without us’. Such claims are not simple boastfulness, but are part of migrant Sending home all the Pakistani taxi drivers is one thing; but can attempts to remind us all – especially the Sri Lankan housemaids upon whom Gulf citizens now Khaleejis (Gulf citizens) themselves – that the Gulf economy and lifestyle, as it is now, so readily depend be so easily dispensed with? would simply not be sustainable without its

8 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 Th at the connection goes back way beyond the oil and migration (conceptually, materially and linguistically, in some cases, given that South India’s boom is something all too easy to overlook these days Muslims have Arabic, not Urdu, as their second language, while Hindi hardly exists across south India) than Dubai. Nor can migrants. Malayalis laugh at programmes consumer modernity is infl ected by Islam, a anybody working in the Gulf ignore the of emiratisation, omanisation and so on, mix these migrants fi nd attractive. Material eff ects of the migrant populations who live pointing out that, in practice, infrastructure life (cooking, house-building, clothing and work there (between 50 and 90 per and lifestyle depend upon a range of and so on) shows strong and clear Gulf cent of the total population). A project I am workers – from professionals and the highly infl uence: some aspects (drinking cava) are currently involved in draws together SOAS skilled to the unskilled and those willing longstanding; others (the abaya fashion) researchers with expertise and interests in to do domestic or other tough jobs – who are recent, and all mingle to produce a deep how people experience cities, beyond banal are simply not to be found among Gulf sense among these coastal Muslims that, categories of ethnic identity, residential nationals. Sending home all the Pakistani as one woman told me, ‘I am Gulf!’ – and, quarter, social class and other sociological taxi drivers and training up locals is one as I have argued, we cannot and must not commonplaces. We are trying to explore, thing; but can the Sri Lankan housemaids disentangle ‘Gulf’ from ‘Kerala’ in academic by means of a focus on sensory aspects of a upon whom Gulf citizens now so readily analyses. place, how Gulf citizens move through their depend be so easily dispensed with? Do we Th at the connection goes back way landscapes, experience them, are aff ected by really see coming any time soon enough beyond the oil and migration boom is and make sense (or fail to) of the richness educated and world-class engineers or something all too easy to overlook these that surrounds them. Th e Gulf is too easily doctors among the locals to service even days. Arab traders and sailors used to pass stereotyped as an empty or synthetic space: existing projects? months sitting tight in Kerala, waiting for it is richly complex and in many ways Th e harshness with which migrants’ winds to turn favourable. Since the 1970s, an ethnographer’s dream. It would be a claims and judgments are oft en made is not even as Gulf-Kerala connections have wonderful moment for accepting the reality born of simple motives. Th ere is a cry in intensifi ed and spread to a wider slice of of Gulf society if Gulf citizens themselves these claims for Khaleejis to recognise and Kerala society, Malayalis have seen the recognised and valued their entanglements. respect the fact of contemporary mutual relationship progressively downplayed interdependence and of historically deep and overlooked as their erstwhile clients Dr Caroline Osella is Reader in Anthropology entanglement. As much as the housemaid and collaborators – partners in trade, at SOAS needs that job, her employer (especially philanthropy, sociality and even marriage now that Gulf women are entering higher – turned into wealthy patrons, eager to education and the workforce in such consolidate new nation states and produce numbers) needs the domestic worker’s help. purifi ed histories and national identities. From the Indian side, two aspects of In my work, I cannot stand as a simple (Opp0site) A Kerala migrant returns to Calicut the relationships are especially interesting: ‘South Asianist’; I’ve oft en found myself airport and is reunited with his family fi rstly, the ways in which diff erent regions of trying to explain to Indian academic (Below) The ‘uru’ or ‘dhow’, used since antiquity Kerala and religious communities in Kerala audiences that from where we sit in for Indian ocean trade, was built at Beypore in experience the Gulf and hence evaluate it Kerala, Delhi is more alien and distant coastal north Kerala diff erently; and secondly, the depth and breadth of the mutual entanglement of Kerala and the Gulf region, such that we can claim that ‘the Gulf is in Kerala, and Kerala is in the Gulf’. For the fi rst, I have found (unsurprisingly) that Kerala Hindus oft en feel ambivalent about the Gulf and have clearly stated goals of temporary migration with return to the homeland, while Kerala’s Christians, who have been a backbone of Gulf hospitals and clinics, oft en hope to use the Gulf as stepping stone to the USA. Th ere is a greater degree of ease, familiarity and comfort and a tendency to evaluate Gulf life and society positively among Kerala’s coastal Muslim communities, whose second language is Arabic and who have a history (recorded back to the 10th century but clearly even older) of trade partnerships. It is also relevant that in India, Muslims are a beleaguered minority; the Gulf off ers a comfortable space, and one where

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 9 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES Since women won the right to vote in 2005, the Kuwaiti political landscape has shifted. Yet there is more change to come, argues Lindsey Stephenson TThehe bbattleattle forfor iinnfl uence:uence: women’s suff rage in Kuwait

ft er a hard-fought battle with Th ey felt that this stance was necessary if an unexpected dissolution of parliament by the Kuwait parliament, Kuwaiti women were to be seen as any consequence the Emir – three years early. Two months Awomen gained the right to vote in to elections, both as constituents and as were allocated to prepare for these elections, 2005. Since then they have taken part in legitimate representatives in parliament. yet this time women came much closer to elections three times. Th e narrowly Th is stance meant defeat in the fi rst two winning. Th e condensed electoral districts passed with the aid of votes from appointed elections but those involved throughout the meant that top 10 vote recipients in each ministers. Since then, suff rage of Kuwaiti suff rage process were not deterred. Th ey district would be elected, and female women has maintained the general trend of recognised that time would be needed to candidates placed 11th and 15th in one of politics and more oft en than not bolstered train female candidates, acclimate voters the districts. In the most recent elections in the position of conservative and Islamist – both male and female – to new realities 2009, women acquired four seats including elements, contrary to the fears of many and to gain the confi dence of potential a fi rst and second placing in two districts. conservative politicians. Given this, women constituents. Yet four seats for women in parliament have made an impact on the elections. Beyond these challenges, additional did not mean four seats for any particular Constituting around 56 per cent of voters, strain was induced by the dissolution of ideological faction. To be sure, none are their presence has necessitated a revamp of parliament and snap elections – on all three of Islamist or Salafi persuasion. Offi cial Kuwaiti elections institutionally, logistically occasions. Women were scheduled to fi rst political parties in Kuwait are illegal, and rhetorically. But women’s suff rage has participate in the parliamentary elections although there are political movements, not, as some had feared, meant a sweeping of 2007. However, the parliament was blocs and alliances. Th e currently elected liberalisation of policies. dissolved in May of 2006 and candidates female MPs are not a single bloc, with only An arrant refusal to accept a were allowed scarcely a month to prepare one of them having ever run as a member representational quota in parliament makes for new elections. 27 women ran and none of a bloc. Being a member of these factions the accomplishments of Kuwaiti women in were elected. has by no means been necessary to win a politics striking. From the outset, Kuwaiti Th e second elections of 2008 were again seat and there is no evidence to suggest that women leaders unanimously argued only shrouded with uncertainties for women due aligning with a group actually increases for the right to vote and stand for election. to an overhaul of the electoral districts and the chance of winning. In fact, these loose affi liations make it much easier for candidates to be ideologically ambiguous or Th e presence of women has necessitated a revamp of Kuwaiti amorphous. Each of the female MPs are considered elections institutionally, logistically and rhetorically to some degree liberal. It is however

10 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 simplistic to suggest that Kuwaiti politics is only stratifi ed between the ideological Th rough suff rage, Kuwaiti women have made a case to poles of liberal and Islamist. At present, have regular social and political gatherings with the more divisive contentions are between Hadhar Kuwaitis who have been settled other unrelated women throughout the year in the region since the 18th century and Bedu Kuwaitis, nomadic people, who were made nationals in the 1960’s. Other notable events, this framework has not existed for been a fi xture present in Kuwaiti male political contentions exist between the women. Furthermore, social constraints culture and are only now extending to the pro-government merchant class and tribal dictate that women and men should women’s realm. Th is new-found movement groups and the Shia’ and Sunni. not attend mixed gatherings, so mirror and interaction outside of the family that What is fascinating about these institutions for women have sprung up. It is has been facilitated by women’s suff rage overlapping layers of affi liation is that this restructuring of institutions, rather than will certainly be a relevant force for shaping because Kuwaitis each have four votes, the votes themselves that is causing the most Kuwaiti society. they oft en vote for four candidates who change in Kuwaiti society. Women’s suff rage has brought many represent diff erent facets of their identity Because women’s votes are very fi rsts to the country oft en touted as the or sensitivities. A voter once remarked signifi cant, at least numerically, families are most democratic nation in the Middle that they voted for one individual because willing and encouraging of women to attend East. New candidates and constituents she was smart in economic matters, one campaign events outside the home at night. that refl ect a more holistic picture of the because he was Hadhari, one because he While this same attitude applies to major Kuwaiti polity have reinvigorated the was pro-government and one because he events like weddings and family gatherings, already vibrant political scene. However, was a family friend. Others will for example, it is not extended to general social outings. the most signifi cant changes thus far have cast three votes for ‘good Muslims’ and Th ose should be limited, and only take place not manifested themselves in parliament, one ‘from the heart’. Th is type of voting during the day. However, regardless of each but through the social consequences of oft en leads to a gridlocked parliament. woman’s veracity for understanding policies redefi ned political institutions. Fortunately, the demands of women have and platforms, for many attendees these been extremely consistent. Th ey have events are legitimate excuses to get out and Lindsey Stephenson is an MA student at the articulated shared goals, regardless of their socialise. And the more interesting part is – Institute for the Study representational responsibilities, which how this legitimate civic duty is prying open of Muslim Civilisations and was a Fulbright should make it easier for them to work the social sphere outside of election season fellow in Kuwait in 2007-2008 together. as well. So what are women demanding? Under the auspices of civic In 2008, from the most liberal to the responsibilities, some Kuwaiti women have most conservative, Shia, Sunni, tribal, made a legitimate case for their need to have merchant, pro-government and opposition regular social and political gatherings with persuasions, women constituents were other unrelated women throughout the year. asking for the same three things: the Daily gatherings – diwaniyyat – have always right to pass their citizenship to their husbands and children, a fi ght against corruption, particularly in the Ministry of Health, which is known to sponsor trips abroad for well-connected individuals and thirdly was the revision of the statute that prohibits unmarried or widowed women from receiving the housing loan exclusively available for Kuwaiti men. Th eir requests were fairly straightforward but communicating them to the candidates is a slightly more convoluted process. Incorporating women into the electoral process isn’t as simple as doubling the number of chairs at election rallies. It has meant the creation of new institutions. While men have long had traditional social gatherings, easily refashioned into campaign

(Opposite) Young Kuwaiti women on the campaign trail (Right) Kuwaiti elected lawmaker Dr Aseel Al Awadhi and Marzooq Al Ghanim during the reopening of Kuwait National Assembly, May 2009

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 11 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES

The Gulf states are striving for international competitiveness by shifting towards knowledge-based economies, but diversifi cation is diffi cult, says Kenneth Wilson

AAwayway ffromrom ooilil aandnd ttowardsowards iinnovation:nnovation: the drive to diversify Gulf economies

here is a quiet economic revolution A commonly held belief in Gulf states economically means that others are doing occurring in the Gulf that will is that diversifi ed economies are more worse. In reality, Gulf states benefi t when Tinevitably lead to very diff erent internationally competitive because they there is stronger economic growth in the economic structures in each Gulf state to are more able to ride out commodity price rest of the world, particularly when there is those that exist today. Although each state fl uctuations. Norway and Australia are an increase in demand for hydrocarbons, is diff erent in terms of its hydrocarbon examples of diversifi ed, knowledge and which boosts their oil and gas revenues. dependence, increasingly they seek to commodity-based economies. Th e Gulf states are quite heterogeneous move their economies away from oil and It is not precisely clear what in terms of their basic economic and social gas dependence and public sector-based ‘competitiveness’ means for a national structures. Saudi Arabia dwarfs the other employment for their nationals. Th is shift economy. ‘Competitiveness’ is also in some Gulf states in many ways, but particularly is driven by a shared vision of creating ways an unfortunate term as it suggests with respect to population. Qatar and more innovative, knowledge-based and that nations are competing like athletes for Bahrain have tiny populations for nation internationally competitive economies. medals and that one nation doing better states and are not much bigger than the size of a regional city in many countries of Gulf states increasingly want to move their economies away the world. Dependency on non-nationals, particularly in non-public enterprise, is from oil and gas dependency to knowledge-based economies greatest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

