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Patches of embroidery usually on Bani Malik tribal dresses, found in Ta'if market © Art of About the (LMEI) Heritage in Riyadh

Volume 9 - Number3 Th e London Middle East Institute (LMEI) draws upon the resources of London and SOAS to provide April – May 2013 teaching, training, research, publication, consultancy, outreach and other services related to the Middle East. It serves as a neutral forum for Middle East studies broadly defi ned and helps to create links between Editorial Board individuals and institutions with academic, commercial, diplomatic, media or other specialisations. With its own professional staff of Middle East experts, the LMEI is further strengthened by its academic Professor Nadje Al-Ali SOAS membership – the largest concentration of Middle East expertise in any institution in Europe. Th e LMEI also Ms Narguess Farzad has access to the SOAS Library, which houses over 150,000 volumes dealing with all aspects of the Middle SOAS East. LMEI’s Advisory Council is the driving force behind the Institute’s fundraising programme, for which Mr Roger Hardy it takes primary responsibility. It seeks support for the LMEI generally and for specifi c components of its King's College, London programme of activities. Mrs Nevsal Hughes Association of European Journalists Mr Najm Jarrah Dr George Joff é Mission Statement: Cambridge University Mr Max Scott Th e aim of the LMEI, through education and research, is to promote knowledge of all aspects of the Middle Gilgamesh Publishing East including its complexities, problems, achievements and assets, both among the general public and with Ms Sarah Searight British Foundation for the Study those who have a special interest in the region. In this task it builds on two essential assets. First, it is based in of Arabia London, a city which has unrivalled contemporary and historical connections and communications with the Dr Kathryn Spellman Poots AKU and LMEI Middle East including political, social, cultural, commercial and educational aspects. Secondly, the LMEI is at SOAS, the only tertiary educational institution in the world whose explicit purpose is to provide education Dr Sarah Stewart SOAS and scholarship on the whole Middle East from prehistory until today. Mrs Ionis Th ompson Saudi-British Society and BFSA Dr Shelagh Weir SOAS LMEI Staff: Professor Sami Zubaida Birkbeck College Director Dr Hassan Hakimian Co-ordinating Editor Executive Offi cer Louise Hosking Sarah Johnson Events and Magazine Coordinator Vincenzo Paci-Delton Administrative Assistant Valentina Zanardi Listings Vincenzo Paci-Delton Designer Disclaimer: Letters to the Editor: Shahla Geramipour Th e Middle East in London is published Opinions and views expressed in the Middle East Please send your letters to the editor at fi ve times a year by the London Middle East Institute at SOAS in London are, unless otherwise stated, personal the LMEI address provided (see left panel) views of authors and do not refl ect the views of their or email [email protected] Publisher and organisations nor those of the LMEI or the Editorial Editorial Offi ce Board. Although all advertising in the magazine is Th e London Middle East Institute carefully vetted prior to publication, the LMEI does SOAS University of London not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims Th ornaugh Street, Russell Square made by advertisers. London WC1H 0XG

T: +44 (0)20 7898 4490 SSubscriptions:ubscriptions: F: +44 (0)20 7898 4329 E: [email protected] www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/ To subscribe to Th e Middle East in London, please visit: www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/affi liation/ ISSN 1743-7598 Contents

4 18 LMEI Board of Trustees EDITORIAL Th e international prize for Professor Paul Webley (Chair) Arabic fi ction is six years old Director, SOAS 5 Peter Clark Dr John Curtis INSIGHT H E Sir Vincent Fean KCVO Consul General to Jerusalem Th e giant with the feet of clay 19

Professor Ben Fortna, SOAS George Joff é REVIEWS

Professor Graham Furniss, SOAS BOOKS

Mr Alan Jenkins 7 Islamist Radicalisation in

Dr Karima Laachir, SOAS In the shadow of revolutions Europe and the Middle East: Professor Annabelle Sreberny, SOAS Madawi Al-Rasheed Reassessing the Causes of Dr Barbara Zollner Terrorism Birkbeck College 9 Edward Mortimer LMEI Advisory Council Lady Barbara Judge (Chair) ‘A huge step forward’: Women 20 Professor A. S. Abdel Haleem Near and Middle East Department, SOAS appointed to the Majlis Politics of Qat: Th e Role of a Mr Stephen Ball Ash-Shura for the fi rst time Drug in Ruling KPMG H E Khalid Al-Duwaisan GVCO Hoda al Helaissi Helen Lackner Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Mrs Al Kaylani Arab International Women’s Forum 11 21 Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa President, University College of Bahrain A powerful cultural statement: Unshook till the End of Time: A Professor Tony Allan Dress in Saudi Arabia History of Britain and King’s College and SOAS Aisa Martinez Peter Clark Dr Alanoud Alsharekh Senior Fellow for Regional Politics, IISS Mr Farad Azima 12 22 Heritage Foundation Dr Noel Brehony Explorer St. John Philby and his Books in brief MENAS Associates Ltd. collection of ‘many treasures’ Mr Charles L. O. Buderi Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Debbie Usher 24 Ms Zeynep Dereli APCO Worldwide PROFILE

Mr Shafi k Gabr 14 Adam Hanieh ARTOC Group for Investment and Development Contemporary Saudi Arabian Professor Magdy Ishak Hanna art in London 25 British Egyptian Society Michelle Smith and Janet Rady EVENTS IN LONDON HE Mr Mazen Kemal Homoud Ambassador, Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Mr Zaki Nusseibeh 16 Riyadh’s new underground Founding Patron and Member of the railway: ‘Th e largest single Advisory Council engineering project ever Sheikh Mohamed bin Issa al Jaber undertaken’ MBI Al Jaber Foundation Ionis Th ompson

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 3 EEDITORIALDITORIAL © Ionis Thompson

DDearear RReadereader

A man looks out at the sunset on Jebel Hijaz, western Saudi Arabia

Ionis Thompson, MEL Editorial Board

hrough all the recent disturbances in Saudi society reacted to the events Saudi costumes. In the fi eld of literature, in our region, following the Arab of the Arab Spring and its aft ermath. Peter Clark talks about the so-called ‘Arab Tuprisings of 2011, Saudi Arabia has Joff e discusses King Abdullah’s moves to Booker’ prize competition which this year appeared to remain (with one or two little- modernise and change society, slow by the has a Saudi author on its short-list. An publicised exceptions) a still point of calm. standards of other countries but signifi cant important archive of papers relating to How people there are reacting to events in Saudi terms, and some of the problems the early history of the Kingdom and now around them, and what developments in that result. One of the King’s reforms has housed in Oxford, the Philby collection, thought and in society are taking place, is been the introduction of women to the is described by Debbie Usher. In terms of not particularly well known outside the consultative council, the Majlis ash-Shura infrastructure huge developments are taking Kingdom. In this issue we throw light on and we have an interview with one of the place in Saudi Arabia, one of which, the new some of the important developments that fi rst women to be chosen, Hoda al-Helaissi. metro in Riyadh, is discussed here. are being implemented within the country. Janet Rady describes a fl owering of George Joff e and Madawi al-Rasheed Saudi art which has appeared on the introduce us to the ferment of new ideas contemporary art scene both in Saudi being broadcast on the social media, Arabia and here in London, while Aisa especially those of cleric Salman al-Awda. Martinez outlines the research she is Al-Rasheed tells us of the way elements doing at SOAS on a heritage collection of

4 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 IINSIGHTNSIGHT

George Joff é looks at the pressures facing Saudi Arabia today TThehe ggiantiant wwithith tthehe ffeeteet ooff cclaylay

There is growing pressure inside the Kingdom

© Edward Musiak from women for a greater public voice wo years ago, seemed to be heading its reputation as an unyielding block to realities. is now wedded to high oil prices the phalanx of states resisting populist modernity throughout the Middle – perhaps as high as US$100 per barrel – Tpopulist calls for change. Instead, East and North Africa. Yet, events of the just to cover the costs of its new domestic King Abdullah sought to reinforce the last two years suggest that the situation is programmes. And that could be a problem, social contract that has bound the Gulf more fl uid than we realised. Some degree because the sudden advent of America’s states together since the advent of the of change, glacially slow, no doubt, by the burgeoning shale oil-and-gas industry oil era by distributing US$39 billion in standards of the rest of the region and might well introduce secular declines February 2011 in additional benefi ts to the managed from above, does seem to be in world energy prices in the future. Of Saudi population, followed by a further happening in the Kingdom. Decried by course, ’s foreign currency reserves are vast US$100 billion two months later. Th e many outside as far too slow and, perhaps, – $657 billion at the end of last year – but results seemed to be as intended – ’s own the result as much of external realities as the pressures on them are great as well. ‘day of rage’ in early March 2011 turned internal preferences, things do seem to be One of the most important pressures is out to be even less than a damp squib and changing with implications for the future employment; the Kingdom’s population the Kingdom was able to openly support that are as yet very diffi cult to quantify. is growing fast, from 27.5 million in 2010 the Bahraini government in its successful to an expected 39.5 million in twenty-fi ve attempts to suppress protest. Th ere were, Economic realities years time and 30 per cent are below the age it is true, short-term protests in Oman and In part, the king’s generosity two years of 15. Unemployment overall is believed on-going tensions in Kuwait but elsewhere, ago has created some ineluctable external to be 16 per cent today and will rise in the despite governmental nervousness and occasional pre-emptive repression, the Gulf Saudi Arabia’s foreign currency reserves are has remained calm. Th e Saudi monarchy seemed, in short, vast – $657 billion at the end of last year – but to have got its response right, justifying the pressures on them are great as well

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 5 One of the main indicators of growing social turmoil is no doubt that the King, despite his age and infi rmity, is well-aware of the need to has been the explosive growth of social media release such tensions as his cautious reforms attest. His problem is that he cannot know years to come, particularly amongst Saudi public protest, began to voice their anxieties whether they will continue aft er he leaves youth, because of inappropriate education in public at the end of January 2013, with a the political scene. Structural reform, aft er and because, despite the government’s demonstration outside the Royal Court and all, does not necessarily mean real change, best eff orts, job creation cannot keep pace the delivery of a protest statement against as stasis in the Constitutional Council has with demand. Th at will leave a growing the King’s recent decision to expand the demonstrated. body of disgruntled, dissatisfi ed youth, Shura Council to include thirty women He has, as a result, begun a slow process feeling excluded from mainstream society (see p. 9) for an interview with one of of restructuring the royal family. He has and alienated from government priorities, its female members – Hoda al Helaissi). appointed Prince Muqrin, the youngest however much their situation is eased by aid Strangely enough, the protests were not son of Abdelaziz al-Saud, as second deputy and handouts. just about the fact of giving women formal premier, to outfl ank his elder brother, Of course, this problem is nothing political representation; some infl uential Prince Salman, who is now recognized as no new and the Saudi government has been conservative women commentators longer capable of succeeding him. Earlier, trying to address it for many years. Th e complained that those chosen did not refl ect he had appointed Prince Mohammed bin King Abdullah University of Science and the view of most Saudi women, in a society Nayef as interior minister in place of his Technology (KAUST) is one example, as which is predominantly still intensely uncle Prince Ahmed – a deliberate snub are the ambitious programmes for six new socially conservative! to the Saudi tradition of power through technical cities. However, none of them Th e King’s decision to allow women seniority and, perhaps, an attempt to pre- address the key issues that face Saudi society to vote in municipal elections and to empt the succession. At the same time, aft er today and that are beginning, despite the enter the Shura Council also refl ects the particularly egregious abuses of power, the artifi cial calm of the last two years, to break growing pressure inside the Kingdom from mutawa leadership was reined in. Change through the offi cially-imposed carapace women themselves for a greater public from the top is certainly on the way but of social order – Sunni-Shi’a tensions, the voice. Women are beginning to complain the question now is whether it can outpace Wahhabi hegemony, the status of women, about their professional status as well; pressure from below! the succession and the threat of renewed lawyers complain about the lack of licences terrorist violence. to practice and professional women are George Joff é teaches at the Department of concerned about discrimination in the work Politics and International Studies in the Society and government place despite the fact that a Middle East and is a member of One of the main indicators of growing business magazine recently named 15 Saudi MEL Editorial Board social turmoil has been the explosive growth women amongst the 100 most infl uential of social media in the Kingdom, especially professional women throughout the Middle Twitter. Th ere are said to be 2.9 million East! And, of course, the ban on driving users now and the comment they generate and other constraints do not necessarily has been unrestrained, including criticism apply to professional women working of the al-Sauds themselves. Surprisingly, outside the major urban areas. protestors have not just included disaff ected Th e unrest touches on the security arena youth; even clerics have been making as well; in the Eastern Provinces, the Shi’a their feelings known. Salman al-Awda, a increasingly challenge offi cial repression of well-known critic of the current order, now social protest as expressions of sectarianism. regarded as a moderate, has more than 1.6 Families in Buraydah protest the arrest million followers on Twitter and has dared and indefi nite detention of their menfolk to challenge conventional Wahhabi views for taking part in demonstrations. Th ere on protest as ‘fi tna’, especially in the context of the Arab Spring (see Madawi al-Rasheed’s © zbigphotography/edward musiak article on p. 7). But the most outspoken has been ‘Mujtahidd’; his identity is unknown but he appears to be well-connected and fearless – a symbol of the ways in which new media have provided an unexpected arena for public comment. Nor are the critics necessarily moderates and radicals; conservative clerics, impeded for years by Wahhabi orthodoxy against

