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In Egypt: Economy and perceptions of modernity change religious festival

Published on March 11, 2005 by lorenz Posted in Africa, anthropology in the news, culture traditions, religion cosmology

Cairo Magazine

Moulids are multi-faceted festivals held in honor of holy people. The surrounding area is transformed into a festive space that, in the case of large moulids, may engulf an entire neighborhood. Anthropologist Farouk Ahmed Mostafa says, “Moulids have played a large role in invigorating the economic life of the society in which the saint is located.” Moulids also provide an opportunity for reestablishing social contacts with out-of-town friends, he explains.

Times are changing for Egypt’s moulids. Yet the reasons for change are more subtle and complex than the government’s dislike of street merchants or anxiety about crowds. While state policies certainly shape these temporary transformations of public space, shifting shades of religiosity, the economy and perceptions of modernity also contribute to the changing form and character of Egypt’s moulids. >> continue (link updated)

Cairo Magazine

CORRECTED: Muslims in Calcutta: Towards a middle-class & moderation

Published on February 28, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, Asia, religion cosmology, Us and Them

The Statesman, Calcutta

Slowly, a little warily maybe, Muslims of the city are making efforts to break out of the stereotypes and move out of ghettos. For a community mired in financial quicksand and plagued by poverty and lack of education, among other things, this is a tough task. And, systematic propaganda painting Indian Muslims as the Other in the psyche of the majority community makes the task even more difficult, felt Dr Mohammed Khalil Abbas Siddiqui, noted scholar and anthropologist.

“A push is required. Muslims are exploited as vote banks and then left high and dry. Also, the majority community has not made a serious effort to find out about Muslims or what their religion is all about,” said Mr Shafi, management and training consultant. Anybody listening? If not, start now. For, every seventh man in the city is a Muslim. >> continue

SEE ALSO:
Slowly But Surely, Calcutta’s Muslims Shine (IslamOnline, 2.3.05)

The Statesman, Calcutta

What does it mean to be Muslim in a secular society? Anthropologist thinks ahead

Published on February 20, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, books, Europe, migration, religion cosmology, Us and Them

The Daily Star Lebanon

Dounia Bouzar, an anthropologist and educator, spent two years working with 12 Muslim associations in France studying the different ways young Muslims approach their daily life. Her newest book, “Monsieur Islam n’existe pas; Pour une desislamisation des debats” (Mr. Islam doesn’t exist; de-islamisizing the discussions), is one of several publications just out in France that examine “la France Musulmane,” or Muslim France. Part of the goal in her new book is to show just how diverse the community is.

Discrimination is still a big problem in France and Bouzar feels it’s important to look for the reasons why a percentage of young Muslims feel the need to look abroad for guidance – a relatively new phenomenon. >> continue (link updated)

The Daily Star Lebanon

Islamophobia – a myth

Published on February 13, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, religion cosmology, Us and Them

Kenan Malik, Prospect Magazine

Ten years ago, no one had heard of Islamophobia. Now everyone from Muslim leaders to anti-racist activists to government ministers wants to convince us that Britain is in the grip of a major backlash against Islam. But does Islamophobia exist?

In the course of making my documentary, I asked dozens of ordinary Muslims about their experiences of Islamophobia. Everyone believed that police harassment was common, although no one had been stopped and searched. Everyone insisted that physical attacks were rife, though few had been attacked or knew anyone who had. What is being created here is a culture of victimhood in which “Islamophobia” has become a one-stop explanation for the many problems facing Muslims.

Pretending that Muslims have never had it so bad might bolster community leaders and gain votes for politicians, but it does the rest of us, Muslim or non-Muslim, no favours at all. The more that ordinary Muslims come to believe that they are under constant attack, the more resentful, inward-looking and open to extremism they are likely to become. >> continue

Kenan Malik, Prospect Magazine

Book review: Mahmood Mamdani: "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim"

Published on February 1, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, books, culture traditions, globalisation, politics, religion cosmology, Us and Them

Media Monitors Network

A valuable new contribution to unearth and interpret America’s bizarre conduct is Mahmood Mamdani’s study “GOOD MUSLIM, BAD MUSLIM”. The author, a distinguished political scientist and anthropologist, explains that the book grew out of a talk at a church in New York after 9/11 when to bear an identifiably Muslim name was to be made aware that Islam had become a political identity in America.

Perhaps the heart of this book can be found in the first chapter titled “Culture Talk; Or How Not To Talk About Islam And Politics”. The author is able to penetrate the limits of conventional discourse on democracy and dictatorship, poverty and wealth and also succeeds in locating “culture” within the chasm of globalisation. >> continue Link updated 29.5.18

SEE ALSO:

Interview with Mahmood Mamdani (Asia Source) Link updated 29.5.18

Media Monitors Network

A valuable new contribution to unearth and interpret America's bizarre conduct is Mahmood Mamdani's study "GOOD MUSLIM, BAD MUSLIM". The author, a distinguished political scientist and anthropologist, explains that the book grew out of a talk at a…