12 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 and Qatar but still substantial in Kuwait and Bahrain. Oman and Saudi Arabia In education and innovation, two key drivers of the knowledge are the least dependent, in relative terms, economy, none of the Gulf states are internationally competitive upon non-nationals, but neither would be able to run their economies successfully without substantial input from non-national Composite indicators such as GCI and a range of traded goods and these can be labour. Non-national labour takes many DBI are interesting, but they are not able weighted appropriately to derive an index forms but includes the complete labour to tell us in a detailed or disaggregated of overall external price competitiveness. market spectrum from highly skilled and way much about the drivers behind Abstracting from transport costs and taxes, highly mobile knowledge workers all the nternational competitiveness or their if global markets are competitive then way through to low-skilled and low-paid specifi c characteristics unless we disentangle the price of the same good should be the labourers from neighboring countries, but them and also have a clearer defi nition same all around the world provided the even from as far away as China. and understanding of the concept of good is traded. Unfortunately, there are So how internationally competitive international competitiveness itself. Indeed, no reliable data on relative labour costs or are the Gulf economies? We can look to there is by no means universal agreement on productivity for the Gulf states, and so the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) that such composite indicators tell us we are unable to perform an external cost produced by the World Economic Forum very much, particularly when there are competitiveness comparison. (WEF) and the Doing Business Index four dimensions of competitiveness that Any economy is likely to be more (DBI) produced by the World Bank for infl uence any economy. Th ese include competitive if it has innovative and some advice. According to the GCI, Qatar internal market competitiveness, external entrepreneurial enterprises that form part and UAE are quite internationally even price competitiveness, external cost of a strong knowledge economy. WEF has more competitive at rank positions 17 and competitiveness and competitiveness based been looking at growth competitiveness 25, respectively, in a fi eld of 139 countries. on growth fundamentals. for more than two decades and has over Saudi Arabia also ranks well at 21, while Using data from WEF we can conclude time refi ned its ideas and measurement Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman are less that although there is some unevenness approaches to develop a method for internationally competitive. With respect across indicators, generally speaking, comparing the international growth to the DBI, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are UAE and Qatar are quite internationally competitiveness of countries. WEF defi nes internationally competitive at rank positions competitive with respect to internal market competitiveness as ‘the set of institutions, 11 and 28, respectively (out of a fi eld of 183 competitiveness. Oman is not far behind, policies, and factors that determine the level countries), while UAE and Qatar rank quite but comfortably ahead of Bahrain and Saudi of productivity of a country’. reasonably, though Kuwait and Oman are Arabia, but Kuwait lags substantially behind Using WEF data, UAE and Qatar not internationally competitive. and cannot be considered internationally are quite internationally competitive competitive in this regard. in infrastructure, macro economy and Measuring external price competitiveness technological readiness, while the other in international markets requires converting Gulf states generally are considerably less domestic prices into a common currency so. However, in the areas of education so they can be compared. An example is the and innovation, two key drivers of the annual exercise conducted by the Economist knowledge economy and enablers of magazine in compiling its ‘Big Mac’ index. economic diversifi cation, none of the Gulf Th e Economist converts the local price states is internationally competitive. of a Big Mac burger, chosen because Big Time will tell how successful the Macs are basically the same all over the Gulf states are in moving away from a world, into US dollars. Unfortunately, the hydrocarbon-based economy. Th is change is Economist does not collect data on Big Macs necessary if they are to provide employment for all Gulf states. According to the latest for their nationals in productive private data (for Big Macs purchased on July 21, sector work. Th e challenges are great and 2010), a Big Mac in Saudi Arabia is $2.67, time may be against them. Th e recent compared to $2.99 in UAE and of $3.73 in upheavals in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain the US. Th e cheapest Big Macs are in Sri have not gone unnoticed in Gulf states and Lanka at $1.90 and the most expensive are there are many young Gulf nationals with in Norway at $7.20. labour market aspirations currently not If we assume that Big Macs are roughly being met. However, already the economies the same price in other Gulf states as of the Gulf look diff erent today compared to they are in UAE and Saudi Arabia, then fi ve years ago, and change continues. we can conclude that, based on the Big Mac index, the Gulf states are reasonably Dr Kenneth Wilson is Director of the competitive in the global market for Big National Research Foundation, UAE Macs, certainly more competitive than (Opposite) A developing skyline in Saudi Arabia the US and Norway. However, this is not particularly helpful since Big Macs are not (Above) King Abdullah Economic City, a major mixed-use business centre in western Saudi traded internationally. But, in principle Arabia the same exercise can be undertaken for

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 13 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES Michelle Motiwalla and Pramod Kumar report on the early stages of the Art of Heritage collection archival project TThehe AArtrt ooff HHeritageeritage ccollection:ollection: a history of Saudi

© Art of Heritage © Arabia in textiles

he Art of Heritage Group, based income for the group’s charitable works and antique clothing and textiles has inspired in Riyadh, has a long history of generate employment for women. the reproduction garments created from Tcommitment to social improvement. Driven by concerns over the rapid these priceless resources. Handmade from At the core of the creative group, is the disappearance of the kingdom’s rich and start to fi nish in their Riyadh workshops, largest and oldest women’s charity in the varied material culture, more than two every dress is fully hand-embroidered – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Al Nahda decades ago the group’s founders and board an example of bespoke couture based on Philanthropic Society for Women. members assembled a comprehensive, native, traditional designs. In this way, the Celebrating 50 years of service in October unique collection of traditional garments, modern Art of Heritage-Al Nahda garments 2012, Al Nahda supports the welfare of jewelry, household items, artifacts and have become a living link to the past that women and works closely with other pottery from every region in Saudi Arabia: modern Saudi women and brides treasure women’s groups throughout the country. the Art of Heritage collection. Th e purpose as new family heirlooms. Art of Heritage is an unusual group of the collection then, as now, was to Th e Art of Heritage Group is also creating with an unusual mission and background. preserve the garments worn by mothers and a catalogue and archive of the collection in Previously known as the Heritage Center grandmothers as traditional symbols of the order to provide a reference for the textile (a division of Al Nahda founded nearly past and to serve as a reference point for the history of the region. 20 years ago), Art of Heritage today acts production of modern replicas. Th is is crucial as, to date, there is no as the commercial and marketing arm of Th e Art of Heritage collection of original reference point for information about Al Nahda. Re-structured and registered as a private company in July 2009, the Th e collection numbers nearly 5,000 garments objective of Art of Heritage is to continue its past eff orts as a not-for-profi t company and accessories, allowing for an in-depth with a goal to build long-term, sustainable examination of original source materials

14 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 textiles from the Arabian Peninsula past and One of the most interesting observations has been the present. Th is study of the Art of Heritage collection will be the fi rst detailed look at infl uence on these garments from the region’s extensive the varied costumes of the Kingdom of trade links with the rest of the world Saudi Arabia and the infl uences that have shaped them. Such rapid changes across the kingdom’s and several forms of headgear. Others of Th e collection numbers nearly 5,000 rich and ancient tribal societies ensured that a similar age are from the south western garments and accessories, allowing for an regional diff erences in traditional costumes region. in-depth examination of original source and sub-tribal variations were almost Najdi costumes and textiles form the materials. Apart from garments, the immediately obliterated. Th e evidence that second largest signifi cant section of the collection also holds an extensive array they existed can today perhaps only be collection, also with examples from the of soft furnishings used by bedouin and seen among the vast holdings of the Art of early 20th century. Clothing from the eastern nomadic tribes. Essentially fl at woven Heritage archives. region forms the most modern group of textiles, the collection includes carpets, rugs, One of the most interesting observations textiles in the collection. pillows, cushion covers, tent fabrics, saddle in preliminary studies has been the clear Th ere is a small but signifi cant section of furniture and trappings. infl uence on these garments from the garments used by Queen Eff at; these, along Th e Art of Heritage archives reveal the region’s extensive trade links with the rest with costumes and textiles belonging to fascinating and little known story of the of the world. Hijaz has historically been other members of the Saudi royal family, many layers of the kingdom’s history and a point of confl uence for Muslims from complete the collection, which is a valuable its rich, varied clothing culture. Common across the world. Th e port city of Jeddah, resource to document the history of textiles traits in textile traditions with neighbouring the holy cities of Mecca and Medina have in the region. countries are frequently spotted, revealing all assimilated fabrics brought in by visiting a wealth of information on the possible pilgrims and trade caravans, for nearly two Michelle Motiwalla and Pramod Kumar evolution of a particular style and traces millennia. assist with the Art of Heritage collection of its origin. Colour, texture and fi ne Four centuries of Ottoman rule and the archive embroidery are popular in the archive and establishment of the Hijaz railway line from sit in stark contrast to the black abaya, a Damascus in 1908 proved to be another prevailing stereotype of the region’s textile major conduit for the arrival of textiles from tradition. A great deal of work remains to the northern countries. (Opposite) Bridal costume, Hejaz , 2009. Extravagant pink costume: outer ‘thobe’ and be done for a better understanding of Saudi Possibly the oldest garments in the group inner dress ‘dera’a’ illustrates various infl uences Arabia’s textile legacy, both in terms of its (some of which date back to the early brought by pilgrims th native origins and distinct regional styles 20 century) are from the Hijaz region, (Below) Najdi ‘thobe’, Central Region, patchwork and infl uences. From the infl uences for including heavily embroidered garments and embroidery, 2010 pattern design, to the base fabrics and varied

forms of embellishments and embroideries, © Art of Heritage there are so many stories to be told. Th e costumes from the diff erent regions of the kingdom are heavily infl uenced by the textile arts and traditions of surrounding countries as well as the extensive trade networks that have historically included Arabia as its crossroads. Th e project will also illuminate how the clothes were used by diff erent communities as everyday wear, formal wear at weddings, religious ceremonies and celebrations across varied rites of passage. Th e symbology behind the patterns used will form an integral part of this study. Th e political changes of the 20th century and the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia in 1932 was to have a far-reaching eff ect on the lives of its then largely nomadic people. Until that time, the people of the kingdom were relatively isolated from direct foreign infl uences in everyday life and rather, assimilated infl uences into their own styles and usages. A booming oil economy, industrialisation, transition to urban living and the adoption of Western wear came in quick succession.