Saudi Arabia is wedded to high oil prices just to cover the costs of its new domestic programmes. Riyadh (pictured) is one of the richest cities in the Middle East and the 80th richest city in the world

6 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 IINSIGHTNSIGHT

Madawi Al-Rasheed charts how religious scholars in Saudi Arabia reacted and adapted to the Arab uprisings

IInn tthehe sshadowhadow © Omar Chatriwala ooff revolutionsrevolutions

Pilgrims leave Mina on the last day of Hajj. Salman Al-Awda asks why Muslims should accept autocracy and reject democracy if the latter proves to be the best available option simply because it is a western import

here is nothing that prompts us to for peaceful collective action. Instead, they Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan, Yemeni and encourage revolution as it is enshrined applauded the bravery and determination Syrian activists whom they dubbed Sahwa Tin danger... . It just comes when of Arab protestors abroad and shift ed their Islamiyya, (Islamic awakening). Many Saudi profound reform has stumbled. focus to local battles with the Saudi regime Islamists saw the Syrian uprising through Salman Al-Awda, Islamist against detention of prisoners of conscience, the lens of sectarian politics and considered the legitimacy of peaceful collective action the Syrian rebels defenders of Sunni revival Like all of us watching the Arab world and the right of the people to be represented against the hegemony of a minority Alawite in the last two years, Saudi Islamists (I in an elected assembly. regime. On the Bahraini uprising, Saudi refer throughout to the Salafi Islamists) On the eve of the Arab uprisings, Saudi Islamists concurred with the Saudi regime were taken by surprise when the Arab Islamists had already reinvented themselves that described the Bahraini revolution as a masses marched en masse calling for the as peaceful activists seeking reform of the Shia-Iranian conspiracy to undermine the downfall of their regimes. Offi cial Saudi regime from within. During the uprisings security of the Gulf. Th ey also condemned religious scholars immediately warned they reclaimed their position on the map the Saudi Shia uprising in the oil-rich against the chaos of revolutions, banned of Saudi Arabia. Th ey developed their Eastern Province. Th ey accused the Shia demonstrations, and called for respect own strategies in order to remain relevant of opportunism and blamed them for and obedience to rulers. Despite this, and central to any debate about the provoking the regime to increase oppression they supported the uprisings, perhaps future of the country. Th e Arab uprisings and arrest among their own activists. in anticipation of Islamist parties and reinvigorated them as two Islamist parties Unlike the majority of offi cial Saudi movements replacing the old regimes in came to power - al-Nahda in and religious scholars, veteran Islamist Salman , Tunisia and beyond. Th ey were, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. At the Al-Awda (born 1956) anchored peaceful however, cautious when revolutionary same time they supported the struggle of collective revolutionary action in an Islamic eff ervescence started creeping into the heart of Arabia. Amid Saudi calls for demonstrations, civil disobedience and On the eve of the Arab uprisings, Saudi Islamists change via the internet, they held back from endorsing such calls, as if to assert that had already reinvented themselves as peaceful neither they nor their followers were ready activists seeking reform of the regime from within

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 7 framework and reached out for humanist Th e eruption of unforeseen and unexpected revolutions needed interpretations that assimilate Western intellectual positions with his own Salafi an Islamic endorsement, interpretation and justifi cation orientation. He surprised his audiences when he published As’ilat al-Th awra ripen, dry prematurely or be belatedly sharia is to establish justice, protect property (Questions of Revolution) in 2012. Al- harvested.’ and guard lives. Awda rehabilitated revolution aft er decades Al-Awda proposes to go beyond the Al-Awda asserts that in there is no of Sunni religious scholars associating it duality of total obedience to rulers or scope for a theocracy, the rule of Islamic with instability, chaos and danger. Th is military revolt. His ‘third way’ centres on jurists. Th e Islamic state is a contractual book put him in a position diff erent from ‘organised collective action that regulates project between people on the basis of a both traditional offi cial Saudi ulama and political opposition and accountability.’ civil contract. In his opinion, democracy Jihadi ideologues, who had adopted violent Th e social contract, exemplifi ed by the proves to be better than autocracy. He calls strategies locally and globally. Needless English Magna Carta, represents in for representation of the people, freedom to say the book was immediately banned Al-Awda’s thinking an early example of and civil society. Why should Muslims in Saudi Arabia, prompting the author limiting monarchical powers and asserting accept autocracy and reject democracy if to circulate it on the internet. In this individual rights. Th e strategy that the latter proves to be the best available book, Al-Awda’s engagement with the collective action requires is not necessarily option simply because it is a western question of revolution brought him back violent. Revolutionary attire, slogans and import, he asks. Democracy promises to as a relevant fi gure at a critical moment hunger strikes prove to be effi cient and be inclusive. Pluralism is a precondition in the Saudi and Arab public sphere. Th e justifi ed steps in a peaceful revolution. He for just government. He warns against eruption of unforeseen and unexpected acknowledges the diversity of al-jamahir, alienating sectarian and ethnic minorities, a revolutions needed an Islamic endorsement, the critical Arab publics behind the potentially dangerous strategy that triggers interpretation and justifi cation. Al- revolutions. foreign intervention and civil war. He calls Awda swift ly seized the opportunity and On the sharia in a post-revolutionary for respecting minority rights within a improvised a text that moved away from the phase, Al-Awda calls for gradual application democratic framework. duality of the permissible and prohibited in in an attempt not to burden societies While hesitating to call for revolution in Islamic political theology. aft er revolutionary upheaval, a burden Saudi Arabia, many Saudi Islamists have Al-Awda fuses western political thinking that may precipitate total rejection. Post- learnt hard lessons from a decade of terror on revolutions by Marx, Popper and revolutionary justice requires accepting that was displaced by peaceful collective Fanon with his own Islamic Salafi heritage, the diversity of Arab publics opinion. Th is action across the Arab world. It remains to producing a hybrid discourse that aims to justice requires reconciliation with all be seen whether these new Saudi intellectual reach beyond religious study circles. He sectors in society including supporters of mutations will lay the foundation for a new defi nes revolution as building on the past, deposed regimes: as the Prophet said, ‘go, era in an age of hybridity and pluralism. reform and reconstruction rather than you are free’. From the heartland of Salafi sm, Islamists destruction. It always starts peacefully He warns against raising slogans such are beginning to engage with this hybridity but may later become militarised when as demanding the immediate application thanks to those Arab masses who have confronted with oppression. Simply of sharia, thus capitalising on people’s opened a new chapter in their struggle for phrased, revolution is a fruit that ‘may emotional dispositions. Th e purpose of freedom, dignity and social justice.

Madawi Al-Rasheed is Professor of Anthropology of Religion at King’s College, London. Her most recent publications include A Most Masculine State: Gender, Politics and (CUP 2013), Contesting the Saudi State: Islamic Voices from a New Generation (CUP 2007), and A (CUP 2010)

Unlike the majority of offi cial Saudi religious scholars, veteran Islamist Salman Al-Awda (pictured third from left) anchored peaceful collective revolutionary action in an Islamic

© Twitter/Salman Al-Awda © Twitter/Salman framework

8 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA

Ionis Thompson speaks to Hoda al Helaissi, one of the women chosen to be part of Saudi Arabia's consultative body, who gives her personal view of the King’s decision and what it means for the country ‘‘AA hhugeuge ssteptep fforward’:orward’: WWomenomen aappointedppointed ttoo tthehe MMajlisajlis AAsh-Shurash-Shura fforor tthehe fi rstrst ttimeime © Peter Harrigan

The Majlis Ash-Shura in session

he King's announcement about the to be encouraging and promising. Th e pronouncement. As with anything novel, selection of women to the Assembly appointment of 30 women – 20 per cent responses vary, ranging from approval to Twas greeted with approbation in the of the Shura Council – was a long-awaited total disapprobation. I cannot stress enough Western media. Did you hear any adverse comment on it within Saudi Arabia? Th e general consensus was very positive. ‘I cannot stress enough how honoured and proud I am Both men and women found the decision to be playing a role in the upcoming, unfolding events’

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 9 ‘Saudi Arabia has changed; it has developed along with the next big step? Th at is to be seen. No one can really predict where we are going to be our changing society in our forever changing world’ in the next fi ve or ten years just as no one could have predicted that the empowerment of Saudi women and their development in how honoured and proud I am to be playing Th e Majlis is just a consultative assembly: the workforce would have resulted in the a role in the upcoming, unfolding events. members can propose draft laws but the country being where it is today. Th e one sure King has to approve them before they are notion, however, is that Saudi Arabia has How important a development do you implemented. How much infl uence do changed; it has developed along with our think this selection is? you think the Assembly really has? Does changing society in our forever changing It is a very important development and the King endorse most of the proposals world. For the most part, these changes this courageous and inspiring decision can put to him by the Majlis? have taken place with the encouragement only be considered as such because of the I don’t think it’s fair to say the Council is of fathers, husbands and brothers. We are progressive eff ect it will have on our society. ‘just a consultative assembly’ because the living history and perhaps we should look Development and evolution are inevitable implication is that it is merely a group of back at our history books and take a couple in any living entity, and society never ceases people getting together to discuss issues of pages out of them to learn how much of a to grow and change. We in the Kingdom of who are nevertheless ineff ective. If a transformation has actually taken place. Saudi Arabia are part of this world and there comparison is to be made, I would say will always be certain realities that we need that Majlis Ash-Shura resembles the UK’s Hoda al Helaissi is a former Vice-Chair to accept, admittedly at our own pace, if we House of Lords. Th e people chosen to be at King Saud University and attended the are to continue playing an active role on a in the Shura are from diff erent walks of Council for the fi rst time on 24 February 2013 global level. Not only is this historic decision life, from various educational backgrounds a pioneering one weighed down by a huge and from diverse specialties. Th eir sense amount of responsibility that comes with of responsibility is very high and they the faith entrusted in us as Shura members, understand that the work before them but it is also one that is embedded with is to be done conscientiously. Issues are the duties we are to carry out vis-à-vis our discussed, laws are proposed and matters religion, our King and our country. As the are researched and commented upon. fi rst group of women in this position, we Th ey also review reports presented by the have the added responsibility of paving the ministries and scrutinise government work way for future groups of women who will as well as debate important current topics. eventually replace us in our functions. We Th e Council’s function is to advise and to have to show that the trust was well-placed. consult. Approval and implementation or Our role as women in the council is not refutation and rejection come at a later stage taken lightly: we all appreciate the leap that based on valid reasons. I believe that most we are taking and the leap that was taken for of the proposals presented to the King are us. Our presence as women in the council endorsed but I cannot say for sure, as I have does not mean that we are to deal with only not seen any statistics regarding this matter. women issues. Th e majority of matters in Hoda al Helaissi is one of the fi rst women to sit in society aff ect men and women alike and When you attend sessions in the Yamama the Majlis Ash-Shura therefore our contributions, which will Palace, do you have to wear the veil? Are most probably refl ect a diff erent perspective you in the same place as men? to the one voiced in previous meetings, If our taking of the oath is anything to go will be reached with understanding and by, then we will be in the same hall as the communication with the men in the men. As for the veil, it never ceases to amaze council. Working together will ensure better me the amount of attention that is given to decision-making and that the conclusions it! Th e veil will be worn, and with pride. It we come to are informed and in the best is part of our identity, part of who we are interest of all concerned. and it will not aff ect the work we do, as Th is development is not only important proved over and over again by the hundreds on a macro level but also on a micro level of women who work eff ectively in their as it will have a constructive eff ect on communities. Some will use it to cover their our society as a whole. As more women hair, others their face and others still will enter the work force and contribute to the use the niqab – revealing only their eyes. It country’s economy, it is clear that their is a choice based on personal and religious position on the career ladder is constantly beliefs. rising and that society’s perception towards women is changing. Again, this is part of the Th is has been a huge step forward for natural process of change and it was only women in Saudi Arabia. What do you a question of time before women reached think the next big step for them might be? positions of power and leadership. It has been a huge step forward. What is

10 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA

Aisa Martinez discusses the impact of clothing in the Kingdom A powerfulpowerful cculturalultural sstatement:tatement: DDressress iinn SSaudiaudi AArabiarabia

rabian clothing with its decorative beads and mother-of-pearl buttons are used embroidered dresses on a much larger detail serves as a powerful cultural on dresses for special occasions while less scale, exporting well-known designs of Astatement that communicates the expensive plastic beads and buttons are communities in the South throughout the wearer’s social values and identity. Th e increasingly used on dresses intended for country. colours, shapes, and motifs, as well as the mass consumption. Naturally dyed cotton Th e study of dress is an interdisciplinary placement and amount of embroidery, threads have more recently been replaced undertaking. While this project involves reveal the wearer’s age, gender, tribal by shinier and brighter coloured synthetic research methods in , affi liation, occupation, and socio-economic threads. anthropology and history, there is potential status without them uttering a word. European travellers’ written and for related projects to engage with ideas of Since 2011, the London Middle East photographic records of the region place modern economic and consumer trends Institute has been working with the Art dress in an historical context. From as well as political notions of national and of Heritage Group in Riyadh (AOH) on the 18th century, they describe a then regional identity. For now, it is my hope a research project documenting styles of ‘unknown’ and ‘exotic’ that this unique project with the LMEI and clothing worn throughout Saudi Arabia. to a western audience. While the quality AOH will contribute to a growing body Th e current phase focuses on embroidery and quantity of clothing descriptions of academic work on material culture and and related forms of decoration. vary throughout the range of records, this identity in Saudi Arabia. Th is project uses a three-pronged archival material shows some styles, colours, approach to tell the story of Saudi dress: and materials which are still found today Aisa Martinez is a Research Fellow for the the AOH dress collection, European and also shows certain elements of dress Art of Heritage Project at the London Middle travellers’ accounts and photographs, and that may no longer be in regular use. Black- East Institute, SOAS ethnographic research conducted during and-white photographs from the mid-19th fi eld visits to the Kingdom in 2012. In a century are of limited use in showing details region where there are few local textile of embroidery colours and fabric texture, Complete outfi t worn by women of the Qahtan industries, researching dress involves a but provide some useful visual evidence tribe (Asir) global scope. For centuries, materials for about Arabian dress in the past. © Art of Heritage in Riyadh making garments were imported from all In 2012, I travelled to Saudi Arabia to over the world by pilgrims and traders. meet with people who have been involved Looking at dress in Saudi Arabia through with dress-making and embroidery. Th eir these lenses of artefacts, archives, and stories add further context and depth to interviews reveals how fabrics, threads, and information revealed by the garments in decorative materials from all over the world the AOH collection and historical evidence were incorporated into local regional styles of past explorers. Elderly women who in the past century. had been hand-sewing their families’ Garments in the AOH collection are wardrobes told how they used to sit in estimated to be no older than 100 years, groups to sew, embroider, and socialise with but they demonstrate how Saudi Arabia’s other women in their communities. Saudi increase of wealth and subsequent men of the same generation were sent to consumption of goods has aff ected lifestyles to train as tailors and reproduced and clothing choices. Shapes have changed their mothers’ older embroidery styles from voluminous sleeves to close-fi tting with sewing machines and new synthetic ones; the rough weave of cotton skirts worn threads imported from Japan and China. in some agricultural communities contrasts In , capital of Asir province, foreign with smooth synthetic silks worn by elite tailors (usually from south Asia) have taken ladies in cosmopolitan urban areas. Glass over Saudi tailors’ trade to produce these Fabrics, threads, and decorative materials from all over the world have been incorporated into local regional styles

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 11 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA

Debbie Usher traces the history of the Middle East Centre Archive in Oxford EExplorerxplorer SSt.t. JohnJohn PPhilbyhilby aandnd hhisis ccollectionollection ooff ‘‘manymany ttreasures’reasures’

ost of the voluminous papers to Islam in 1930 and played a signifi cant He also gave hundreds of his photos to the and photographs of the famous role in helping to negotiate the fi rst major Royal Geographical Society. MArabist and explorer, Harry St. oil contracts. Philby is most famous for Th e Philby Collection in Oxford John Bridger Philby, are housed in the being one of the fi rst westerners to cross the holds many treasures. Th e papers and Middle East Centre Archive at St Antony’s largest sand desert in the world, the Empty photographs cover Philby’s education, clubs College, Oxford. Not only did Philby live a Quarter,in 1931-1932 (he was beaten to it and political interests in Britain, his life as colourful life, much of it in Saudi Arabia, by Bertram Th omas, much to his chagrin). an Indian Civil Servant (1908-1914), his but his papers and photographs also have As intrepid was his 1936 journey through service in Mesopotamia (1915-1921), his an interesting custodial history, and have the rugged mountains of and Asir to service as Chief British Agent in the newly had a signifi cant impact on the institutional map the newly-established border between formed Transjordan (1921-1924), his work development of the Archive. Saudi Arabia and Yemen. He was an avid in Arabia for the business venture Sharqieh Philby was a lifelong friend of Ibn Saud, naturalist, and during his travels collected Ltd (1925-1946), and his life and work as a who as King Abdulaziz, was the fi rst birds, insects and geological specimens prolifi c author and explorer. monarch of Saudi Arabia. He converted for the Natural History Museum, London. Some highlights of the material in the Middle East Centre relating to Arabia include photographs and diaries of Philby’s Th e 51 boxes of business papers provide a fascinating political mission to Central Arabia in resource for the economic and social history of Arabia 1917-1918, papers concerning the visit of

12 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 Philby was a hoarder and accumulated a substantial for the Archive, and the Middle East Centre agreed to provide copies of collections collection of papers and photographs during his lifetime directly relevant to Saudi history - in particular the St. John Philby Collection. Th e endowment has made an enormous Faisal bin Saud to Britain in 1919, Hedjaz papers and photographs were sold (in line diff erence to the Archive; a qualifi ed News articles written by Philby in 1926, and with Philby’s last wishes) to archivist has been employed to manage the papers relating to working out the longitude Library in Dhahran. collection, and there are now resources and latitude of Mecca. Elizabeth Monroe (who founded the available for archival packaging and Th e 51 boxes of business papers, of Middle East Centre Archive at St Antony’s) conservation work. Much work has been Sharqieh Ltd and Mitchell Cotts, provide was asked by the Philby family to write a done on improving the catalogue of a fascinating resource for the economic biography, and her Philby of Arabia was the Philby Collection. All of the Philby and social history of Arabia. Th e goods published in 1973. As part of her research photographs (over 4,000) have been copied, imported by the company chart the rise for the book, she spent much time reading and the copying of the papers is nearing in prosperity, with luxury goods such as the Philby papers at Aramco Library. Th e completion (90,962 pages so far). Th e Philby diamonds, silk and perfume appearing in large size of the Philby Collection was Collection has been wonderful to work on. the late 1940s. Th e papers also show the problematic for the library, which felt it did Some of the material has been surprising development of oil and mining projects not have the resources to properly catalogue and unexpected, for example fi nding and concessions in Arabia from 1921-1960. or preserve the material, or make it available correspondence with A.A. Milne. Prior to oil, the main source of government to researchers. Recognising the importance Th e future of the Middle East Centre revenue had been the pilgrimage to Mecca. of the collection, Aramco Library off ered Archive is also looking bright, with Th e 1929 depression had a catastrophic it to St Antony’s College, on condition construction having just started on the new impact on revenue by dramatically that a microfi lm copy of material relating Soft bridge building designed by Dame Zaha diminishing the number of pilgrims - and to Arabia be made for them. Th is was Hadid. Th ese new premises will lead to a Philby thought this Ibn Saud’s main reason done and the Philby Collection came to St considerable upgrade of allthe Archive's for letting non-Muslims in to prospect for Antony’s in 1972. facilities, including substantial space for its oil. Saudi Arabia has seen huge physical collections to grow. Philby was a hoarder and accumulated and societal changes since the explosion of a substantial collection of papers and oil wealth from the 1940s onwards. From Th e Archive’s online photo galleries are at photographs during his lifetime, which the 1950s, many historic buildings were http://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/mec/mecaphotos- made moving house diffi cult.Elizabeth destroyed in the drive for modernisation. gallery.html Monroe notes in her biography of Philby By the 1990s, however, a sea change in that ‘getting crates of papers to Riyadh was attitude towards national history had taken Debbie Usher has been an archivist at the expensive, and any friend motoring there place, and there was a surge of interest in Middle East Centre Archive at St Antony’s was pressed into service. One American cultural traditions and vanishing heritage. College since 2002 diplomat who obliged was caught half-way It was in this context that the King Abdul by a sudden storm of wind and rain that Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives whirled lids off boxes and sent papers fl ying, approached St Antony’s College with a view soaked and irrecoverable, far into the desert. to making the Philby Collection available He could only shrug his shoulders, rescue to Saudi scholars in Riyadh. In November the lids, nail them down, and drive on.’ 2001 a co-operation agreement was signed Philby, however, did care about his papers whereby the Saudis provided an endowment and photographs. During his banishment in 1955, he delayed publishing his ‘Scandal of Arabia’ Sunday Times articles until he was certain that his papers were safe in the basement of the British Embassy. Aft er his reconciliation with the Saudi royal family and his return to the Kingdom, Philby spent some years writing his books surrounded by his huge archive. Following his death in 1960, the Saudi government took possession of all Philby’s papers and photographs. Aft er the intervention of Philby’s son, Kim, the

(Opposite) Artist's impression of the new Softbridge building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (Right) , c1928

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 13 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA

Michelle Smith and Janet Rady take a look at the burgeoning Saudi art scene

CContemporaryontemporary SSaudiaudi AArabianrabian aartrt iinn LLondonondon

t London’s inaugural Art13 fair at from parallel networks in neighbouring the role of many Saudi artists, who occupy the beginning of March, Jeddah’s countries. In contrast to its Gulf neighbours, the roles of curators, artists and gallerists, AAthr Gallery organised a talk scant Government sponsorship, arts and is pivotal in shaping the contemporary entitled Saudi Arabia and Contemporary infrastructure and arts education has seen movement. Lahd, like many independent Art; Reaching Out, which focused on the the growth of a movement which is grass galleries across the Middle East, established question of identity and the continued roots and artist-led in character; however, a presence inside the region (in this case, evolution of the Kingdom’s contemporary recent international interest in the arts in Riyadh in 2005) before branching out art scene. of the wider Middle East has seen the internationally. A representative for the While the talk provided an overview of country being increasingly recognised for Gallery told this author that the diversity relevant developments, it was the setting its emerging visual artists and its growing and openness of the London market and that said most about exactly how far importance as a regional centre of art collectors has encouraged a willingness to Saudi art has reached. Art13 acted as an production. be more experimental in terms of medium international art showcase featuring works London, in particular, has come to the and subject matter, thus invigorating Saudi from markets as diverse as China, and forefront as a place where visual art from art in new ways. Korea. Th e inclusion of Athr Gallery, as well the Kingdom is viewed by an audience Initially set up with the aim of providing as a talk dedicated to the topic, helped to increasingly accustomed to the arts and a platform for the promotion of female position Saudi art as an established (though culture of the Middle East. artists from the Gulf, since coming to still developing) presence within the global In 2010 the Lahd Gallery, founded by London this objective has broadened into contemporary art scene, while confi rming Princess Nauf Bint Bandar bin Mohammed a desire to ‘create a level playing fi eld for all the importance of the international Al Saud, opened in London and established Middle Eastern artists and to give them the market in facilitating the evolution and itself as a space for the promotion of artists opportunity to show their works alongside dissemination of Saudi art. from the Middle East and North Africa their global counterparts’. Of the 19 artists Th e contemporary art scene in Saudi region. As an artist herself, Princess Nauf’s represented by the gallery, only two are Arabia has developed in a diff erent way decision to open a gallery is emblematic of Saudis. However, the Gallery’s desire to give Arab artists ‘a bigger voice in the wider Th e aim is to normalise Saudi art within world’ suggests that perhaps the aim is to normalise Saudi art within the general the general arts of Middle East and encourage arts of Middle East and encourage a non- a non-nationalistic reading of the works nationalistic reading of the works.