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 15 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES LLiwa:iwa: journal of the National Center for Documentation and Research

Geoff rey King on a distinctive new academic journal published in the United Arab Emirates

review. Liwa 1.1 sets the intent of the unique photographic record of nurse ‘Dr journal’s policy. Mu‘awiya Ibrahim surveys Latifa’ – Gertrude Dyck – showing the life the Islamic architecture of SE Arabia as a of the royal family and of women in the last whole, a welcome study of a once neglected century in . subject. Agnelo Fernandes addresses the B J Slot analyses in Liwa 1.2 aspects of legacy of the Portuguese administration of French relations with the Gulf shaykhdoms the pearl fi sheries, using the long-neglected in the face of the Pax Britannica – a Portuguese source material. Victor Geraci situation that some shaykhs bitterly resented describes the NCDR programme to and the French recognised. Another survey preserve the oral history of the UAE, an of French diplomatic documents on the important project in a time when nationals long reign of Shaykh Zayed I by Maitha al- under the age of 40 do not have a personal Zaabi et al provides a re-interpretation that recollection of the older heritage of the also gives a diff erent light to the perceptions region. derived from British archival materials. In the same volume, John Wilkinson Th e obituary tribute to Ezzeddin Ibrahim tracks the long history of the impact of by Zaki Nusseibeh in Liwa 2.3 is a history Yemeni tribes who form the ancestry of of modern Arab times. Like many others, some of the oldest families on the Gulf their talents scattered abroad through coast. Th is latter subject is echoed in Liwa persecution at home, Dr Ezzeddin lived 2.3 in Nellida Fuccaro’s account of the city- in exile in a succession of Arab countries states formed by tribes from the interior before Shaykh Zayed b. Sultan Al Nahyan, of Najd that fi lled the 18th-century power perceptive as ever, made him a cultural iwa was launched in 2009 as the vacuum left by the waning of Safavid and adviser to help build the new Abu Dhabi. academic journal of the National Ottoman power. Th is is a history with Zaki Nusseibeh records a remarkable career LCenter for Documentation and continuing consequences, masked by born of the Arab world’s last half century of Research (NCDR) of the United Arab the transient glitz of the oil economy but diasporas. Emirates, edited by Dr Abd El Reyes. It resonating still and most immediately in the Liwa is a journal of Arabia as it is now has rapidly become an essential point of present tensions of Bahrain. in its productive revisionism. It is also reference for Gulf regional studies in history, Hamad Sara’i summarises in Liwa 1.2 remarkable in the number of women who diplomatic exchanges, archaeology and the source material on ancient Oman and have written in it and who produce it. It heritage. In a region where journals have Khalid al-Bakr in Liwa 2.3 records how the is all together a refreshing addition to the a habit of lapsing aft er a few issues, Liwa’s campaign by al-‘Ala b. al-Hadrami against academic scene in the Peninsula. editorial team has sustained its momentum the Sasanians marks the fi rst formation of publication with rigorous discipline. of an Islamic fl eet, refl ecting the nature Dr Geoff rey King is Reader in Islamic Art As Liwa has evolved, strands of editorial of the Gulf with its long tradition of Arab and Archaeology at SOAS thinking have emerged that characterise the seamanship. distinctive scope of the journal. In eff ect, A diff erent order of record is provided Liwa is helping to reshape analysis of the by Shaykha Shamma bint Hamad et al, in region’s past, once so heavily dependent on an in memoriam account of the life and the British source material. Instead, it gives a more diverse view. Th e extent of Liwa’s fulfi lment of its ‘Liwa’ is helping to reshape analysis of the region’s past, remit cannot be captured fully in a short once so heavily dependent on British source material

16 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES MManhattananhattan ccomesomes ttoo MakkahMakkah

Samar Al-Sayed meets the founder of the Hajj Research Project and a distinguished SOAS alumnus who is critical of the construction boom that is transforming the skyline of the holy city

hree years aft er work began on represent. Th ey are a red line. Within the the latest expansion of the Grand boundaries of a sanctuary, one cannot TMosque’s precincts, Makkah is in hunt or even retaliate for the killing of one’s the midst of a property and construction own father. Trees are not to be uprooted. boom. Th e mosque itself is now almost How is it, then, that we fi nd bulldozers and completely enclosed by skyscrapers and dynamite in such a place?’ real-estate panels, and on entering the city Th e Old Mosque is the main indicator cranes and construction sites obscure the of scale in the city, and any development view of the surrounding mountains. Some ‘must be proportionate in that it must of these historically signifi cant heights are remain the focal point’, Angawi argues. themselves being dynamited to build luxury ‘Creating industrial urbanisation of the accommodation for well-heeled pilgrims. type we see in Manhattan and London is On Mount Omar, for instance, a gigantic simply disrespectful to the sanctuary and Clock Tower looms where an 18th-century the character of the city. Th e Prophet taught Ottoman fort once stood, centerpiece of one us the beauty of balance – ‘al-meezan’ – in of scores of new developments in a multi- Arabic, which is a prevalent theme in the billion riyal-building spree. Qur’an. What we see in Makkah today is With over two million pilgrims every bit the contradiction of the principle performing the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage of balance and proportionality; skyscrapers annually and many more making the are dwarfi ng the House of God and optional ‘Umra pilgrimage at other times robbing Makkah of its harsh, mountainous of the year, Makkah has to accommodate character.’ The Makkah Clock visitors on a scale unmatched by any other Angawi cites another feature of the city’s holy site on earth. Th e need for a further recent development that leads him to the Pakistanis and many other nationals who expansion of the precincts was undoubted. shocking conclusion that ‘socially and come on a yearly basis. It is very sad.’ Yet controversy has stirred about the culturally, Makkah is fi nished’. Historically, Makkah can no longer evade the tentacles implementation of the project, which he explains, the area surrounding the of globalised capitalism. Commercialism is required the demolition of more than 1,000 mosque was a centre for social interaction no longer confi ned to the old souqs selling adjacent properties, and the nature of the and trade between people of a huge array of cheap gold, carpets, prayer beads and other accompanying development. nationalities. In recent times, however, the items, but has also extended to include ‘Th e structure and fabric of Makkah is norm has been for pilgrims from diff erent international fast-food and hotel chains, not being altered to the point of no return,’ says countries to be assigned to their separate to mention designer boutiques. Dr Sami Angawi, a Makkah-born architect camps on the periphery, with the centre So what is to be done about this and founder of the Hajj Research Project, now monopolised by the up-market real seemingly irreversible change that is which studies urban planning in relation to estate sector and its clients. Aft er worship, sweeping this historic goldmine? Angawi the dynamics of the pilgrimage to Makkah. the humbler visitors are ushered back to says: ‘We are trying to leverage this He stresses that the holy city is, essentially, their own accommodation areas. ‘As such, movement in order to take our case to the a sanctuary. ‘In Islamic thought, sanctuaries there is minimal interaction between highest authorities and stop the dramatic are a no-go, no matter what religion they Malays, Turks, Afghans, Iranians, Arabs, change to this skyline.’ Skyscrapers are dwarfi ng the House of God and robbing Samar Al-Sayed, a Saudi-based writer, holds an MA in International & Comparative Law Makkah of its harsh, mountainous character from SOAS

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 17 TTHEHE GCCGCC STATESSTATES Sarah Searight on a new organisation dedicated to the much-needed development of research related to TThehe BBritishritish the Peninsula FFoundationoundation fforor tthehe SStudytudy ooff AArabiarabia

bout a year ago, the Seminar Unlike those of our French, German or Italian colleagues, for Arabian Studies approached Athe Society for Arabian Studies British academic studies in the fi eld of Arabia to suggest a merger. Outsiders can well lack government funding understand the potential for confusion between the two bodies, although their Sea for which it has attracted some outside Th e Society makes tiny grants to deserving individual remits were very diff erent. funding (Proceedings also published by scholars (not exclusively British ones), Both are British inspirations, the Seminar Archaeopress), but in general it has been barely enough to cover an air fare. Even founded some 40 years ago by John wholly dependent on membership fees for more to the point, Britain lacks an academic Dayton, an engineer with a long experience its activities. A wide range of scholars has post dedicated to the study of Arabia. Hence of working in Arabia, and the Society attended the Red Sea conferences, three the establishment of the British Foundation developing some 20 years ago out of the of which have been held in the British for the Study of Arabia (BFSA), a title that Committee for Gulf Archaeology. Museum, one in Southampton and one in involved, as can perhaps be imagined, Th e Seminar takes place every July, Exeter. Th e Society also publishes an annual a great deal of discussion. Th e Seminar usually in the . Its main bulletin and a commendable collection of approached the Society (rather than the focus is archaeological and epigraphic, and monographs. All details are on the Society’s other way round) because the Society it attracts over 100 scholars from all over website (www.societyforarabianstudies.org) is an existing charity with an approved the world. Th e proceedings are published and the Seminar’s (www.arabianseminar. constitution; this has now been adapted, by Archaeopress of Oxford. Th e Society, org.uk). with Charity Commission approval, to on the other hand, focuses on a wider Unlike those of our French, German apply to the BFSA. range of Arabia-related topics, including or Italian colleagues, British academic An overarching committee of trustees Anthropology, ethnography, Geography studies in the fi eld of Arabia, both within has been set up whose principal task will and so on. As a charity, its lectures – four Britain and in the fi eld, lack government be to raise substantial funds. In this respect, or fi ve a year – can be and are attended by funding, or indeed any outside funding a particular aim is to develop funding for the general public. Over the past decade it except for specifi c projects such as the Red the endowment of one or more academic has also hosted fi ve conferences on the Red Sea conferences and the actual Seminar. posts in this country dedicated to the study of Arabia. In the meantime, BFSA is overseeing a range of academic research activities related to the Peninsula. More and more Arabians – from the countries of the GCC and from Yemen – are involved in the study of the Archaeology, History, environment and so on of the peninsula. When discussing the name for the new body, it was generally agreed that ‘British’ should be included in its title. Th is would advertise Britain’s interest in developing Arabian studies, hopefully under the aegis of the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia.

Sarah Searight is a former chair of the Society British archaeologists at work at Kadhima, for Arabian Studies and a member of the MEL Editorial Board

© Derek Kennet Kuwait

18 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 PPOETRYOETRY A Poet’sPoet’s CConfessiononfession A CovenantCovenant By Saad al-Humaidin By Suad al-Mubarak al-Sabah The Saudi poet Saad al-Humaidin (b.1943) was born in Suad al-Mubarak al-Sabah (b. 1942), the distinguished Ta’if and completed his secondary school studies before Kuwaiti poet, is known equally well for her deep interest in working in teaching and journalism, fi rst as editor-in-chief human rights. She is a member of the Executive Board of of Al-Yamama literary review in Riyadh and now as editor the Arab Human Rights Organisation in Cairo and on the of the Saudi paper Al-Riyadh. His fi rst collection of poems, Board of Trustees of the Arab Thought Forum in Amman Drawing on the Wall, appeared in 1975. His latest collection, and Centre for Arab Unity Studies in Beirut. Suad al-Sabah You are the Tent, I am the Threads, is currently in press. studied in Cairo and England, obtaining her PhD in Planning and Development from the University of Surrey in 1982. Translated by Sagon Boulus and John She has published two collections of poetry, A Wish (1972) Heath-Stubbs and To You My Son (1982), and is preparing her third, which contains her recent, more radical compositions. Do you want me to spread Suad’s poetry has developed in both form and content, a fl ying carpet on the wind or spike my breast with a dagger, embracing greater modernity while expressing joys of Play a tune on y fl ute love, life and human freedom, as well as refl ecting on the to make a serpent dance? anger and frustration at the tragedies in present-day Arab I am no Indian fakir life. Suad also has several publications in her own fi eld of to gouge out my eyes with a nail specialisation, which is and development. or stick a dagger in my breast I am a wound crawling with maggots Th e living clay dies in my hand Translated by Salwa Jabsheh and John and sorrow lords it in my heart. Heath-Stubbs 1 I have been rowing Come, let us sign together till the oars snapped A covenant of peace my boat runs aground in the sand Whereby I reclaim my days under your sway my mouth is a gravid leather bottle And my lips besieged by yours my tongue is a hollow cane Whereby you reclaim your fragrance poetry, a crooked staff Th at courses beneath my skin. in a blind man’s hand 2 a worn-out shoe Write down whatever form of words you choose on a beggar’s foot Whatever terms you deem right Th e poet is a bridge of cobwebs. And I will unconditionally sign And the windmill turns Draw up what covenant suits you best and turns So I’ll be eliminated from the numbers Here are corpses In your notebooks Here are dismembered limbs From the furniture in your offi ce And you depart from the glass in my mirror. Here are shattered stones 3 Th e windmill’s rumble Come let us try to play this impossible game digs deep If only for a day into my ears So I will go to my hairdresser to kill time Here is a ridge And you to your smoking room to play cards. a shoe a staff © Sarah Searight Do you want me to vanquish the wind, stick a dagger into myself play a tune tam tam from Zalfa tick tock from Samir to make a serpent dance in the square? I am no conjuror gentlemen I am a poet and, as is well known, the poet sucks up everything like a sponge.