14 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 Th e need for a place to permanently display Saudi art in Gallery in St Pancras held an exhibition of photography by Wasma Mansour as part of London is clear when established institutions are bolstering the London Festival of Photography while their collections to refl ect its growing importance in October 2012, Selma Feriani Gallery in Mayfair held the Just Des(s)erts exhibition of works by Maha Malluh and ARTSPACE By contrast, one organisation which has Saudi English professor wearing heavy London (in conjunction with Athr gallery) kept raising the international profi le of traditional jewellery and holding a board held the Made in Makkah exhibition Saudi artists at the forefront of its agenda is which obscures the lower half of her face. dedicated to the works of Noha Al Sharif, the Edge of Arabia (EoA) collective, who Across the board the phrase ‘ignorance Nasser Al Salem and the sublime Saddek brought their fi rst eponymously titled show is darkness’ is repeated. Th e work aims to Wasil. to the Brunei Gallery at SOAS in 2008. Th e look at questions concerning the creation Th e staging of these shows and the steady exhibition featured the works of seventeen of female Saudi identity and the confi nes acquisition of works by the artists concerned Saudi artists and aimed to explore the within which this identity operates in defi nitely suggests that London institutions realities of living in the kingdom in the 21st contemporary society. are invested in the creative (and pecuniary) century. To date, EoA has held three shows In contrast to this exhibition which possibilities of Saudi contemporary art; in the capital and will be looking to cement explores the Middle East solely through an art that is impressive, dynamic and their presence with the opening at the photography, the British Museum’s 2012 just emerging from its nascent stages. Th e beginning of March, of a permanent base Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam exhibition popularity of the shows suggests that the in the city. Th eir new Middle East art and attempted to catalogue the tradition of Hajj public is actively interested in watching this Education centre opened in Battersea with through various mediums. Widely praised development and London is an increasingly an inaugural exhibition entitled It’s a Project for its cultural diplomacy and academic good place in which to do so. featuring artwork, fi lm, installations and vigour, this exhibition featured several interactive displays. historical items related to the pilgrimage as Michelle Smith is an administrator with Th e choice to have a permanent base in well as some contemporary pieces inspired Bonhams and Janet Rady runs Janet Rady the city provides an opportunity to explore by it. Fine Art, a contemporary Middle Eastern art the impact of a globalised culture on works Alongside the main Hajj exhibition, the gallery based in London which are still oft en viewed within the British Museum hosted a smaller collection context of a very specifi c cultural narrative. showcasing the work of seven young Saudi It also references the growing need to have artists. Entitled Create and Inspire; Youth a place to permanently display Saudi art Hajj, the featured artists had been selected in London, when increasingly established as the winning entries from a competition institutions are bolstering their collections held by the museum in partnership with to refl ect its growing importance. Edge of Arabia. For example, important London Smaller institutions have also institutions such as the British Museum and demonstrated an interest in contemporary the Victoria and Albert Museum have been Saudi art; in June 2012 the Hardy Tree acquiring works by contemporary Saudi artists and curating shows which contribute to the increased visibility of art from the Kingdom to wider audience. Currently, the Victoria and Albert Museum is showing the beautiful Light from the Middle East exhibition of photography from the region. Saudi Arabia is represented in the show by the superstars of its contemporary art movement Abdulnasser Gharem, Manal Al Dowayan and Ahmed Mater. Mater’s contribution Magnetism II (2012) is a photogravure of a cube-shaped magnet surrounded by iron shavings, which recall the circumambulation of pilgrims around the holy Ka’aba during the Hajj. Al Dowayan’s contribution I am an Educator (2006) features a female

(Opposite) A piece by Sara Abu Abdullah entitled Annees 999 (Right) Magnetism by Ahmed Mater

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 15 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA

Ionis Thompson talks to Riyadh’s planning body and fi nds out what’s in store for the Saudi capital RRiyadh’siyadh’s nnewew uundergroundnderground rrailway:ailway: ‘‘TheThe Development Authority © Arriyadh llargestargest ssingleingle eengineeringngineering pprojectroject everever uundertaken’ndertaken’

visionary and exciting new public construction, I spoke to two ADA offi cials ground but twenty-seven of them will be transport system is being built in who were in London in February. Firstly, I deep underground. Th ere will be a park- ARiyadh. Th e huge project, involving was interested to know if there was a British and-ride connecting to one of the stations. a six-line metro with integrated rapid involvement in the project. Engineers from King Khalid International Airport will link bus transport, is being undertaken by the around the world have been consulted, into the system. Th is is a huge undertaking Arriyadh Development Authority (the and four consortia are currently tendering. which has been some 12 years in the ADA), Riyadh’s planning body. It will be Th ese consortia include several British planning. It will be another ten years at least one of the largest projects of its kind in the fi rms. Th ere is another London connection before it is fi nished. world. - Crossrail, which is responsible for Europe’s Th e design of the stations has been a It isa measure of Saudi Arabia’s economic largest infrastructure project, is comparing high priority. Most will have enclosed success, as well as its population growth, and sharing its experience constructing the platforms with platform screen doors. Th e that motor traffi c in its major cities has railway across London with the ADA. Th e environment will be controlled and cooled outgrown the capacity of its extensive road Riyadh project has many parallels with the by air-conditioning. Th e above-ground network. Saudis are said to have a ‘love London one. stations will have iconic roof designs and aff air with the motor car’: of the 7.4 million To judge the scale of the project, we one station has been designed by the vehicle trips made daily in Riyadh, almost need some facts and fi gures. Th e new London-based Zaha Hadid Architects. 90 percent are made by private cars and the network will consist of six metro lines, Th ese stations will be connected to the new demand is expected to exceed 12 million whose total length of 175 kilometres will bus system. each day by 2030. Th e result is gridlock on be the backbone of the capital’s new public I wondered how diffi cult it would be Riyadh’s roads during rush hours (and there transport system. Sixty kilometres of the to dig into the porous limestone that are many of these), a great waste of time and new rail system will be underground and underlies Riyadh, with its sink holes, once money, and a major frustration for citizens eighty kilometres above ground. Eighty underground lakes formed by prehistoric and for anyone trying to do business there. stations are planned, including nine where water seepage. Th e offi cials explained, To fi nd out more about the planned lines interlink. Most stations will be above however, that these areas could be incorporated into the tunnels when they are Th e new network will consist of six metro lines, being dug and did not present a problem. A more challenging consideration is how whose total length of 175 kilometres will be the to keep the population ‘on side’ during backbone of the new public transport system the construction of this massive project,

16 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 which is bound to cause huge disruption to In a country where people are wedded to the idea people’s daily lives. Th e aim is to complete the work as quickly and effi ciently as of jumping into their cars to get from one point to possible and the ADA will try to imbue and another, how appealing will public transport be? sustain a sense of pride among Riyadhians in having in their city the very fi rst mass transit system in Saudi Arabia and owning cars with a driver, or in the few existing as well as is hoped, I asked if there were one of the most advanced and sophisticated buses where they sit at the back. Th e plans to have similar systems in other city transport networks in the world. issue has been considered. Th ere will be major cities of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh’s However it remains to be seen if the citizens family carriages on the trains, and family new integrated transport network is a of Riyadh will react as the ADA hopes. seating on the buses, they said. (In Saudi pioneer project, and the King has already In a country where people are wedded Arabia, ‘families’ means women, or women authorised developments of similar systems to the idea of jumping into their cars to get with children). Th e school buses will be for Jeddah, and Mecca. Over- from one point to another, how appealing incorporated into the new bus network, ground railways to connect the country’s will public transport be? Th e biggest so that the next generation will grow up major cities are also being planned. Soon problem for the ADA must be to fi nd a familiar with public buses. Furthermore the Saudi Arabia will have one of the best public way of luring people out of their cars, and buses will look attractive, with smart clean transport systems in the world. off ering them an attractive alternative. Th ey designs and air-conditioning. said their objective is not to penalise car As for the timing of the project, the fi rst Ionis Th ompson, author of Desert Treks from drivers but to make traffi c fl ow faster on contracts for the metro system are likely Riyadh and Hon. Secretary of the Saudi- the roads, so that road users as well as those to be let in the summer of 2013 and the British Society, is a member of the Editorial using public transport benefi t. But there fi rst part of the integrated system, the bus Board will be a few regulatory and fi scal measures network, will start putting buses on streets to support the use of public transport and as early as summer 2014. It is planned to constrain the use of private cars. Th ey eventually to have 10,000 buses running, expect some people will continue to use the reaching the remotest parts of the city and roads, some will be obliged to do so, but connecting to the metro stations. Th ere is others, for example those going to a football already a transport control system, which match, will, it is hoped, fi nd the alternative uses count-down traffi c lights and mobile public transport system which takes them phone applications with which people can to their destination in fast, cool comfortable check how the traffi c is fl owing before they trains and buses a great advantage. Th is plan leave home, as well as cameras which have will bring certainty to people’s timing which led to a dramatic improvement in driving does not exist at present. standards and hence a drop in traffi c-related Another question is whether women will deaths. Saudi Arabia did have one of the use the system in a city where it is rare for worst road fatalities rates in the world. (Opposite and Below) Model of a station on the them to venture out except in their own If the new integrated system works new metro © Arriyadh Development Authority © Arriyadh

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 17 SSAUDIAUDI ARABIAARABIA © Katy MacMillan-Scott Peter Clark takes a look at two authors in with a chance of winning US$60,000

TThehe iinternationalnternational pprizerize fforor AArabicrabic fi cctiontion iiss ssixix yyearsears ooldld Peter Clark is one of the trustees for this year's prize

n 9 January 2013 the International One of the two from the Peninsula is from born but packed off to the Phillipines as an Prize for Arab Fiction (IPAF, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Hassan Alwan infant where he grows up, dreaming of his Opopularly, though incorrectly known is from a family originally from Asir. He father’s country as a land of promise. Th is as the “Arab Booker Prize”) announced the was born in Riyadh and educated at the is a bold novel, touching on sensitive social shortlist for the sixth annual award. Founded University of Portland, in the , themes of the status of foreign labour, mixed in 2007, IPAF has links with the Booker and has lived in Vancouver, Canada. His parentage and identity. Prize Foundation and has for the last year novel, Th e Beaver, is about a Saudi, Ghalib, Th e other shortlisted novels are by writers been funded by the TCA Abu Dhabi in the who refl ects on the preceding generations of from , , Egypt and Tunisia. Th e . On the pattern of the his family’s history as he migrates to Oregon. Lebanese writer, Jana Elhassan is, at twenty- Man Booker Prize, publishers are invited Th e novel is full of fragmented stories seven, the youngest writer to have been to submit novels. An independent panel of recalled by Ghalib as he goes on fi shing shortlisted. judges is appointed and over their year of trips on the Willamette river, accompanied Th e winner of the Prize will be announced work, they whittle down the one hundred by a beaver. He and his girlfriend meet up in Abu Dhabi on 23 April. plus submissions to a long list and then a periodically in diff erent towns, when she can Since 2009 the Prize has also organised shortlist of six. One of the six novels will be get away from her husband. Mohammed an annual workshop for invited younger selected as the winner. He or she will receive Hassan Alwan has already published four writers. Th e workshop is called a nadwa a cheque for US$60,000 and the other fi ve novels and was identifi ed in 2009 as one of (symposium). Each year the judges of the shortlisted novelists will receive US$10,000. the thirty-nine most promising Arab writers Prize recommend eight writers whom they A long list was announced in December. under forty. think have promise. Two more established Th e only two writers from the Arabian Th e second novel from the Peninsula is writers join the nadwa as mentors and Peninsula have gone through from the Th e Bamboo Stick by , who during the nine days each writer produces long list to the shortlist. Th e shortlist is is thirty-one years old. Saud Alsanousi is a 3,000 words of a story or chapter which is particularly interesting and is likely to be journalist and this is his second novel. Th is then translated into English. Both language controversial, as established writers have shortlisted novel tells the story of Josephine, versions are later published in one volume, been dropped. Th ey include three Lebanese a well-educated Filipina who comes to work in a series Emerging Arab Voices. Th e nadwas – , Elias Khoury and last in domestic service in Kuwait. Th e spoilt have been sponsored by His Highness Sheikh year’s winner - as well as the young man of the household, Rashid, woos Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Palestinian/Jordanian . her and gets her pregnant. A boy, José, is Peter Clark, author and translator, is one of the trustees of the IPAF prize Th e shortlist is particularly interesting and is likely to be controversial, as established writers have been dropped