Both poems are introduced by Narguess Farzad and selected by her from The Literature of Modern Arabic: An Anthology, Edited by Salma A mural in Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Khadra Jayyusi Abu Dhabi

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 19 RROADOAD TOTO JERICHOJERICHO Randa Safi eh on a concert tour of British, American and Palestinian musicians that aims to help reestablish Palestine’s cultural heritage ‘‘TheThe mmessageessage iiss aalwayslways mmuchuch sstrongertronger tthroughhrough mmusic’usic’

oad to Jericho’ is an innovative opportunity to learn how to play the viola. oriental music performed by Dal’ouna, project comprising a concert tour He was later off ered a scholarship to study with traditional instruments such as the ‘R pioneered by British, American at the conservatory of Angers in France oud, bouzouq, accordion and nay. On the and Palestinian musicians – coming to and went on to establish the Palestinian programme is Dvorak’s American String London in June 2011 – plus a feature fi lm ensemble Dal’ouna in 2000. Quartet (op. 96) and the world premiere of that draws a stark contrast of musicians Th e acclaimed group will perform Who is My Neighbour?, a piece based on the creating music against the backdrop of the alongside Fift h Quadrant, the string quartet biblical story of the Good Samaritan, which occupation. Th e project is the brainchild of of which Simon Hewitt Jones is the lead takes place on the road to Jericho. Th is piece Simon Hewitt Jones, Drew Balch, Antony violinist, in a series of concerts in May and was specially composed by Antony Pitts, Pitts and Ramzi Aburedwan. Inspired by the June 2011 that will take them to Jerusalem, the award-winning British composer of musical revival in Palestine since the fi rst Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin and Gaza in contemporary choral works and founder Intifada, ‘Road to Jericho’ aims to convey the Palestine, as well as to cities in Egypt and and conductor of the vocal ensemble Tonus cross-cultural exchange and collaboration Jordan and Aldeburgh and London in Peregrinus. of the Eastern and Western musicians and Britain. Th eir fi nal performance will take Meanwhile, a documentary will follow thus to reformulate Western perceptions place on June 10, 2011 at the opening of the musicians against the landscape of the of Palestine and stimulate awareness of life the Spitalfi elds Summer Music Festival in Middle East confl ict, up until their last under occupation. London. performance at the Spitalfi elds Festival. Th e West Bank musician Aburedwan was While Fift h Quadrant is a classical aim is to illustrate how the relationships raised in the refugee camp of Al-Amari in collective headed by violinist Simon Hewitt between the musicians and their cross- Ramallah and founded the Al-Kamandjati Jones and violist Drew Balch, the music cultural dialogue develop, as well as to give (‘the violinist’) Music School in 2002 to performed on their tour will be a fusion people an insight into Palestinian life. provide a musical education to Palestinian of Western classical music and Arabic Hewitt Jones met Aburedwan when he children. In 1987, at just eight years old, his picture became an iconic image of the fi rst ‘If you are a foreigner, how do you contribute to an Intifada, oft en seen in the campaign posters of the uprising; a little boy aiming a stone indigenous culture that needs to regrow itself? A lot at an Israeli tank aft er seeing his friend shot by an Israeli sniper. Aburedwan’s destiny of Palestinian culture has been worn down… I think changed course when he was given the the answer is to bring and present ideas’

20 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 was fi rst invited to perform in Palestine by the Choir of London in 2007. Th ere, ‘Music takes you out of your present moment for he also encountered Pitts, a regular visitor enough time to keep you sane. Th at is always to Palestine, at a performance of part of his oratorio Jerusalem-Yerushalayim at St part of the reason that we go to Palestine’ Anne’s Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Since then, Hewitt Jones has been travelling colleagues worked with their instruments, two hours of my life back. Th is is the fi rst to Palestine twice a year to perform and particularly the bouzouq, the oud and time in weeks we haven’t thought about teach at Al-Kamandjati. various percussion, and to learn more about this terrible thing.’ Hewitt Jones tells me: ‘Road to Jericho’ was born during one of Arabic melodic and rhythmic modes. So ‘Music feeds you with a sense of emotional these visits to Palestine. While travelling in these were key factors in developing those well-being. It takes you out of your present a mini bus, Aburedwan shared with Hewitt fi rst musical ideas.’ moment for enough time to keep you sane. Jones and Balch his desire to bring Western Hewitt Jones believes that the project Th at is always part of the reason that we go classical music to Palestine. Th is developed will help to alter Western perceptions of to Palestine.’ into the idea of bringing Fift h Quadrant to the Middle East, yet remains philosophical. What does Hewitt Jones hope the ‘Road perform there and of exposing Dal’ouna’s ‘I think it is really important for us not to to Jericho’ initiative will accomplish? music to Britain in a cross-cultural pretend that music changes stuff in any ‘Th e most important thing to me is the exchange, to compete in the international particularly tangible way,’ he says. ‘All we idea of showing how the musical process arena. Hewitt Jones elaborates: ‘Th e magic can do is tell people, inspire people to think. comes together with two diff erent musical of what Ramzi is doing is trying to get a We are not politicians, we do not want to vocabularies, Eastern and Western, brought new generation of Palestinian musicians; say, “this is how it should be”. If you are together in a way that creates something home-grown talent, because then you have a foreigner, how do you contribute to an new and stronger and makes sense on strength of identity.’ indigenous culture that needs to regrow many levels, regardless of who you are as I asked Aburedwan how the Palestinian itself? A lot of Palestinian culture has been an audience. It’s great to see that musical situation has infl uenced his music. ‘Th e worn down. In Gaza, the music school growth, it’s totally diff erent to what you see music that I compose is my emotion, my we had been working with was destroyed in the newspapers all the time. Th ere are situation as a young Palestinian, a young during the off ensive of January 2009 – these positive stories going on in Palestine. musician,’ he says. ‘One of the pieces what do you do in that situation? I think Most people will think of the Middle East describes my childhood as a boy who the answer is to bring and present ideas.’ and have negative images in their mind. is throwing stones. Th e piece is called Aburedwan, too, believes that perceptions What I suppose we are doing is saying, Coincidence. I cannot compose something can change ‘through showing the result of “when you think of Palestine, think of these and go out of my reality because the melody cooperation and showing that the people of amazing things, the amazing olive groves, came as an expression from inside. Th is this country still exist and have their own the amazing musicians!” Th at’s something I expression will be linked systematically to culture and own way of living and own way hope for.’ what the Palestinian people live.’ of music. [Th e message] is always much Th e late Yasser Arafat used to say: ‘Th e Th e British counterpart’s music, stronger through music.’ Palestinian National Movement is not only composed by Pitts, was the focus of a Hewitt Jones remembers a poignant the gun of the freedom fi ghter but mainly workshop by the musicians in December experience from the fi rst time he performed the pen of the writer, the brush of the 2010. Pitts recounts: ‘I had the chance to in Ramallah; somebody approached him painter, the words of the poet.’ Now that the see and hear fi rst hand how Ramzi and his and said: ‘Th ank you for giving me the last Palestinian side has abandoned the dialogue by arms and resorts to the arms of dialogue, the Palestinians’ cry for freedom will express itself more and more through the music of their composers and musicians.

With special thanks to Simon Hewitt Jones, Ramzi Aburedwan and Antony Pitts. www. roadtojericho.com, www.spitalfi eldsfestival. org.uk

Randa Safi eh is a full-time secondary Music teacher in London and a member of the research network ‘Exploring Song and Music among Palestinians’, established by Birzeit University and the University of Gothenburg

(Opposite) Simon Hewitt Jones and Drew Balch (Left) Simon Hewitt Jones and Drew Balch in the Jordan Valley, November 2010

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 21 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS OOttomanttoman Brothers:Brothers: MMuslims,uslims, CChristians,hristians, aandnd JJewsews iinn EEarlyarly TTwentieth-wentieth- CCenturyentury PPalestinealestine By Michelle U Campos

Stanford University Press, 2010. $24.95

Reviewed by Roberto Mazza

n 1908 the Ottoman Empire was swept Focusing on Ottoman Palestine, Campos encroached,hd criticised d and db became a by a revolution, led by the Young Turks, shows in the central part of the book how competitor of Ottomanism. Campos Iwhich transformed the empire from an the idea of imperial nationhood translated thoroughly addresses this issue, showing absolutist state to a form of parliamentary in practical actions. In particular, she the Ottoman Jews’ contradictory responses democracy. Ottoman Brothers examines discusses the Ottoman boycott of Austrian to Zionism: some considered it a betrayal, key concepts like citizenship, public goods and commerce, which followed the while others considered it a legitimate life and liberty in the decade following annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by the expression of the Jews as a collective. In the Ottoman revolution until the fi nal Austro-Hungarian Empire in October 1908. the end, events brought Zionism and other collapse of the Ottoman Empire aft er Campos argues that the boycott promoted regional or religious identities to supersede the First World War. Michelle Campos Ottoman patriotism and brought people of Ottomanism. argues, quite convincingly, that during this diff erent social backgrounds and religions Finally, Campos highlights the decade the Ottoman Empire experienced together, representing a successful example shortcomings of ‘Civic Ottomanism’, the emergence of what she calls ‘civic of popular participation. In the following showing that ethnic and religious minorities Ottomanism’ – that is, the idea of an chapter, she analyses what she calls the tried to adhere to the idea of Ottoman imperial citizenship project promoting an ‘mouthpiece of the people’, that is, the press citizenship but at the same time were Ottoman socio-political identity. produced in Palestine and in the Ottoman excluded. She compellingly shows that In the fi rst part of the book, Campos Empire following the re-establishment of in Palestine, the separation between Jews shows the transition from Ottoman subjects the Ottoman Constitution. Here, Campos and Arabs was less caused by the Zionist- to Ottoman citizens, how revolutionary begins to show the divergent and at times Palestinian confl ict and more by the failure language infl uenced the people and how colliding meanings of Ottoman citizenship of Ottomanism. Two major points make people produced a new rhetoric. Relying on and discourses, showing how journals this book innovative: Campos did not use a variety of sources – including newspaper, and newspapers became an ideological British sources, breaking a sort of ‘dogma’, diaries and memoirs – she discusses how battlefi eld. Th e press became the arena and secondly, she constantly reminds the liberty, equality and brotherhood were in which ethnic and religious diff erences reader that the empire under discussion was intended and experienced in the Ottoman became apparent; in the words of Campos Ottoman, not Turkish. Ottoman Brothers is Empire and in particular in Palestine. In a ‘barometer of Ottomanism’ – aft er all, a must-read for both scholars of Ottoman her challenge to traditional literature that, communal identity was still stronger than and Palestinian history and an important according to her, cannot easily deal with diff erences, and Ottomanism, though contribution to the study of nationalism. the idea of imperial citizenship, Campos diff erently understood, was still the leading looks at Palestine as a microcosm that identity marker in late Ottoman Palestine. Dr Roberto Mazza is Assistant Professor can represent the challenges the Ottoman In the last part of the book, Campos at Western Illinois University, USA, and a Empire faced during that decade. She focuses on Jerusalem and how the Research Associate at SOAS nonetheless acknowledges Palestine’s idea of citizenship was experienced in peculiarities, such as the large presence this cosmopolitan and multi-religious of missionaries, pilgrims, diplomats and environment, leading her to the issue certainly later on Zionists. of European Zionism and how this