18 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS IIslamistslamist RRadicalisationadicalisation iinn EEuropeurope aandnd tthehe MMiddleiddle EEast:ast: ReassessingReassessing tthehe CCausesauses ooff TTerrorismerrorism Edited by George Joff é

I.B. Tauris, £50.58

Reviewed by Edward Mortimer

book on a contemporary subject to which Islamist discourse had become jargon, and seems over-preoccupied with based on an academic conference mainstream or “hegemonic” in Egyptian the use of terminology at the expense of Aheld three and a half years before society before 2011, his analysis goes a long substance. Th e one on Iraq, while much publication, inevitably runs a risk. In way to explain the electoral and political more clearly written and down-to-earth, this case, as the editor admits in his success of the Muslim Brotherhood since also suff ers from the latter defect, since introduction, “one issue that is not covered then. His statement that “the decline of the the author James Spencer – identifi ed in detail... although several chapters do refer liberals is not only in electoral performance; as “a consultant who served with British to it, is the remarkable series of events that it can also be seen in the size of their forces in Iraq” – is mainly concerned with has transformed the politics of the Arab parties’ membership as well as their lack of exonerating Iraqi insurgents from the world during 2011”. mobilisation power” is also still relevant and charge of “radicalism” (not such a heinous In fact, those chapters that do refer to the illuminating, even if in the light of the last one in my lexicon), by suggesting that most “Arab Spring” do so only in a cursory way. two years’ events it needs re-phrasing. were mainly concerned with freeing their None is precisely dated, but clearly all were Th ere are also informative chapters country from foreign occupation. And the fi nished by early 2011, and the introduction on the history of Tripoli in Lebanon, one on Iran, by Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, itself around the end of that year. One thus on religious radicalism in , and on is far too breathless in its treatment of state cannot help reading the book through the Kurdish nationalism in – the last repression and revolutionary militancy prism of events which the authors could two hardly belonging under the overall title, in Iranian history, endowing both with a neither integrate into their narrative nor use but perhaps one should not cavil about that. strong sexual content, as “Licentious Power to modify their analysis. An interesting chapter by Johnny Ryan deals versus Revolutionary Libido”. Th at is not in itself a fatal fl aw. While with the role of the Internet, but perhaps Altogether, the book is something of a none of the writers would claim to have does not fully substantiate its argument that ragbag, containing essays of very uneven predicted the events in question, several the cyber-universe is as much a challenge as quality on widely varying topics, some of chapters do provide valuable background a facilitator for militant Islamist narratives. which fall outside its purported subject. and context for understanding them – And there is a useful summary by Hugh Worst of all, it appears not to have been particularly those on Egypt, and Goddard of the intellectual and political copy-edited at all. Th ere are mistakes of the Gulf Region, respectively by Ezzedine itineraries of two British Muslims (Ziauddin grammar and/or typography on almost Choukri Fishere, Raphaël Lefèvre and Sardar and Ed Husain) who have become every page. Abdullah Baabood. All three are clear and less radical over time. But this reader, at straightforward, and tell us much about least, was taken aback to fi nd a chapter by Edward Mortimer is author of Faith the origins, variety and complexity of the three members of the Faculty of Divinity at and Power: the Politics of Islam (Faber, Islamic movements that have been active Cambridge which reads more like a manual 1982); formerly Foreign Aff airs Editor in these three regions over the past few for British government anti-radical agitprop of the Financial Times (1987-98) and decades. than an analytical academic study. Chief Speechwriter and Director of Th e Egyptian chapter is especially Th e chapter on “Securitisation and Communications to UN Secretary-General interesting. Although, with hindsight, Radicalisation”, by Roxane Farmanfanian, Kofi Annan (1998-2006) Fishere can be seen to overstate the degree is couched in impenetrable sociological

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 19 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS PPoliticsolitics ooff QQat:at: TThehe RRoleole ooff a DDrugrug iinn RRulinguling YYemenemen

By Peer Gatter

Reichert Verlag, £108.91

Reviewed by Helen Lackner

iven its length and detail, it would be very useful and interesting information on has diff erent social connotations from tempting to call this encyclopaedic marketing in diff erent places. one area to another: in some places it Gwork the defi nitive study of qat, Gatter’s determination to be fully is acceptable and respectable whereas were it not for the fact that the author is comprehensive leads him to provide elsewhere it is clearly associated with low already working on a second volume on the potted analyses of diff erent periods status and immoral behaviour; age is also Economy of qat. Under normal conditions, of Yemeni history in the past century. a relevant factor As qat in other countries qat only features in European life within the While some of these are helpful, others is mentioned historically, the absence of context of Somali and Yemeni sub-cultures indicate superfi cial understanding of the contemporary analysis and comparison of and proposals for its banning in the UK. situation [e.g. the development of the Local its political role elsewhere is unfortunate. Only last month, it was again decided to Development Associations in the Yemen Correction of some typographical and retain its current legal status. Arab Republic] or simply contain errors spelling errors would be welcome: titles Gatter discusses Yemeni political [the Prime Minister of PDRY 1971-85 stating that the 2002 conference was in 2008 development over a thirty year period was Ali Nasser Mohammed, not Hayder in some annexes is confusing; dating the through policies on qat and the debate, or al Attas]; moreover his characterisation of photos would also be very helpful for future absence thereof, concerning its role. His the pre-unifi cation regimes is simplistic. reference. thesis is that qat is the mechanism used Th e section on qat and Islamist terrorism In conclusion, this is a major study of the by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh to is weak, despite being a subject deserving role of qat in Yemeni politics and society seal his alliance with the main landowning in-depth analysis. He sometimes appears under the rule of Ali Abdullah Saleh, tribal leaders in the highlands by providing to rely on single sources which may be indispensable to anyone interested in qat in subsidies for its cultivation [cheap credit unreliable: Yemeni qat exports to Saudi Yemen. A short book with the main points and irrigation pumps] and low taxation. He Arabia are unlikely to be as high as and an update would be most welcome in also argues that qat both defi nes national mentioned, particularly as this implies the the future, allowing people to see how the identity and is a means of social control as export of such a high proportion of Yemeni post Saleh regime has addressed the issue. demonstrations stop when the qat market qat. Discussion of the expansion of qat opens. into Hadhramaut goes into detail about the Helen Lackner is an independent researcher Whether such length is necessary to make obvious fact that habitual chewers native of and consultant on social development issues, these points is arguable. Gatter provides the western part of Yemen continue to do with 40 years' experience in Yemen more background than needed and delves so when in Hadhramaut; but he does not at great length into aspects whose long- address the far more interesting question of term signifi cance is limited: given its small whether/why Hadarem have taken up the outcome, the 2002 qat conference hardly habit. deserves 80 pages. Most of his data are Some information is rapidly out of date: from surveys he carried out as a consultant the number of fl ights to Socotra continues within the framework of preparations to change. While he oft en mentions for the conference and other externally women, he does not analyse why they do fi nanced eff orts to control qat: he provides or don’t chew qat. For women chewing

20 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS UUnshooknshook ttillill tthehe EEndnd ooff TTime:ime: A HistoryHistory ooff BBritainritain aandnd OOmanman

By Robert Alston and Stuart Laing

Gilgamesh Publishing, London, 2012, £21.25

Reviewed by Peter Clark

his is the aff ectionate joint work of It is possible to see the Sultanate until Th e Ambassadors’ account is particularly two former British Ambassadors to 1970 as comparable to an independent good on the fi nal years of Sa‘id. Th ey draw TOman. It surveys the history of the Indian state before 1948. British control together the various threads – oil, wider country principally in its relationship with was loose, and had no wish to be involved Arab politics, the social, religious and Britain. It is well written, and has sections with internal issues. Successive Sultans military contexts. Th ey are also very good detached from the narrative that clarify accepted this relationship. Sultan Sa‘id bin on other issues such as the practice and certain themes. Taymur, father of Sultan Qaboos, behaved suppression of slavery. Oman has over the last four hundred like an Indian princeling. He spoke perfect Th e authors acknowledge that they years been more a geographical expression English, having been educated with Indian base themselves mostly on British sources than a nation state. Th e city of Muscat princes at Mayo College. But with Indian and they do not claim the apparatus of grew up round a signifi cant port that independence much of the reason for this scholarship. Th ere is one work of local was occupied by the Portuguese in early informal imperialism disappeared. However scholarship that is available in English. modern times. Th ey built the forts that the suspicion that there may be oil in Oman Th e Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin dominate the old harbour, as part of a chain changed the nature of British strategic Muhammad Al Qasimi, has written (in of communication from Western Europe, interests. By the middle of the twentieth English) on what he calls “the myth of Arab round Africa and on to the Far East. Th e century, imperial responsibilities, however piracy” and (in Arabic) on the nineteenth fi rst British agreement with the authorities informal, developed a strong obligation century Omani Empire. Th is book is in Muscat is dated back to 1650, and was to social development. Sultan Sa‘id bin primarily political, and there is little about part of Britain’s global trading strategy, Taymur, however, had no interest in such the lives of Omanis or the immigrant based on the growing commercial relations matters. He secluded himself in a palace Indians. But this was not their purpose. For with . By the nineteenth century at Salalah, never went to Muscat in the those interested in Oman, and those visiting Britain’s interests extended to policing the last twelve years of his rule, but had a fi rm as tourists (and the Sultanate has some of Indian Ocean and suppressing the slave control over the country, running it through the most magnifi cent beaches in the world) trade. By then there was an exclusive British a small group of trusted advisers and the or taking up employment, this book is an presence – excluding other and potentially radio telephone. Oil wealth in the Gulf excellent introduction to the country. rival European powers. Th is exclusivity attracted Omanis to work abroad. When continued until the accession of the present there was the possibility of comparable oil Peter Clark is an author with wide Sultan Qaboos in 1970. wealth in Oman, opposition to the archaic experience of living, working and travelling in Th e geographic limits of Oman were Sultan grew. To the west – in Dhofar – the Middle East over the past fi ft y years loose. Th e coast of the Gulf, now part of the opposition became a Marxist military United Arab Emirates, was known as Sahil uprising. Sa‘id had to go. Qaboos removed Oman, the coast of Oman, and the Trucial his father in 1970 and for the fi rst time in Oman Scouts were based at Sharjah in the his life went to Muscat as the new Sultan UAE. Until the late twentieth century there and lived there. Sa‘id retired to London was little political cohesion between the where he spent the rest of his life at the coast and the interior. Dorchester Hotel.

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 21 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF TThehe CCoupoup

By Ervand Abrahamian

From Ervand Abrahamian, a leading historian on the Middle East, comes a lucid account of the CIA's 1953 coup in Iran and how it paved the way to today's diplomatic gridlock. Th e Coup is the fi rst trade book to put the 1953 coup in context, fi lling a gap in the understanding of Iran's history. Abrahamian relies on little-known archival information to position the coup and its aft ermath in a new light, challenging conventional interpretations of the event and positioning it in the context of oil interests rather than the Cold War.

Feb 2013, Th e New Press, £16.99 A monthmonth bbyy tthehe ssea:ea: EEncountersncounters iinn GGazaaza

By Dervla Murphy

In 2011, Dervla Murphy spent a month in the Gaza Strip. She met liberals and Islamists, Hamas and Fatah supporters, rich and poor. Th e people she met were touched by her interest and spoke openly to her about life in their open-air prison. She found a people who long for peace and an end to the violence that has distorted their lives. Th e book gives insight into how isolation has shaped society: how it radicalises young men and plays into the hands of patriarchs, yet also how it hardens determination not to give in and turns family into a source of support.

Jan 2013, Eland Publishing, £10.87 MMinoritiesinorities iinn IIran:ran: NNationalismationalism aandnd EEthnicitythnicity aafterfter KKhomeinihomeini

By Rasmus Christian Elling

Contrary to the popular understanding of Iran as a Persian nation, half of the country's population consists of minorities, among whom there has been signifi cant ethnic mobilisation at crucial stages in Iranian history. One such stage is now: suppressed minority demands, identity claims, and debates on diversity have entered public discourse and politics. In 2005–2007, Iran was rocked by the most widespread ethnic unrest experienced in that country since the revolution. Th e same period was also marked by the re-emergence of nationalism. Th is interdisciplinary book takes a step towards understanding these contentious issues.

Jan 2013, Palgrave Macmillan, £52.55

22 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 RREVIEWS:EVIEWS: BOOKSBOOKS ININ BRIEFBRIEF BBecomingecoming vvisibleisible iinn IIranran wwomenomen iinn ccontemporaryontemporary IIranianranian SSocietyociety By Mehri Honarbin Holliday

Th is book disputes the widespread stereotypes about Muslim women prevalent in the West, providing a vivid account of young women in contemporary Iran. Beginning at home, women are infusing dramatic change by challenging the patriarchal conceptions of men. Empowered by education, they transport the power of their minds and being from the domestic to the public and political. Mehri Honarbin-Holliday presents the experiences of these young women who wield a key, if indirect, political infl uence on the seemingly male- dominated politics of this society. For its direct presentation of women’s perspectives as well as its analysis and insight, this book contributes to our understanding of the lives of Muslim women and possibilities before them today.

Nov 2012, Hurst, £26.39 KKinging FFaisalaisal ooff SSaudiaudi AArabiarabia

By Alexei Vassiliev

In 1964, Faisal bin Abdul Aziz became king of a country holding a quarter of the world’s oil reserves. He was called ‘the most powerful Arab ruler in centuries’. Eleven years later, in front of television cameras, his nephew shot him at point-blank range. In this biography, Alexei Vassiliev tells the story of a pious, cautious and resolute leader who steered Saudi Arabia through a minefi eld of domestic problems, inter-Arab relations and the decline of Soviet infl uence in the Middle East. King Faisal maintained ties with both Egypt and the United States through two Arab–Israeli wars and the 1973 Arab oil embargo.

Dec 2012, Saqi Books, £50 PPoliticsolitics aandnd SSocietyociety iinn SSaudiaudi AArabia:rabia: TThehe CCrucialrucial YearsYears ooff DDevelopment,evelopment, 11960-1982960-1982 By Sarah Yizraeli

Th is book provides readers with the context and background for an understanding of modern Saudi Arabia. Yizraeli examines Saudi royal family decision-making in the process of building a modern state. She tracks the internal deliberations in the formative years of development in the Kingdom, when priorities were defi ned. While Saudi Arabia today tries to mend past errors, the fundamentals of the regime have remained as they were shaped during the formative decades of development. Whether Saudi Arabia will be able to modernise its society without social and religious upheaval remains to be seen, but the course this modernisation takes will be determined by events outlined in this book.

Aug 2012, C Hurst & Co, £52.55

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 23 PPROFILEROFILE AAdamdam HHaniehanieh

Lecturer, Department of Development Studies, SOAS

able to experience the impact that the Oslo of the Gulf was connected to the region Accords had on the population in the West as a whole. Th is became the focus of my Bank and Gaza Strip. Oslo produced a sense academic research. I completed a PhD on of political demoralization and passivity the evolution of Gulf capitalism, examining that had a deep impact through those years both class and state formation in the Gulf – the situation was clearly getting worse on states and the particular role of migrant the ground but there didn’t appear to be labour. As part of this research, I lived and any alternative. But I worked for a time at taught at a university in for about 18 Birzeit University, and had a lot of contact months. I later developed my research into a with Birzeit students who were more active book, Capitalism and Class in the Gulf Arab than most. I learnt a great deal from those States (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2011). students and the people that I worked Since arriving to teach in the alongside. Development Studies department at SOAS Many of the contradictions of the Oslo in 2010, I have been trying to extend this years exploded in September 2000 with research in light of the Arab uprisings the beginning of the Second Intifada. By that have unfolded over 2011 and 2012. I that time I was working in Ramallah for have been particularly interested in Egypt, a Palestinian NGO, Defence for Children looking at the role of the Gulf in Egyptian International ( Section), as a capitalism as well as the fl ows of labour research and advocacy coordinator. We did migration from the country to the Gulf a lot of work documenting the impact of and Europe. I feel that much academic Israeli military actions on the Palestinian work on the region suff ers from a form of Adam Hanieh has always had a strong personal connection to the Middle East population and economy; much of that time ‘methodological nationalism’ – in which the (particularly in 2002 and 2003) we lived political economy of states tends to privilege under a curfew imposed on the residents of national processes rather than situating the West Bank. One of the important areas these within the regional framework. of work was the situation of Palestinian I believe we are living through a period of political prisoners held in Israeli jails. immense change in the Middle East – and Hundreds of Palestinian children were the position of the Gulf will be central to y father was a Palestinian refugee, also being arrested at that time, subject to how these struggles eventually turn out. expelled from Yaff a in 1948 arbitrary detention and torture in prisons. SOAS is a fantastic place to follow these Mwhen he was 13 years old, so I’ve We attempted to provide legal defence for events, with challenging and interesting always had a strong personal connection those children in Israeli military courts, as students and a wonderful set of colleagues to the Middle East. But I spent most of well as run campaigns to raise awareness of across all departments! my childhood in Australia, far from the their situation at an international level. region and with little direct contact with I left Palestine in late 2003 to do my my father’s family who were scattered doctoral work in political science at York across Jordan, Gaza, Egypt and the Gulf. University in Toronto, Canada. One of the Aft er fi nishing an undergraduate degree things that had really struck me while living in Australia, I decided to visit Palestine. It in the Middle East was the signifi cance of was initially planned to be for only a couple the Gulf states to the politics and economics of months – but, like many people, once I of the area. I knew many friends and had arrived I discovered that there were so relatives who had spent time working in many layers to Palestinian life that I wanted the Gulf, and it was clear that Gulf investors to learn more. I ended up living in the West and ruling families played a major role in Bank for close to 7 years! the politics of the region. At the same time, I was extremely fortunate to arrive in there was not really a satisfactory account Palestine in the 1990s. At that time, I was of the ways in which the political economy

24 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 LISTINGS EEventsvents iinn LLondonondon

HE EVENTS and Submitting entries and updates: APRIL EVENTS of the Israeli Palestine question. organisations listed please send all updates and Welcome and introductions: Soraya Tbelow are not necessarily submissions for entries related Boyd, Facilitate Global. Tickets: £60 endorsed or supported by The to future events via e-mail to Wednesday 3 April (until Monday 8 April - no bookings Middle East in London. The [email protected] aft er this date and no admission accompanying texts and images TBC | Birds Eye View 2013 Film without prior-booking). Venue are based primarily on information BM – British Museum, Great Festival: Celebrating Arab Women details and timing of the event will provided by the organisers and do Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Filmmakers (Film & Documentary) be provided aft er registration. E not necessarily reflect the views SOAS –SOAS, University of Wednesday 3 - Wednesday 10 April. [email protected] W http:// of the compilers or publishers. London, Th ornhaugh Street, Russell BFI Southbank, Barbican, ICA & facilitateglobal.org/new/ While every possible effort is Square, London WC1H 0XG Hackney Picturehouse. See website made to ascertain the accuracy of LSE – London School of Economics below for the full programme, ticket Th ursday 11 April these listings, readers are advised and Political Science, Houghton and venue details. E mail@birds- to seek confirmation of all events Street, London WC2 2AE eye-view.co.uk W www.birds-eye- 8:30 pm | Hundred Faces for a using the contact details provided view.co.uk Single Day (Film) Organised by: for each event. Palestine Film Foundation. Part Th ursday 4 April of the 2013 London Palestine Film Festival Pre-Festival Season, 4:00 pm | Beyond the Empire: Th ursday 11 - Friday 26 April. Dir Egyptian Connections with Christian Ghazi (1971), 69 min. Jordan in the First Millenium First UK screening of the avant BC (Lecture) Jonathan Tubb, garde masterwork that challenged BM. Organised by: Th e Egypt the limits of militant fi lmmaking Exploration Society (EES) and the during the Palestinian revolutionary Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF). era. Various ticket prices T 0871 During the 13th century BC, Tell 902 5734. Hackney Picturehouse, Lecture at SOAS es-Sa'idiyeh, ancient Zarethan, in 270 Mare Street, London E8 1HE. the central Jordan Valley, was taken E info@palestinefi lm.org W www. into Egyptian control. Despite the palestinefi lm.org dissolution of the Egyptian Empire in the 12th century BC there is Monday 15 April evidence to suggest that an Egyptian 'legacy' remained. Th is lecture 6:00 pm | Th e Archaeology of Keynote speaker considers two manifestations of this Roman-Period (Lecture) legacy, the fi rst, in the 9th century Ken Dark, University of Reading. BC, and the second, during the 6th Organised by: Anglo-Israel century BC. Admission free - Pre- Archaeological Society and the registration required. Th e Stevenson Institute of Archaeology, University Lecture Th eatre, BM. T 020 7242 College, London. Admission free. 1880 E [email protected] W www. Lecture Th eatre G6, Ground Floor, ees.ac.uk Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Wednesday 10 April Square, London WC1H OPY. T 020 8349 5754 E [email protected] TBC | Personal Journeys: W www.aias.org.uk Th e Global Impact of Israel’s Dissenting Voices Organised by: Tuesday 16 April Brunei Gallery SOAS, University of London Facilitate Global. Ilan Pappe and Thornhagh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG Miko Peled join Facilitate Global in 7:00 pm | Insight with Shereen El Tel: +44 (0)20 7637 2388 an evening of activism, awareness- Feki: Sex and the Citadel (Talk) Enquiries: [email protected] raising and debate on the key issues Organised by: Frontline Club.