22 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 BBOOKSOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF SSeeneen iinn tthehe SSpecialpecial MMapsaps YYemen:emen: ooff PPersiaersia TTravellingravelling wwithith by Cyrus Alai is published FFreyareya SStarktark & by Brill (2010). Price: £212 OOthersthers by Hugh Leach is published by Arabian Publishing (2011). Price: £45 Fezzes in the RRiveriver IIdentitydentity PPoliticsolitics aandnd EEuropeanuropean DDiplomacyiplomacy iinn tthehe MMiddleiddle EEastast oonn tthehe EEveve ooff WWorldorld WWarar IIII by Sarah D Shields is published by OUP (2011). his volume complements the award- Price: £27.50 winning best-seller General Maps of TPersia, a lengthy investigation into ezzes in the River is a case study the old maps of Iran. For most of its long of interwar diplomacy and self- history, Iran has been mapped extensively Fdetermination in the wake of the First and the author was the fi rst to bring together een in the Yemen brings the people, World War. Renowned Sarah D the old maps into a cartobibliography for architecture and landscapes of ancient Shields suggests that European politics, scholars of both history and geography. SYemeni culture alive through the black ideas of minority rights, and notions of Encouraged by numerous commending and white photographs of the author, taken democracy had a deleterious eff ect on reviews, Cyrus Alai has continued his in the 1970s. His book is also a tribute to the Middle East. Shields argues that self- research and collected further material to one of the most famous of all Arab and determination of peoples, imported into the produce Special Maps of Persia, 1477-1925. Asian travellers, the late Dame Freya Stark Middle East on the heels of the First World Th e book includes chapters on historical who died in 1993. In the mid-1970s, at the War, held out the promise of democratic maps, district maps, frontier maps, town age of 83, she made two visits to the author, governance to the former territories of maps and political maps. Like the preceding who was then serving in Sana’a. Th eir travels the Ottoman Empire. At the same time, volume, it has a dual character, being both a together through north Yemen marked the it brought an urgent need: to defi ne the carto-bibliography and a mapping history of start of a long friendship. Th is volume is collective ‘self’, emphasising diff erences Persia. It contains 761 map-entries, of which also designed to emulate Freya Stark’s earlier among people that had previously hardly 409 are illustrated, mostly in colour. Concise classic, Seen in the Hadhramaut, published mattered. Th e book cites Turkey’s claim to related historical accounts precede every in 1938. Th e author recalls the time they the province of Alexandretta in the territory chapter and section, and essential historical spent together in Yemen, her musings of France’s mandate for Syria as evidence notes are also supplied within many of the on the past and their mutual devotion of this change. A contest for the land pitted map entries. to Leica cameras. Yemen today, like the the new Republic of Turkey against the Th e author served for nine years as the rest of Arabia, is undergoing rapid and government of Syria. Shields argues that honorary treasurer of the International inevitable change and is much in the news. the League of Nations introduced a new Map Collectors’ Society and has written Th is book records a time when town and kind of identity politics into the province numerous articles on the cartography of country had only recently embarked on the that redefi ned belonging, transformed Persia. He also owns the largest personal decades of upheaval, and much was visually nationalism, and set in motion the process collection of historic Persian maps. unchanged. of dysfunctional democracy still plaguing the Middle East.

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 23 BBOOKSOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF BBeyondeyond IIslam:slam: A NewNew UUnderstandingnderstanding ooff tthehe MMiddleiddle EEastast by Sami Zubaida is published by IB Tauris (2011). Price: £56

Yemen DDivided:ivided: A Quiet TThehe SStorytory ooff a RRevolutionevolution FFailedailed SStatetate iinn SSouthouth AArabiarabia by Leila Ahmed is published by Yale by Noel Brehony is University Press (2011) published by IB Tauris Price: £18.99 (2011). Price: £35 ollowing on from previous works n this book, Sami Zubaida, Emeritus n Yemen Divided, Middle East expert, Women and Gender in Islam and Professor of Politics and Sociology at chairman of the British Yemeni Society FA Border Passage: From Cairo to IBirkbeck College, University of London Iand former diplomat Noel Brehony America — A Woman’s Journey author draws on a career’s worth of experience provides a comprehensive history of the Leila Ahmed has produced a case study of trying to understand the region to address People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. the veil’s resurgence, from Egypt through the fundamental question in Middle East He explains the power politics that Saudi Arabia and into the West, suggesting a studies: what is the Middle East? came to form a communist republic a few dramatically new portrait of contemporary He argues that to see it through the prism hundred miles from the holiest site in Islam, Islam. of Islam, as it is conventionally viewed, is to and the process and confl icts that led to Th e book sees the author, who was completely misunderstand it. Many of the Yemeni unifi cation in 1990. the fi rst professor of Women’s Studies in ‘Islamic’ characteristics associated with the Th e impact of the People’s Democratic Religion at Harvard University, reverse her region are products of culture and society, Republic of Yemen is still felt today as Saudi original thinking on the topic of the veil. not religion. To think of Islam itself as an and government armed forces engage with When she began her study, Ahmed assumed essential, anti-modern force in the region Houthis in the north and unrest continues that the veil’s return indicated a backward rather than something shaped by specifi c to simmer across the South. Yemen Divided step for Muslim women worldwide. What historical-economic processes is, Zubaida is an important book for anyone wanting to she discovered in the stories of her range of argues, a mistake. Instead, he off ers an understand why Yemen, sensitive neighbour subjects confounded her expectations. alternative view of the region, its historic of Saudi Arabia and strategically vital to Ahmed observes that Islamism, with its cosmpolitanism, its religious and cultural Middle East security, has veered towards commitments to activism in the service of diversity, its rapid adoption of new media massive instability. the poor and in pursuit of social justice, is cultures, which reveals a multi-faceted and South Yemen has come to be seen as a merging with western democracies’ own complex region teeming with multiple potential Al-Qaeda stronghold and at the tradition of activism in the cause of justice identities. heart of a separatist movement threatening and social change. Ahmed suggests it is Th e book features chapters that focus to rip apart southern Arabia. In the book, oft en Islamists, even more than secular on Muslim society, political modernity in the author attempts to address how this Muslims, who are at the forefront of such the Middle East, shift ing social boundaries country of forbidding mountains and arid contemporary activist struggles as civil and identities in the region, Islam and deserts has gone from British colony to rights and women’s rights. Nationalism and dicussion of the public and communist state and then to ‘terrorist base’ the private in Middle Eastern society. in just half a century.

24 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 IINN MMEMORIAMEMORIAM TThehe ddeatheath ooff a ddistinguishedistinguished ggenerationeneration ooff IIslamicslamic aartrt sscholarscholars

his winter has been a sad period for at 92. Th e Keir includes some of the most scholars of Islamic art at SOAS with important objects of Islamic art in existence. Tthe loss of three distinguished fi gures, Edmund de Unger was the founder of Mr Jack Franses, Professor Oleg Grabar and the Islamic Art Circle, which has been a Mr Edmund de Unger, each of whom has mainstay of the public profi le of Islamic contributed in the most profound manner art at SOAS since its meetings began at to the study of the arts of the Islamic world the School in 1964. Th anks to Edmund over the past 50 years and to the study of de Unger’s kindness and hospitality, Islamic art at SOAS. generations of SOAS students of Islamic Jack Franses, formerly head of Sotheby’s art have been able to visit his remarkable Islamic Department, died at the age of 92 on collection at Ham House in West London. December 10, 2010. He conceived of the co- His generosity in giving access to his Islamic operation with the School that created the art collection to students of the SOAS is SOAS / Sotheby’s courses, initiated in 1964 remembered with gratitude. as an entirely innovative approach to the Th e Department of the History of Art and teaching of Asian Art. He worked closely Archaeology expresses condolences to the with Professor Emeritus Geza Fehervari and families of these distinguished contributors did much to ensure the survival of the study to the study of the arts of Islam. of Islamic art at SOAS at a time when its future was far from certain. Oleg Grabar, successively Professor of Islamic Art at Harvard, Michigan and Princeton, and Aga Khan Professor, died on January 8, 2011 at 83. Professor Grabar’s publications transformed the intellectual framework of the study of Islamic art and its academic study. He leaves as a legacy not only his published work but the many students, including SOAS graduates, who have been the benefi ciaries of his sense of enquiry expressed in his teaching, lectures and writing. His scholarship will remain one of the bases of the study of Islamic art far (Far left) Jack Franses into the future. Edmund de Unger, the founder of the (Left) Edmund De Unger Keir Collection, died on January 25, 2011 (Above) Oleg Grabar

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 25 LISTINGS EEventsvents iinn LLondonondon

HE EVENTS and drumming (daf) workshops suitable organisations listed below for beginners and intermediate level. Tare not necessarily endorsed Tickets: £5. Chalkhill Community or supported by The Middle East in Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, HA9 London. The accompanying texts 9FX. T 07954 601372 W www. and images are based primarily silkroads.co.uk MIDDLE EAST BRIEFINGS on information provided by the organisers and do not necessarily 11:30 am | Discover reflect the views of the compilers through Storytelling on a ZIPANG The London Middle East Institute offers tailored briefings or publishers. While every possible Day Out Organised by: Th e on the politics, economics, cultures and languages of the Middle East. effort is made to ascertain the Enheduanna Society. Guided tour Previous clients include UK and foreign governmental bodies accuracy of these listings, readers looking at items which illustrate the and private entities. are advised to seek confirmation world of stories in Mesopotamian Contact us for details. of all events using the contact mythology. Admission free. BM Tel: 020 7898 4330 E-mail: [email protected] details provided for each event. (meet in the Great Court beside the Submitting entries and updates: Information Desk). W www.zipang. please send all updates and org.uk years, but their cooking remains of the Middle East also taking part. submissions for entries related something of a well-guarded secret All welcome. Admission free. Th e to future events via e-mail to 3:00 pm | Th e Frankincense Trail: outside their own homes. Copies Horseshoe Pub, 24 Clerkenwell [email protected] or by fax to Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia of books by both authors will be Close, London EC1. E ee11@soas. 020 7898 4329. (Documentary) Organised by: on sale.Tickets: £12/Students Free, ac.uk BM. Admission free, booking advance booking essential. Spiro BM – British Museum, Great advised. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, Ark Centre, 25 -26 Enford Street, Wednesday 6 April Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG BM. T 020 7323 8181 W www. London W1H 1DW. T 020 7723 SOAS – School of Oriental and britishmuseum.org 9991 E [email protected] W 10:00 am | Th e Stuart Cary Welch African Studies, Th ornhaugh Street, www.harif.org / www.spiroark.org Collection, Part One: Arts of the Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG 3:30 pm | Discover Mesopotamia Islamic World (Auction) Organised LSE – London School of Economics through Storytelling ZIPANG Day Monday 4 April by: Sotheby’s. Viewings: Friday and Political Science, Houghton Out Organised by: Th e Enheduanna 1 - Tuesday 5 April. Admission Street, London WC2 2AE Society. Doors open at 3.00pm. 6:45 pm | Sufi Meditation free. Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Storytelling workshop where you (Meeting) Organised by: Street, London W1A 2AA. E Mark. will hear a professional storyteller Caravansary. Every Monday. Sufi [email protected] W www. tell a Mesopotamian story and can Meditation Circle using practices sothebys.com APRIL EVENTS have a go at telling the story yourself traditionally known as zikr. Tickets: with live Iraqi music. Admission Suggested contribution £6/£5. Th ursday 7 April Friday 1 April free. Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Street, Covent Garden WC2H 9BX. Gardens Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, 10:30 am | Art of the Islamic 6:30 pm | Poetry, Meditation, W www.zipang.org.uk London W8 4RT. T 079 4448 9527 and Indian Worlds (Auction) Music: Rumi Poetry Circle E [email protected] W www. Organised by: Christie’s. Also (Meeting) Every fi rst Friday of the Sunday 3 April caravansary.org at 2.30pm. Leading the sale is a month. Informal poetry circle. highly important Fatimid bronze Admission free. Colet House, 151 6:00 pm | Middle Eastern Music, 7:00 pm | Open Sufi Meetings gazelle and a 16th century Ottoman Talgarth Road, London W14 9DA. T Drum Circle (Meeting) Organised and Zikr (Meeting) Organised by: gold and turquoise-hilted knife. 079 4448 9527 E info@caravansary. by: London Drum Circle. Every Ansari UK. First Monday of every Admission free. Christie’s, London org W www.caravansary.org fi rst Sunday of the month. month. An open Sufi meeting. King Street, 8 King Street, St James’s, Admission free. Colet House, 151 Tickets: Donations welcome. London SW1Y 6QT. T 020 7389 6:30 pm | Th e Craft Heritage of Talgarth Rd, London W14 9DA. Kensington Unitarians, 112 Palace 2374 E [email protected] Oman (Lecture) Neil Richardson; E [email protected] W www. Gardens Terrace, W8 4TR. T 07954 W www.christies.com Marcia Dorr. Organised by: BM. LondonDrumCircle.com 601372 / 07941 653337 W www. Tickets: £5/£3 BMF. Stevenson ansaripublications.com Friday 8 April Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 7:30 pm | A Convivial Evening with 8181 W www.britishmuseum.org Linda Dangoor author of ‘Flavours 8:00 pm | Rebetiko Jam Sessions 10:00 am | Art and Textiles of Babylon’ in conversation with of the SOAS Ad Hoc Rebetiko from the Islamic and Indian Saturday 2 April Professor Sami Zubaida (Book Band Organised by: Ed Emery. World including Works from Launch) Organised by Harif Every fi rst Monday of the month. the Collection of the Late 11:30 am | Sufi Frame-Drumming and Spiro Ark Centre. Th e Jews With musicians from the Greek Simon Digby (Auction) Also at (Workshop) Organised by: Silk of Babylon have a rich culinary community along with musicians 2.30pm. Organised by: Admission Roads. Every Saturday. Sufi frame- tradition going back over 2,000 from Turkey, Iran and other areas free. Christie’s London, South