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 25 by: Palestine Film Foundation Arabic’s Deputy Programmes in association with Amnesty Manager, Sam Farah. Tickets: £10/£8 International UK. Part of the 2013 conc. Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk London Palestine Film Festival Place, London W2 1QJ. T 020 7479 Pre-Festival Season, Th ursday 11 - 8940 E [email protected] Friday 26 April. Dir Tone Andersen W www.frontlineclub.com (2012), 58 min. An account of one cohort of Palestinian teenagers undergoing the challenging Tuesday 23 April processes of adjustment following release from detention. Followed 10:30 am | Oriental Rugs & Carpets by a panel discussion on the issues (Sale) Organised by: Christie’s raised by Israel's detention of London. Admission free. Christie’s minors with Adah Kay, author; London, King Street, 8 King Street Greg Davies, law expert; and Chris SW1Y 6QT. T 020 7839 9060 W Doyle, Caabu. Admission free. www.christies.com Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New 6:00 pm | Fallahin and nomads Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA. E on the margins of Bilad al-Sham: info@palestinefi lm.org W www. Population dynamics and land- palestinefi lm.org use from Byzantium to the crusades (Lecture) Organised by: Council for British Research in the Friday 19 April Levant (CBRL). Claudine Dauphin, Universities of Wales, Trinity Saint 6:30 pm | “A spell in the language David, Lampeter; Mohamed Ben of Keft iu”: non-native and Jedou, "Orient et Méditerranée nonsense language in Egyptian - Monde byzantin", French magical spells (Lecture) Joanna Centre National de la Recherche Kyffi n. Organised by: Friends of Scientifi que -CNRS, . Crystal the Petrie Museum. Admission Bennett Memorial 25th Anniversary free. Lecture Th eatre G6, Institute Lecture. Admission free. Institute of Nicky Nodjoumi, Feeling The Heat, 2012, courtesy of Taymour Grahne of Archaeology, 31 Gordon Square, Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, Gallery, New York. Nowrouz 1392 (See Exhibitions, page 30) London WC1H 0PY. T 020 7679 London, WC1H 0PY. E cbrl@britac. 2369 E [email protected] W www. ac.uk W www.cbrl.org.uk ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ Shereen El Feki has spent the past for members of the Society/£5 7:00 pm | Ottomans & Safavids: fi ve years travelling across the non-members. Arab-British Monday 22 April Sultan Suleyman and Shah Arab region asking people about Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Tahmasb (Lecture) Colin Imber, sex. In her new book Sex and the Grosvenor Street, London W1. E 10:30 am | Th e Saeed Motamed University of Manchester, author Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing [email protected] W Collection Part I (Sale) Organised of Th e Ottoman Empire. Organised Arab World, El Feki explores this www.saudibritishsociety.org.uk by: Christie’s London. Aft ernoon by: Th e Iran Society. 6:30pm intimate and oft en highly sensitive session at 2:00pm. Admission for 7:00pm. Admission free for facet of life in a changing Arab 7:00 pm | Th e Bahari Foundation free. Christie’s London, South members + one guest. See website world. Tickets: £12.50/£10 conc. Lecture in Iranian Art and Kensington, 85 Old Brompton below for dresscode. Marlborough Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, Culture: Early ‘Siyah Qalam’ style Road, London SW7 3LD. T 020 Rooms, Army & Navy Club, 36-39 London W2 1QJ. T 020 7479 8940 E and the Great Mongol Shahnamah 7930 6074 W www.christies.com Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN. T 020 [email protected] W www. (Lecture) Barbara Brend, 7235 5122 E [email protected] frontlineclub.com independent scholar. Organised by: 7:00 pm | BBC Arabic Screening: W www.iransociety.org Islamic Art Circle at SOAS. Part Egypt’s Stolen Billions Wednesday 17 April of the Islamic Art Circle at SOAS (Documentary) Organised by: Lecture Programme. Chaired by BBC Arabic. Egypt’s Stolen Billions Wednesday 24 April 5:30 pm | Out of Africa (Lecture) Doris Behrens-Abouseif, SOAS. exposes the incompetence of the Geoff Bailey, York University. Admission free. Khalili Lecture British Government in identifying 7:00 pm | Presidential elections Organised by: Th e Saudi-British Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 7480 Mubarak’s assets hidden in the in Iran: crackdowns and power Society. Bailey will give a talk on E [email protected] W UK. Followed by a Q&A with the struggles (Panel Discussion) his work for the DISPERSE project, www.soas.ac.uk/art/islac/ reporter Reda Al Mawy; director Organised by: Frontline Club. On which is researching the theory that and producer, Daniel Tetlow; Robert 14 June, Iranians will go to the polls Anatomically Modern Humans Th ursday 18 April Palmer, Global Witness; Mohamed to vote in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s originating in East Africa dispersed Abdel Ghani, United Egyptians successor. A panel of experts will into the Arabian Peninsula 6:30 pm | When the Boys Return and Jeremy Carver, Transparency discuss the power struggles and 150,000 years ago. Admission free (Documentary) Organised International. Moderated by BBC the state of opposition movements.

26 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 With Maziar Bahari, journalist Friday 26 April Aft ernoon session at 2:00pm. See Change in Jordan (Lecture) Bassem and fi lmmaker; Mehri Honarbin- listing for Tuesday 23 April for Awadallah, former Jordanian Holliday, Canterbury Christ 9:00 am | New Media, New ticket, venue and contact details. Minister of Finance. Organised by: Church University and the Centre Politics? (post-) Revolutions in LSE Middle East Centre. Chaired by for Gender Studies at SOAS; and Th eory and Practice (Conference) 8:30 pm | Massaker (Documentary) Fawaz Gerges, LSE. Admission free. Kelly Golnoush Niknejad, Tehran Organised by: Arab Media Centre Organised by: Palestine Film NAB 1.04, New Academic Building, Bureau. Tickets: £12.50/£10 conc. and the Communication and Media Foundation. Part of the 2013 LSE. T 020 7955 6250 E r.sleiman- Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, Research Institute (CAMRI). Two London Palestine Film Festival [email protected] W www2.lse.ac.uk London W2 1QJ. T 020 7479 8940 E years since the world witnessed Pre-Festival Season, Th ursday [email protected] W www. millions of Arabs march, strike 11 - Friday 26 April. Dirs Monika frontlineclub.com and fi ght to remove their repressive Borgmann, Lokman Slim, EVENTS OUTSIDE regimes, the conference will address Hermann Th eissen (2005), 98 min. LONDON Th ursday 25 April three key phases of analysis: pre- Portrait of six perpetrators of the revolution (to December 2010), 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre. 11:00 am | A Private Collection tipping-point (to March 2011), Th e fi lm explores the content of Saturday 27 April Donated to Benefi t the University post-revolution (to the present) collective violence and asks how a of Oxford Part III (Sale) Organised and will aim to engage in deep political environment has continued 10:00 am | Nimrud, from Mound by: Christie’s London. See listing for critical refl ection. Tickets: £99/£49 to shield them from justice. Various to Museum: Making Knowledge Tuesday 23 April for ticket, venue students. University of Westminster, ticket prices T 0871 902 5739. from Archaeological Objects and contact details. 309 Regent Street, London Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, (Study Day) Joan Oates FBA; Julian W1B 2UW. T 020 7911 5000 E Coldharbour Lane, London SW2 Reade, University of Copenhagen; 11:30 am | Art of the Islamic & [email protected] W 1JG. E info@palestinefi lm.org W Denise Ling, BM; Kathleen Swales, Indian Worlds (Sale) Organised www.westminster.ac.uk/research/ www.palestinefi lm.org BM; Paul Collins, Th e Ashmolean by: Christie’s London. Aft ernoon a-z/camri Museum. Organised by: Th e British session at 2:30pm. See listing for Monday 29 April Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI) Tuesday 23 April for ticket, venue 10:30 am | Arts of Islam (Sale) and Th e Ashmolean Museum. and contact details. Organised by: Christie’s London. 6:30 pm | Reform, Stability and How do archaeological artefacts

NEW

A masterly study of Syrian politics in the Asad era, written with insight and feeling. Difficult to imagine it will ever be bettered.’ – Roger Owen, Harvard University ‘Dr Radwan Ziadeh provides us with a thorough analysis of Syrian internal power dynamics.’ – Nikolaos van Dam, author of The Struggle for Power in Syria ‘This is an important work. It deserves to be widely read.’ – Steven Heydemann, Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace

www.ibtauris.com 256 pages 216 x 134mm paperback ISBN: 9781780762906 £12.99

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 27 get transformed into specimens for Middle East has faced since the fall [email protected] W www.biaa. by: Department of the Study of scientifi c and historical study? Th is of the Ottoman Empire. Admission ac.uk Religions, SOAS. Christianity in study day will bring together a range free. New Th eatre, LSE. T 020 Iraq X Seminar. Various ticket of experts to give their personal 7955 6639 E [email protected] W Friday 10 May prices. Brunei Gallery Lecture stories of making knowledge from www2.lse.ac.uk Th eatre, SOAS. E [email protected] objects excavated from the ancient 6:00 pm | From sedentism to W www.easternchristianity.com city of Nimrud, capital of the Friday 3 May nomadism: the development Assyrian empire in the early fi rst of Iranian nomadism and 10:30 | Palestine and the Moving millennium BC. Tickets: £10/£5 TBC | 2013 London Palestine Film its changing demographic Image: An International BISI members. Th e Ashmolean Festival (Film & Documentary) signifi cance through time Conference Organised by: Palestine Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford Organised by: Palestine Film (Lecture) Dan Potts, Institute for Film Foundation in association with OX1 2PH. T 020 7969 5274 W Foundation. Friday 3 – Friday 17 the Study of the Ancient World, the Centre for Palestine Studies, www.bisi.ac.uk E [email protected] May. Barbican Cinema, UCL and New York University. Organised by: LMEI, SOAS. Th e fi rst event of SOAS. See website below for the Th e London Centre for the Ancient its kind in the UK, this one-day 10:00 am | TASG Spring full programme, ticket and venue Near East. Admission free. Room event brings together scholars, Symposium 2013 Gülnur Aybet, details. E info@palestinefi lm.org W B104, SOAS. E [email protected] W fi lmmakers, and curators in a series University of Kent; Clement www.palestinefi lm.org www.soas.ac.uk/nme/ane/lcane/ of panels covering a broad spectrum Dodd, SOAS; Celia Kerslake; of historic, aesthetic, ethical, and Zafer Toprak, Boğaziçi University, 6:30 pm | Cracking the Egyptian Saturday 11 May political approaches to the making . Organised by: Th e Turkish Code: Th e revolutionary life and study of fi lm on and from Area Study Group (TASG). Th e of Jean-François Champollion 10:00 am | Mysticism in Iraqi Palestine. Speakers include Refqa Symposium will mark the 90th (Lecture) Andrew Robinson. Christianity (Seminar) Organised Abu Remaileh, Kamal Aljafari, anniversary of the foundation of the Organised by: Friends of the Republic of Turkey. St Anthony’s Petrie Museum. Admission free. College, 62 Woodstock Road, Lecture Th eatre G6, Institute of Saloua Raouda Choucair (b.1916) Self Portrait 1943 © Saloua Raouda Oxford OX2 6JF. E nataliemartin@ Archaeology, 31 Gordon Square, Choucair Foundation. Saloua Raouda Choucair (See Exhibitions, page 30) talktalk.net W www.tasg.org.uk London WC1H 0PY. T 020 7679 2369 E [email protected] W www. ucl.ac.uk/FriendsofPetrie/ MAY EVENTS Wednesday 8 May

Th ursday 2 May 5:30 pm | Producing colonial space and colonized bodies in Italian 6:00 pm | When was Zarathushtra? (Lecture) David Atkinson, (Lecture) Martin West, All Souls University of Hull. Organised by: College, Oxford. Organised by: Th e Society for Libyan Studies. Department for the Study of Admission free. Th e Lecture Th eatre, Religions, SOAS in association Th e British Academy, 10 Carlton with Th e World Zoroastrian House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH. Organisation. Th e Sixteenth E [email protected] W Dastur Dr Sohrab Hormasji Kutar www.societyforlibyanstudies.org Memorial Lecture. Admission free. Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. E Th ursday 9 May [email protected] W www.soas. ac.uk 6:30 pm | Th e Enemy Within. Rome’s Frontier with Isauria 6:30 pm | Saving the Arab Spring: between Konya and the Taurus Economic development in the Mountains (Lecture) Stephen Middle East (Lecture) Bassem Mitchell FBA. Organised by: Th e Awadallah, former Jordanian British Institute at Ankara. Th e Minister of Finance; Adeel Malik, Isaurians were a dangerous enemy University of Oxford. Organised at the heart of Rome’s Asia Minor by: Kuwait Programme on provinces, this lecture will examine Development, Governance and the creation and development of Globalisation in the Gulf States. Th e the internal frontier created by speakers will argue that the struggle the Romans to meet the Isaurian for a new Middle East will be won challenge. Admission free - Pre- or lost in the private sector, and that registration required. Th e Wolfson dismantling regional barriers to Auditorium, Th e British Academy, trade constitute the most important 10 Carlton House Terrace, London collective action problem that the SW1Y 5AH. T 020 7969 5204 E

28 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 the Gulf States and LSE Middle East Centre. Matthiesen shows how the regimes in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States have encouraged sectarian divisions to undermine protests, eff ectively creating a Sectarian Gulf and warns of the dire consequences this will have. Admission free. STC.S421, St Clements, LSE. T 020 7955 6639 E [email protected] W www2.lse. ac.uk

5:30 pm | Th e Legal Aspects of Religious Diversity in Iran (Lecture) Organised by: Centre for Iranian Studies, LMEI, SOAS. Houchang Chehabi, Boston University. Chaired by Nima Mina, SOAS. Admission free. Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7898 4490/4330 E [email protected] W www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis/events/