26 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, Wednesday 20 April (Performance: Th ursday 21 – Th ursday 28 April London SW7 3LD. Information T Monday 25 April) See listing for 020 7930 6074 W www.christies. 6:30 pm | Th e Politics of Fiction Th ursday 21 April for details. 4:00 pm | Oiling the Wheels of com and Post-Civil War Memory Trade: wine and winemaking in Culture in Lebanon (Panel Debate) the Jebel al-’Arab in Late Antiquity Saturday 9 April Panel discussion chaired by T J Saturday 23 April (4th-8th centuries AD) (Lecture) Demos, with speakers Shela Sheikh Andrea Zerbini, Royal Holloway, 9:30 am | Sacred Spaces: places of and writer Faisal Devji on the 7:30 pm | Chouf Ouchouf University of London. Organised worship and gathering (Seminar) themes surrounding the exhibition (Performance: Th ursday 21 – by: Palestine Exploration Fund. Organised by: Aga Khan University I, the Undersigned by Rabih Monday 25 April) See listing for Recent fi eld surveys in the vicinity Institute for the Study of Muslim Mroué, see Exhibitions for details. Th ursday 21 April for more details. of Si’a in the Jebel al-‘Arab (Hawran) Civilisations (AKU - ISMC). Th is Admission free, booking advised. have unveiled a group of large one-day seminar will survey the Iniva at Rivington Place, London wineries dated to the Byzantine and history and diversity of sacred EC2A 3BA. T 020 7749 1240 E Sunday 24 April early Arab period, this lecture will spaces. Tickets: £75/£45 conc. [email protected] W focus on the winemaking process in (Deadline for registration: 5 April) www.rivingtonplace.org 4:00 pm | Chouf Ouchouf ancient Auranitis. Admission free. AKU - ISMC, 210 Euston Road, (Performance: Th ursday 21 – Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, BM. T London NW1 2DA. T 020 7380 Th ursday 21 April Monday 25 April) See listing for 020 7935 5379 E [email protected]. 3865 E [email protected] Th ursday 21 April for more details. uk W www.pef.org.uk W www.aku.edu/ismc/shortcourses 7:30 pm | Chouf Ouchouf (Performance: Th ursday 21 – 5:30 pm | Ancient Dilmun: the 10:30 am | Clericals and Seminaries Monday 25 April) Organised by: Wednesday 27 April earliest state in Arabia and the in Modern Iran (Conference) Southbank Centre and Crying vast mound cemeteries in Bahrain Abdulkarim Soroush; Mirza-Hassan Out Loud. Weaving together 7:00 pm | Th e Past is Not Dead, the (Lecture) Steff en Terp Laursen, Yousfi Eshkevari; Mohammad-Reza contemporary performance and Story of Qajar Textiles in South Moesgaard Museum, Denmark. Nikfar; Mehrad Vaezinejad; Majid traditional Moroccan acrobatics, Kensington (Lecture) Jennifer Organised by: Society for Arabian Tafreshi; Reza Beheshti-Moez; Chouf Ouchouf gives audiences a Wearden, former Senior Curator, Studies/British Foundation for the Siavash Ranjbar Daemi. Organised daily snapshot of life in Tangier’s old V&A and now Honorary Research Study of Arabia (SAS/BFSA) and by: Forum Iran in association with quarter. Tickets: £30/£25/£20/£15. Fellow in the V&A. Organised by: the Bahrain Society in association the London Middle East Institute, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part with the London Middle East SOAS (LMEI). Tickets: £15/£7 Centre, Belvedere Road, London of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS Institute, SOAS (LMEI). Steff en students (Pre-registration required). SE1 8XX T 0844 847 9911 W www. Lecture Programme. Chaired by Laursen will present archaeological Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. E southbankcentre.co.uk Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. evidence – art, temples, settlements, [email protected] Admission free. Khalili Lecture and the famous Dilmun burial Friday 22 April Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 mounds – to shed light on the Th ursday 14 April E [email protected] W remarkable early history of Bahrain. 7:30 pm | Chouf Ouchouf www.soas.ac.uk/about/events/ Admission free. Khalili Lecture 1:15 pm | Royal Treasures across the Cultures (Lecture) Hilary Williams. Organised by: BM. Rabih Mroué, Grandfather, Father and Son 2010, installation view, BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, photo: Discussion includes the Royal Victor Nieuwenhuijs, © the artist. (Rabih Mroué: I, the Undersigned, see Exhibitions, page 33) Standard of Ur. Admission free, booking advised. Stevenson Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7323 8181 W www.britishmuseum.org Friday 15 April

9:30 am | Investors and Entrepreneurship in Arab Media (Conference) Organised by: Arab Media Centre, Communication and Media Research Institute, University of Westminster. One-day conference on the processes that underlie contemporary ownership and management practices in Arab media organisations during the current period of political upheaval. Keynote lecture by Marwan Kraidy, the author of several works on Arab media industries. £85/£35 students. Regent Street Campus, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW. T 020 7911 5000 ext 4298 E journalism@westminster. ac.uk W www.westminster.ac.uk/ schools/media/camri

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 27 Th eatre, SOAS. E j.onley@exeter. Street London EC2Y 8DS. E 6:45 pm | Sufi Meditation of the early 1970s + Q&A with ac.uk / [email protected] W www. info@palestinefi lm.org W www. (Meeting) Every Monday. See listing director Shane O’Sullivan. Hasan societyforarabianstudies.org palestinefi lm.org for Monday 4 April for details. Everywhere (Animation), Dir Andrew Kavanagh (2009), 7 min. 6:30 pm | Food Prices and Current Saturday 30 April 7:00 pm | Open Sufi Meetings and Political Demonstrations in Zikr (Meeting) First Monday of Wednesday 4 May Middle East and North Africa: 2:15 pm | Zindeeq (Film) Part of the every month. See listing for Monday the changing face of food security 2011 London Palestine Film Festival: 4 April for details. 4:30 pm | From the Persian to in the region (Inaugural Lecture) Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 the Mughal world: Muhammad Jane Harrigan, SOAS. Organised May. See listing for Friday 29 April 8:00 pm | Rebetiko Jam Sessions of Juki’s Shahnamah of Firdausi by: SOAS. Th e current political for details + Q&A with director the SOAS Ad Hoc Rebetiko Band (Lecture) Barbara Brend. Organised demonstrations in the region, Michel Khleifi and producer Omar Every fi rst Monday of the month. by: Indian Art Circle, SOAS.Th e which have already toppled several Al-Qattan, chaired by Nadia Yaqub. Please see listing for Monday 4 April 13th Annual Toby Falk Memorial regimes, have been partly motivated for details. Lecture. Admission free. Room by socioeconomic factors, B111, SOAS. T 020 7898 4020 E including rising prices, declining MAY EVENTS 8:30 pm | Far From Vietnam [email protected] W real wages and unemployment. (Loin du Vietnam) + Soup Over www.soas.ac.uk/about/events/ Professor Harrigan reviews recent Bethlehem (Mloukhieh) Part of the developments and analyses the Sunday 1 May 2011 London Palestine Film Festival: 6:15 pm | Leila and the Wolves changing face of food security in Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 (Film) Part of the 2011 London the region. Admission free (Pre- 6:00 pm | Middle Eastern Music, May. See listing for Friday 29 April Palestine Film Festival: Friday 29 registration required). Brunei Drum Circle (Meeting) Every fi rst for venue and contact details. Far April - Wednesday 11 May. See Gallery Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T Sunday of the month. See listing for From Vietnam (Documentary) listing for Friday 29 April for venue 020 7898 4013 E soasevents@soas. Sunday 3 April for details. Dirs Chris Marker, Jean Luc Godard, and contact details. Dir Heiny Srour, ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/about/ Joris Ivens, Agnès Varda, William (1984), 90 min. Using a compelling events/ 3:30 pm | Tears of Gaza Klein, Alain Resnais, and Claude narrative structure, Srour examines (Documentary) Part of the 2011 Lelouch (1967), 115 min. One of the roles played by Palestinian and 6:30 pm | Th e Politics of London Palestine Film Festival: most powerful works of cinematic Lebanese women in their national Architecture in Confl ict Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 protest ever fashioned. Soup Over struggles + Q&A with director (Presentation) Artists Reem Charif May. See listing for Friday 29 April Bethlehem (Mloukhieh) (Film) Heiny Srour, chaired by Sheila and Mohamad Hafeda explore for venue and contact details. Dir Dir Larissa Sansour (2006), 10 min. Whittaker. ‘how to operate outside politics Vibeke Løkkeberg (2010), 83 min. and within the social space of A record, presented with minimal Tuesday 3 May 8:45 pm | Th is is my Picture When the everyday in complex confl ict gloss, of the 2008-2009 bombing of I was Dead (Documentary) Part sites’ in response to themes in the Gaza by Israeli forces + Q&A with 6:15 pm | Israel Ltd. + Targeted of the 2011 London Palestine exhibition I, the Undersigned by director Vibeke Løkkeberg, chaired Citizen + Yellow Mums + A Boy, Film Festival: Friday 29 April - Rabih Mroué, see Exhibitions for by Dina Matar, SOAS. A Wall, and A Donkey Part of the Wednesday 11 May. See listing details. Admission free, booking 2011 London Palestine Film Festival: for Friday 29 April for venue and advised. Iniva at Rivington Place, 6:00 pm | Rachel (Documentary) Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 contact details. Dir Mahmoud al London EC2A 3BA. T 020 7749 Part of the 2011 London Palestine May. See listing for Friday 29 April Massad (2010), 83 min. Athens, 1240 E bookings@rivingtonplace. Film Festival: Friday 29 April - for venue and contact details. 1983. Th e world press reports that org W www.rivingtonplace.org Wednesday 11 May. See listing Israel Ltd. (Documentary), Dir 4 year old Bashir is killed in the for Friday 29 April for venue and Mor Loushy (2009), 53 min. A assassination of his father, a top 7:00 pm | Planet Egypt Showcase contact details. Dir Simone Bitton look at ‘Th e Israel Experience’ PLO lieutenant. But what if death is (Performance) Organised by: (2009), 100 min. A dispassionate one of the largest Zionist outreach not the end of his journey? + Q&A Planet Egypt. Monthly bellydance but devastating essay investigating projects launched in recent years. with director Mahmoud al Massad, showcases held on the last Th ursday the circumstances of Rachel Corrie’s Its purpose is to create new allies for chaired by Mike Dibb. of every month. Tickets: £12 on the death + Q&A with director Simone the government of Israel. Targeted door. Darbucka, 182 St John Street, Bitton, chaired by Grietje Baars. Citizen (Documentary), Dir Rachel Th ursday 5 May London EC1V 4JZ. T 020 7490 8295 Leah Jones (2010), 15 min. Yellow / 8772 E [email protected] W Monday 2 May Mums (Film), Dir Firas Khoury 6:15 pm | Recycle (Documentary) www.planetegypt.co.uk (2010), 32 min. A Boy, A Wall, and Part of the 2011 London Palestine 6:00 pm | Fix Me + Missing Part A Donkey (Film), Dir Hany Abu Film Festival: Friday 29 April - Friday 29 April of the 2011 London Palestine Assad, (2008) 4 min. Wednesday 11 May. See listing for Film Festival: Friday 29 April - Friday 29 April for contact details. 7:30 pm | Zindeeq (Film) Organised Wednesday 11 May. See listing for 8:30 pm | Children of the Dir Mahmoud al Massad (2007), 80 by: Palestine Film Foundation. Friday 29 April for venue and contact Revolution + Hasan Everywhere min. “What makes a terrorist?” In Part of the 2011 London Palestine details. Fix Me (Documentary), Part of the 2011 London Palestine Zarqa, Jordan’s second largest city, Film Festival: Friday 29 April - Dir Raed Andoni (2009), 89 Film Festival: Friday 29 April - this is a much debated question + Wednesday 11 May. Opening Gala. min. Raed Andoni has a tension Wednesday 11 May) See listing Q&A with director Mahmoud al Dir Michel Khleifi , (2009), 85 headache - one that isn’t going to for Friday 29 April for venue and Massad. Admission free, donations min. Th e story of M, a Palestinian end soon. Th at’s because Andoni contact details. Children of the welcome. Khalili Lecture Th eatre, fi lmmaker living in Europe + Q&A is a Palestinian living in Ramallah, Revolution (Documentary), Dir SOAS. with director Michel Khleifi and where the prospects for a stress free Shane O’Sullivan (2010), 96 min. Th e producer Omar Al-Qattan, chaired life are elusive + Q&A with director stories of Ulrike Meinhof (Baader 6:30 pm | Artists in conversation: by Festival patron, Karma Nabulsi. Raed Andoni, chaired by Sara Meinhof Group) and Fusako Beirut, London, Beirut Various ticket prices. Barbican Alsaraf. Missing (Animation), Dir Shigenobu (Japanese Red Army), (Discussion) Artists Dia Batal and Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Tariq Rimawi (2010), 3 min. the leading female revolutionaries Tania El Khoury discuss their inter-