6:30 pm | Early Islamic Enamelled Glass and Its Iconography + Being a Sultan in Style: Calligraphy and Decoration in the Arts of the Late Mamluk Period (Lecture) Tanja Tolar, SOAS; Sami De Giosa, SOAS. Organised by: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Part of the Society's Student Series. Admission free. Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 14 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD. T 020 7388 4539 E cl@ royalasiaticsociety.org W www. royalasiaticsociety.org

7:00 pm | Islamic Glass in a Chinese Context: an Aspect of the Famensi The Gulf War... What Next (1991) Dirs Borhane Alaouie, Nouri Bouzid, Mustapha Darkaoui, Nejia Ben Mabrouk,and Elia Suleiman. 2013 London Palestine Film Festival (See May Events, page 28) Reliquary Deposit (874) (Lecture) Roderick Whitfi eld, SOAS. Organised by: Islamic Art Circle Anna Ball, Haim Bresheeth, Nick thebritishmuseum.ac.uk W www. (Lecture) Ahmad Khalidi, Oxford at SOAS. Part of the Islamic Art Denes, Irit Niedhardt, Helga sudarchrs.org.uk/Events.htm University. Organised by: LSE Circle at SOAS Lecture Programme. Tawil Souri, and Nadia Yaqub. For Middle East Centre. Chaired by Chaired by Doris Behrens-Abouseif, ticket details see website below. 6:15 pm | Th e Hilly Flanks before Fawaz Gerges, LSE. Admission free. SOAS. Admission free. Khalili Khalili Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. E Jarmo: new research into the fi rst New Th eatre, East Building, LSE. T Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T 0771 408 info@palestinefi lm.org W www. farmers of the eastern Fertile 020 7955 6250 E r.sleiman-haidar@ 7480 E [email protected] palestinefi lm.org Crescent (Lecture) Roger Matthews, lse.ac.uk W www2.lse.ac.uk W www.soas.ac.uk/art/islac/ Reading University. Organised by: Th e London Centre for the Ancient Wednesday 15 May Wednesday 22 May Monday 13 May Near East. Annual General Meeting followed by a public lecture. 4:30 pm | Sectarian Gulf: Bahrain, 6:00 pm | Rare Persian Map 11:00 am | Recent archaeological Admission free. Room B102, SOAS. Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Collection Launch Event fi eldwork in the E [email protected] W www.soas. Spring that wasn't (Seminar) Organised by: Centre for Iranian (Colloquium) Organised by: ac.uk/nme/ane/lcane/ Toby Matthiesen, LSE Kuwait Studies, LMEI, SOAS. Event to mark Sudan Archaeological Reserach Programme. Organised by: Kuwait the rare Persian map collection Society. Various ticket prices. BM. 6:30 pm | A New Middle East: Programme on Development, donated to the Centre for Iranian T 020 7323 8500/8306 E SARS@ Palestine, Peoples and Borders Governance and Globalisation in Studies at SOAS by Dr Cyrus Ala'i.

April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 29 Admission free. Brunei Gallery Tuesday 28 May EVENTS OUTSIDE Until 18 April | Maliheh Afnan: Lecture Th eatre, SOAS. T 020 7898 LONDON Speak Memory Maliheh Afnan 4490/4330 E [email protected] W 6:30 pm | Iran’s New Intellectualism: writes her paintings, inspired by www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis/events/ Trends in Contemporary her instinctive attachment to the Conscious Music (Lecture) Malihe Saturday 11 May tradition of calligraphy and her 6:00 pm | Th e Prayer Hall at Maghazei, LSE. Organised by: LSE knowledge of the mysteries of the Megiddo: the world's oldest church Middle East Centre. Admission free. 9:15 am | Mystical Perception ancient languages of the region. building? (Lecture) Edward Adams, New Th eatre, East Building, LSE. T and Beauty (Symposium) George Admission free. Rose Issa Projects, King's College, London. Organised 020 7955 6250 E r.sleiman-haidar@ Bossong; Semi Ceyhan; Jane 82 Great Portland Street, London by: Anglo-Israel Archaeological lse.ac.uk W www2.lse.ac.uk Clark; Omer Colakoglu; Kazuyo W1W 7NW. T 020 7602 7700 Society and King’s College, London. Murata; Yafi ah Katherine Randall; E [email protected] W http:// Admission free. King’s College, Daud Sutton; Cyrus Ali Zargar. roseissa.com K2.31, Nash Lecture Th eatre, Strand Wednesday 29 May Organised by: Th e Muhyiddin Ibn Building, London WC2R 2LS. T 020 'Arabi Society. Th irtieth Annual Until 8 May | Asli Erel: Letters 8349 5754 E [email protected] 5:30 pm | Th e role of the PDRY Symposium. Various ticket prices. and Art of War Turkish artist Asli W www.aias.org.uk in creating a South Yemeni Worcester College, Oxford OX1 Erel explores the origin of letters identity (Lecture) Noel Brehony, 2HB. E mias.uk@ibnarabisociety. back to the alphabets of the Semitic 7:00 pm | and Iran: a author of Yemen Divided: the org W www.ibnarabisociety.org/ languages and uses these revelations short history of a long relationship story of a failed state in South events.html to illustrate how people are doomed (Lecture) Hans-Jakob Schindler, Arabia (2011). Organised by: Th e to fi ght against others. Admission former German diplomat. British Foundation for the Study Sunday 12 May free. Lahd Gallery London, 92 Organised by: Th e Iran Society. of Arabia (BFSA) in association Heath Street, London NW3 1DP. T 6:30pm for 7:00pm. Admission free with London Middle East Institute, 9:15 am | Mystical Perception and 0207 435 7323 E info@lahdgallery. for members + one guest. See website SOAS (LMEI). Lecture to follow Beauty (Two-Day Symposium: com W www.lahdgallery.com below for dresscode. Marlborough the Foundation’s Annual General Saturday 11 - Sunday 12 May) Rooms, Army & Navy Club, 36-39 Meeting. Admission free. G2, SOAS. Organised by: Th e Muhyiddin Until 19 May | Navid Nuur: Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN. T 020 E [email protected] W Ibn 'Arabi Society. See listing for Phantom Fuel First solo exhibition 7235 5122 E [email protected] www.thebfsa.org Saturday 11 May for details. in the UK of the work of Iran- W www.iransociety.org born Dutch artist Navid Nuur. By attributing transformative properties to found objects, Nuur repositions EXHIBITIONS their function and meaning in ways that provide viewers with a

Monday 1 April whole new experience. Admission INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE free. Parasol unit foundation for REGIONAL VIS-À-VIS GLOBAL DISCOURSES: Until 7 April | Light from the contemporary art, 14 Wharf Road, CONTEMPORARY ART FROM THE MIDDLE EAST London N1 7RW. T 020 7490 7373 FRIDAY 5 AND SATURDAY 6 JULY 2013 Middle East: New Photography Contemporary photography from E [email protected] W www. and about the Middle East by artists parasol-unit.org from across the region showcasing a range of creative responses - Wednesday 17 April from photojournalism to digitally manipulated imagery - to the Until 20 October | Saloua Raouda challenges and upheavals that have Choucair Th e fi rst exhibition in shaped the Middle East over the the UK of Lebanese artist Saloua past 20 years. Admission free. Porter Raouda Choucair (b. 1916), Gallery, V&A, Cromwell Road, comprising over 120 works, many of London SW7 2RL. T 020 7942 2000 which have never been seen before. Th is retrospective will celebrate E [email protected] W www.vam. Leila Pazooki, Moment of Glory-1, 2011, detail ac.uk Choucair’s extraordinary body BRUNEI GALLERY LECTURE THEATRE of work and her contribution to SOAS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON RUSSEL SQUARE Until 14 April | Nowrouz 1392 international modernism. Tickets: LONDON WC1H 0XG £10/£8.50 conc. Tate Modern, www.soas.ac.uk/lmei/events/ ARTSPACE London celebrates the Persian New Year with an exhibition Bankside, London SE1 9TG. T 020 Convenor: Hamid Keshmirshekan 7887 8888 W www.tate.org.uk/visit/ of works by the three Iranian artists, Supported by: London Middle East Institute, SOAS, University of London Nicky Nodjoumi, Kambiz Sabri, tate-modern Sponsored by: The Barakat Trust, and Goethe Institute, Iran Heritage Foundation, Caspian Art Foundation, Ibraaz, and Shubbak and Malekeh Nayiny. Admission Festival free. ARTSPACE London, 7 Milner Street, London SW3 2QA. T 020 7589 5499 E info@artspace-london.

com W www.artspace-london.com

30 The Middle East in London April-May 2013 Middle EastMiddle East Summer SchoolSummer School 24 June – 26 July 201324 June – 26 July 2013

An intensive five-week programme which includes two courses: an Arabic Language Course (introductory or intermediate) and another on ‘Government and Politics of the Middle East.

Arabic 100 Government and Politics of the Middle East This is an introductory course in Modern Standard Arabic. It teaches students the Arabic script and This course serves as an introduction to the politics provides basic grounding in Arabic grammar and of North Africa (The Maghreb), the Arab East (The syntax. On completing the course, students should Mashriq) including the Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, be able to read, write, listen to and understand simple Israel, Turkey and Iran. It gives, on a country by Arabic sentences and passages. This course is for country basis, an overview of the major political complete beginners and does not require any prior issues and developments in the region since the knowledge or study of Arabic. end of the First World War and addresses key themes in the study of contemporary Middle East politics, Arabic 200 including: the role of the military, social and economic development, political Islam, and the recent uprisings (the ‘Arab Spring’). This course focuses on reading, writing and grammar and provides training in listening. The course will also Its main aim is to develop the students’ understanding introduce modern media Arabic to prepare students to of the major trends in Middle Eastern politics and read newspapers, magazines and internet news sources their skills of political analysis through critical reading, published in the Arab world today. On completing the lectures, presentations and informed discussion. course, students should be able to read and understand texts of an intermediate level, compose short texts in Arabic on a variety of topics and be able to follow oral communication in Arabic. Students will also be trained in the basic skills necessary to read and understand Arabic news media with the aid of a dictionary.

This is an intermediate course. To qualify for entry into this course, students should have already completed at least one introductory course in Arabic.

FEES Session (5 weeks) Programme fee* Accommodation fee** 24 June–26 July 2013 (two courses) £2,500 from £300/week

* Early bird discounts of 10% apply to course fees before 1 March 2013.

*** Early Accommodation bird discounts of fees 10% must have beenbe paid extended by 1 March to course 2013 fees to beforesecure 15 accommodation. May 2013. Please check our website from mid-October 2012 for confi rmed prices.

For more information, please contact Louise Hosking on [email protected]. Or check our website www.soas.ac.uk/lmei April-May 2013 The Middle East in London 31 CENTRE FOR IRANIAN STUDIES – SCHOLARSHIPS

SOAS, University of London, is pleased to announce the availability of several scholarships in its Centre for Iranian Studies (CIS). The Centre, established in 2010, draws upon the range of academic research and teaching across the disciplines of SOAS, including Languages and Literature, the Study of Religions, History, Economics, Politics, International Relations, Music, Art and Media and Film Studies. It aims to

build close relations with likeminded p 25 . of the School Oriental and African Studies, London, 2007, Treasures institutions and to showcase and foster the best of contemporary Iranian talent in art and culture. MA in Iranian Studies The members of CIS are launching an interdisciplinary MA in Iranian Studies, which will be off ered from the academic Suhaylī (Lights of the Canopus) Manuscript (Ref: MS10102) from: Anna Contadini (ed.) Objectsof Instruction: Image: Anvār-i year 2013/2014 onwards. Thanks to the generosity of the Fereydoun Djam Charitable Trust, a number of Kamran Djam scholarships are available for BA, MA and MPhil/PhD studies. MA in Iranian Studies For further details, please contact: Dr Nima Mina (Department of the Languages and Culture of the Middle East) Scholarships Offi cer E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 7898 4315 T: +44 (0)20 7074 5091/ 5094 W: www.soas.ac.uk/nme/programmes/ W: www.soas.ac.uk/scholarships ma-in-iranian-studies Centre for Iranian Studies Student Recruitment Dr Arshin Adib-Moghaddam (Chair) T: +44(0)20 7898 4034 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 7898 4747 W: www.soas.ac.uk/lmei-cis

32 The Middle East in London April-May 2013