28 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 cultural practice with academic Part of the 2011 London Palestine Archaeology, 31 Gordon Square, scholars to present their research Layal Ftouni. Part of a series of Film Festival: Friday 29 April - London WC1. T 020 7679 2369 W and work in progress. Includes a events related to the exhibition I, the Wednesday 11 May. See listing www.ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ Poster Presentation. Tickets: £30 Undersigned by Rabih Mroué, see for Th ursday 5 May for ticket both days/£20 one day/ £15 conc. Exhibitions for details. Admission and venue details and Friday 29 7:30 pm | Th e Kingdom of Women both days/£10 conc. one day (Pre- free, booking advised. Iniva at April for contact details. Diaries (Documentary) Part of the 2011 registration required). T 020 7898 Rivington Place, London EC2A (Documentary), Dir May Odeh London Palestine Film Festival: 4490 E [email protected] W www. 3BA. T 020 7749 1240 E bookings@ (2010), 53 min. A look at the lives of Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 lmei.soas.ac.uk rivingtonplace.org W www. three young women living in Gaza May. See listing for Th ursday 5 May rivingtonplace.org providing a vantage on life in the for ticket and venue details and 11:30 am | Sufi Frame-Drumming Gaza Strip rarely captured on fi lm. Friday 29 April for contact details. (Workshop) Every Saturday. See Friday 6 May Manshiyya (Documentary), Dir Dir Dahna Aburahme (2010), 54 listing for Saturday 2 April for Raneen Jeries (2010), 14 min. min. Th e story of the women of Ein details. Time TBC | Contemporary El Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon Turkish Studies Annual Doctoral 6:30 pm | Poetry, Meditation, between 1982 - 1984. 11:30 am | Discover Mesopotamia Dissertation Conference Music: Rumi Poetry Circle through Storytelling on a ZIPANG Organised by: LSE Contemporary (Meeting) Every fi rst Friday of the Saturday 7 May Day Out Monthly event. See listing Turkish Studies. 3rd Annual month. See listing for Friday 1 April for Saturday 2 April for details. Doctoral Dissertation Conference. for details. 9:30 am | State, Society and Tickets: TBC. LSE. T 020 7955 Economy in the Modern Middle 3:30 pm | Discover Mesopotamia 6067 E euroinst.turkish.studies@ 6:30 pm | ‘Five Loads of Grass, East (Two-Day Conference: through Storytelling ZIPANG Day lse.ac.uk W www2.lse.ac.uk/ Four of Dung and Two of Straw’; Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 May) Out Monthly event. See listing for europeanInstitute/research/ Archaeobotanical Research in Organised by: London Middle East Saturday 2 April for details. ContemporaryTurkishStudies/ Egyptian Settlements (Lecture) Institute, SOAS (LMEI). A Middle Graduate%20Workshop.aspx Claire Malleson. Organised by: East PhD Students International 4:00 pm | Special Triple-Bill on the Friends of the Petrie Museum. Conference. Th e Conference will Gaza Tunnels: Into the Belly of the 6:15 pm | Diaries + Manshiyya Admission free. G6 Institute of provide an opportunity for young Whale + Abu Jamil St. + Ticket

STABILITY AND NEW CHANGE IN THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST Kjetil Selvik and Stig Stenslie

How have regimes from North Africa to the Gulf perpetuated themselves in spite of the weakness of the Western-style state, the Islamist trend, and the destabilising effects of war and terrorism? What strategies have states used to control their societies, and how have both states and societies adapted over time? ‘At a time when there is vigorous debate about the potential for reform in the politics of the Middle East, sometimes slipping into alarm and disillusion, this book provides a much-needed grounding for thinking seriously through these issues.’ Glen Rangwala, Lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College, University of Cambridge

www.ibtauris.com 304 pages 234 x 156mm 9781848855892 PB £15.99 April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 29 road movie’ + Q&A with director (Documentary) Part of the 2011 Erez Miller. London Palestine Film Festival: Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 5:00 pm | Wilders: Th e Movie May. See listing for Monday 9 May (Documentary) Part of the 2011 for ticket and venue details and London Palestine Film Festival: Friday 29 April for contact details. Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 May. Dirs David Ridgen & Nicolas See listing for Th ursday 5 May for Rossier (2009), 84 min. A probing ticket and venue details and Friday portrait of US scholar Norman 29 April for contact details. Dirs Finkelstein. Joost van der Valk & Mags Gavan (2010), 70 min. Documentary on Wednesday 11 May Geert Wilders, the Dutch far right politician, which takes us on a 6:15 pm | Shout (Documentary) journey from the Netherlands to Part of the 2011 London Palestine London and the US, before ending Film Festival: Friday 29 April - up in Israel. Wednesday 11 May. See listing for Monday 9 May for ticket and Monday 9 May venue details and Friday 29 April for contact details. Closing Event of 6:15 pm | My Name is Ahlam the 2011 Festival. Dirs Ester Gould (Documentary) Part of the 2011 & Sabine Lubbe Bakker (2009), 85 London Palestine Film Festival: min. Ezat and Bayan have lived their Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 entire lives under Israeli occupation. May. See listing for Friday 29 April Th anks to Syrian parentage, they for contact details. Dir Rima Essa get the opportunity to study in (2010), 74 min. While fi ghting Damascus. But students can cross for her daughter’s right to receive the border just once annually, adequate treatment for leukaemia, meaning they can’t visit home for 12 Aisha, a Palestinian woman living months. in the West Bank, undergoes a rapid process of empowerment. Followed 7:00 pm | & Mongols, by a panel debate. Admission Franks & Armenians: the free, donations welcome. Darwin archaeology of Antioch and Lecture Th eatre, UCL, Gower Street, Cilicia in the 13th-14th Centuries London WC1E 6BT. (Lecture) Scott Redford, Koç University, Istanbul. Organised by: Tuesday 10 May Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS 5:30 pm | New fi eldwork at the Lecture Programme. Chaired by Gaza City, 1993. © JC Tordai (24 Images of Palestine, 1986-2010: Severan fort of Myd[…] (Gheriat Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. Photographs by J C Tordai The 2011 Annual Palestine Film Festival Photographic Exhibition, see Exhibitions, page 33) el-Garbia) on the limes tripolitanus Admission free. Khalili Lecture (Lecture) Michael Mackensen, Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 University of Munich. Organised E [email protected] W From Azrael Part of the 2011 Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, through to by: Society for Libyan Studies. Th e www.soas.ac.uk/about/events/ London Palestine Film Festival: Egypt. Olwen Brogan Memorial Lecture. Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 Admission free. Lecture Th eatre, Th ursday 12 May May. See listing for Th ursday 5 May British Academy, 10 Carlton House for ticket and venue details and Sunday 8 May Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH. E 6:00 pm | Th e Reign of al-Muqtadir Friday 29 April for contact details. [email protected] W (908-932) and the Decline of the Into the Belly of the Whale (Film), 9:30 am | State, Society and www.britac.ac.uk/institutes/libya/ Abbasid Caliphate (Lecture) Hugh Dir Hazim Bitar (2010), 24 min. Economy in the Modern Middle Kennedy, SOAS. Organised by: Younis (Jonah), decides to make one East (Two-Day Conference: 6:00 pm | (No) Laughing Matter Royal Asiatic Society. Admission fi nal tunnel run between the Gaza Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 May) See (Documentary) Part of the 2011 free. Royal Asiatic Society, 14 Strip and Egypt when things take listing for Saturday 7 May for details. London Palestine Film Festival: Stephenson Way, London NW1 a dangerous turn. Abu Jamil St. Friday 29 April - Wednesday 11 May. 2HD. T 020 7388 4539 E cl@ (Documentary), Dirs Monchovet 3:30 pm | 443 (Documentary) See listing for Monday 9 May for royalasiaticsociety.org W www. Alexis & Stephane Marchetti (2010), Part of the 2011 London Palestine ticket and venue details and Friday royalasiaticsociety.org 52 min. Beneath deafening bombs Film Festival: Friday 29 April - 29 April for contact details. Dir and in tunnels on the brink of Wednesday 11 May. See listing Vanessa Rousselot (2010), 55 min. 7:00 pm | Presentation of ORTS collapse, we follow four Palestinian for Th ursday 5 May for ticket and Convinced that humour knows no Cup Award, followed by AGM tunnel workers burrowing under venue details and Friday 29 April frontiers, young fi lmmaker Vanessa and Show and Tell Organised the Gaza strip. Ticket From Azrael for contact details. Dir Erez Miller Rousselot embarks on an unusual by: and Textile (Documentary), Dir Abdallah (2010), 52 min. Route 443 begins quest: to search for humour in the Society. Tickets: £6 for non- Al Ghoul (2009), 30 min. Short on the shore near Tel Aviv and ends West Bank. members. Swedenborg Hall, 20/21 documentary charting the eff orts of in Jerusalem. Equal parts satire and Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A a group of young Palestinian men investigative report, 443 off ers a new 7:15 pm | American Radical: the 2TH. T 020 8886 3910 E penny@ digging a tunnel extending from and inventive take on ‘the political trials of Norman Finkelstein orientalrugandtextilesociety.

30 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 org.ukW www. Monday 16 May by: London Centre for Arts and Wednesday 18 May orientalrugandtextilesociety.org.uk/ Cultural Exchange in conjunction ortscup.php 6:00 pm | Th e Parthians and the with the Tricycle Th eatre, the 9:45 am | Music in Middle Eastern Production of the Canonical Institute of Musical Research Cinema (Four-Day Festival: Friday 13 May Shāhnāmas: Of Pahlavī, Pahlavānī (University of London), the Iran Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 May) Please and the Pahlav + From Oxus to Heritage Foundation and the see listing for Tuesday 17 May for Various Times | London Euphrates: Understanding the Centre for Iranian Studies, SOAS. details. International Documentary Idea of Iranshahr (200-1200 CE) A two-day conference and a series Festival (Friday 13 - Saturday 28 (Lecture) Parvaneh Pourshariati, of fi lm screenings exploring the May) Includes Middle Eastern Th e Ohio State University; Touraj intersection of music and cinema Th ursday 19 May documentaries, fi lmakers and Daryaee, University of California, in the Middle East. Convened by themes and a comedy night with Irvine. Organised by: British Laudan Nooshin, City University Times TBC | Music in Middle Ahmed Ahmed who will be Institute of Persian Studies (BIPS) London. Th e Conference will take Eastern Cinema (Four-Day premiering his documentary ‘Just and the Centre for Iranian Studies, place on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday Festival: Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 Like Us’ at the Barbican. Tickets: SOAS. Admission free. Room G3, 18 May followed by two days of fi lm May) Please see listing for Tuesday See Festival website below. Various SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E vp6@ screenings at SOAS on Th ursday 17 May for details. venues across London. W www.lidf. soas.ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/ 19 and Friday 20 May. Th roughout co.uk / www.ahmed-ahmed.com iranianstudies/ May fi lm screenings will also be held at the Tricycle Th eatre. Various Friday 20 May Saturday 14 May ticket prices. Stewart House, Room Tuesday 17 May ST274/5 (next to Senate House, Times TBC | Music in Middle 12:00 pm | End the Seige on Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU), Eastern Cinema (Four-Day Gaza - Free Palestine A protest 9:45 am | Music in Middle Eastern Chancellor’s Hall, Senate House Festival: Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 vigil to commemorate the Nakba Cinema (Four-Day Festival: Tuesday (South Block), Khalili Lecture May) Please see listing for Tuesday and to ask the government to end 17 - Friday 20 May) Martin Stokes, Th eatre, SOAS and the Tricycle 17 May for details. the Siege on Gaza and the Israeli Oxford; Nacim Pak, Edinburgh; Kay Cinema, 269 Kilburn High Road, Occupation of Palestine. Assemble Dickinson, Goldsmiths; Kamran London NW6 7JR. E Valerie.James@ opposite Downing Street on Rastegar, Tuft s; Peyman Yazdanian, sas.ac.uk / [email protected] W Saturday 21 May Whitehall, London SW1A. E info@ Iran; John Baily, Goldsmiths; Tony www.soas.ac.uk/iranianstudies/ / palestinecampaign.org W www. Langlois, Limerick. Organised www.tricycle.co.uk 9:30 am | Th e Idea of Iran: Turks palestinecampaign.org

Tears of Gaza (Part of 2011 London Palestine Film Festival, see April/May Events, page 28)

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 31 and Persians and the spread of soas.ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/ Tuesday 24 - Wednesday 25 May) EVENTS OUTSIDE the Persianate world (Symposium) iranianstudies/ An international conference LONDON Saïd Amir Arjomand, Stony Brook examining, documenting and Institute for Global Studies State, Monday 23 May celebrating camel cultures from University of New York; Mohsen around the world. It will deal with Wednesday 4 May Ashtiany, Columbia University; 7:00 pm | Complicity in both material and cultural concerns, Franklin Lewis, University of Oppression: does the media aid and will cover both Dromedaries 5:00 pm | Th e History of Oil and Chicago; Alexsandr Naymark, Israel? (Panel Debate) Organised by: and Bactrians. Tickets: £30/£10 Urban Violence in the Modern Hofstra University, New York; Palestine Solidarity Campaign and conc./Free for SOAS staff and Middle East (Seminar) Nelida Khodadad Rezakhani, LSE; István MEMO. Th e BBC’s former Middle students (Pre-registration required). Fuccaro, SOAS. Organised by: Vásáry, Eötvös Loránd University, East correspondent, Tim Llewellyn, SOAS (Room TBC). E ed.emery@ Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. . Organised by: Centre joins Greg Philo, Research Director soas.ac.uk Part of the History, Politics and for Iranian Studies and the Faculty of the Glasgow Media Group, and Economies in the Muslim World of Oriental Studies, University of Abdel Bari Al-Atwan, editor of Al Wednesday 25 May seminar series. Admission free. Oxford with the support of the Quds, to discuss the mainstream Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Soudavar Memorial Foundation. media’s coverage of Palestine and 9:30 am | Th e Camel Conference George Street, Oxford OX1 2AR. Th e eighth programme in the series Israel. Chaired by Victoria Brittain, @ SOAS (Two-Day Conference: T 01865 278730 E academic. will focus on the years around the former associate foreign editor of the Tuesday 24 - Wednesday 25 May) [email protected] W www.oxcis. end of the fi rst millennium CE, Guardian, author and PSC patron. See listing on Tuesday 24 May for ac.uk when the political and cultural Admission free (Pre-registration more details. strength of the Abbasid Caliphate required). Amnesty International, Wednesday 11 May was on the wane and when the Human Rights Action Centre, New 6:00 pm | Language and Identity Eastern lands of the Islamic empire Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA. E in the Arabian Gulf (Lecture) 5:00 pm | Th e ‘Contagion’ from began to take on a new character, [email protected] W Clive Holes, . Tunisia: on the faultline between which has been dubbed ‘Persianate’ www.palestinecampaign.org Organised by: Society for Arabian demography, development and or ‘Perso-Islamic’. Tickets: £15/£10 Studies/British Foundation for the welfare distribution (Seminar) conc. & LMEI Affi liates/Students Tuesday 24 May Study of Arabia (SAS/BFSA) in Adeel Malik, OCIS and QEH, Free (Pre-registration required). association with the London Middle University of Oxford. Organised by: Brunei Gallery Lecture Th eatre, 9:30 am | Th e Camel Conference East Institute, SOAS (LMEI). A Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E vp6@ @ SOAS (Two-Day Conference: lecture on the relationship between Part of the History, Politics and language and identity in the Gulf, Economies in the Muslim World which will pay particular attention seminar series. See listing for to three phenomena: the recession of Wednesday 4 May for ticket, venue local linguistic identities; the spread and contact details. of global English; and pidginisation as a consequence of labour migration Saturday 14 May from South Asia. Admission free. Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. 9:30 am | Economy and Society in E [email protected] W www. Late Sasanian and Early Islamic societyforarabianstudies.org Iraq (Day Seminar) Admission free (sandwich lunch for £10 available). Danson Room, Trinity College, Th ursday 26 May Oxford OX1 3BH. E hk1@soas. ac.uk 6:30 pm | Literature and Revolution in the Middle East (Lecture) Reza Aslan, author. Organised by: Senses Magazine in association with the EXHIBITIONS London Middle East Institute, SOAS (LMEI) and supported by Cultural Signatures. Lecture followed by a Friday 1 April book signing in which Dr Aslan will be introducing his new book Until 1 April | From Here to Eternity ‘Tablet & Pen’ which spans a An exhibition of calligraphy and century of literature by the region’s mosaic art by the artists Elaine M best writers - from the famed Arab Goodwin and Mohamed Abaoubida poet Khalil Gibran to the Turkish which coincides with and celebrates Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. the inauguration of the Centre for Admission free (Pre-registration the Study of Islam. Admission free. required). Khalili Lecture Th eatre, Th e Street Gallery, Institute of Arab SOAS. T 020 7898 4490 E info@ and Islamic Studies, University of culturalsignatures.com W www. Exeter (IAIS), Exeter EX4 4ND. T rezaaslan.com / www.lmei.soas. 01392 264040 E Jane.Clark@exeter. ac.uk ac.uk W http://socialsciences.exeter. ac.uk/iais/all-events/ 7:00 pm | Planet Egypt Showcase (Performance) See listing for Until 9 April | Shadows of My Self Th ursday 28 April for details. Drawings, paintings and sculptures

32 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 Fix Me (Part of 2011 London Palestine Film Festival, see April/May Events, page28) of Selma Gürbüz, one of Turkey’s Until 30 April | Expired Ziad from the National Museum of of any nationality, who has made leading contemporary artists. Antar’s fi rst solo exhibition in the Th e exhibition will the most signifi cant contribution Tickets: Museum entry charge: UK. Antar’s work in this series is all highlight some of the most important to photography in Europe. Th e £5/£1 conc. (includes free return about experimenting the medium of archaeological discoveries from four shortlisted artists include the entry within 12 months) Leighton photography, waiting for the result ancient Afghanistan. Various ticket Israeli artist Elad Lassry. Admission House Museum, 12 Holland Park of the ‘experiment’. Admission free. prices. Room 35, BM. T 020 7323 free. Ambika P3 at the University of Road, London W14. T 020 7602 Selma Feriani Gallery, 23 Maddox 8299 W www.britishmuseum.org Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, 7700 E [email protected] W www. Street, London, W1S 2QN. T 020 NW1 5LS. T 0845 262 1618 E info@ roseissa.com 7493 6090 E [email protected] Until 11 September | Adornment photonet.org.uk W www.photonet. W www.selmaferiani.com and Identity: jewellery and org.uk Until 16 April | Again, A Time costume from Oman A unique Machine A new project, which Until 2 May | Icons of the 4 Corners display featuring a selection of 20th- Wednesday 27 April explores the possibilities of solidarity Iranian born London based artist century silver jewellery, weaponry between Poland and Iran in the form Afsoon revisits the late 60s and 70s, and male and female dress from Until 17 May | 24 Images of a billboard poster, newspaper and the blossoming of creativity and Oman. Admission free. BM. T 020 of Palestine, 1986-2010: and an archival installation. progress during that era. Admission 7323 8299 W www.britishmuseum. Photographs by J C Tordai Th e Admission free. Eastside Projects, free. Xerxes Art, 52 Haymarket, org 2011 Annual Palestine Film Festival 86 Heath Mill Lane Birmingham, London SW1Y 4RP. T 020 7839 Photographic Exhibition consists of B9 4AR. T 020 7493 4766 / 0121 3033 E [email protected] W Ongoing | Th e Car a series of monochrome prints by J 771 1778 E info@eastsideprojects. www.xerxesart.com Installation by the artist Jeremy C Tordai. Spanning three decades org / [email protected] W Deller of a car salvaged from of reportage from across Palestine, www.eastsideprojects.org/ / www. Until 14 May | Rabih Mroué: I, the the bombing of the historic Al- the selection has been especially iranheritage.org Undersigned Infl uenced by the Mutanabbi street book market chosen by the artist for the 2011 ongoing confl icts in Lebanon and in Baghdad on 5 March 2007 Film Festival. Admission free. Until 17 April | Giorgio Andreotta the Middle East and the Lebanese which killed thirty-eight people. Barbican Centre (Mezzanine Level), Calo, Jalal Toufi c, Huang Civil War (1975-1990), Mroué looks Admission free. Imperial War Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. E Xiaopeng Artists from around the at issues of historical narration, Museum London, Lambeth Road, info@palestinefi lm.org W www. world show moving image work at exclusion and remembrance. Join London SE1 6HZ. T 020 7416 5000 palestinefi lm.org the Gallery with the performance curator Francesco Bernardelli on a W http://london.iwm.org.uk of the Shiite ritual Ashura captured tour of the exhibition at 6.30pm on by Lebanese writer and artist Jalal Th ursday 7 April. Admission free. Tuesday 5 April Toufi c. Admission free. Whitechapel Rivington Place, London, EC2A Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High 3BA. E [email protected] W Until 1 May | Deutsche Börse Street, London E1 7QX. T 020 7522 www.rivingtonplace.org Photography Prize 2011 Th e 7888 E [email protected] Photographers’ Gallery’s annual W www.whitechapelgallery.org Until 3 July | Surviving Treasures prize rewards a living photographer,

April-May 2011 » The Middle East in London » 33 34 » The Middle East in London » April-May 2011 Affi liationliation FFormorm

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