Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University
Professor of near eastern studies at Princeton University and author of Revival and Reform in Islam: The Legacy of Muhammad Al-Shawkani and a forthcoming book on Wahabism, the Saudi religious movement; former associate professor of Islamic studies at New York University; 2005 Carnegie Scholar
Does ISIS Want a War with the West? Authorities now agree that Friday's assault on Paris was directed by ISIS in Syria, and it's widely expected that ISIS will strike again. It's not clear if a bold, new international offensive is under way or if ISIS is a losing movement trying to make itself relevant to the rest of the world. The danger is real either way, but there's dispute about how to respond — and how to prevent attacks in the future. The options include open warfare, invasive surveillance and diplomacy by Western powers and, more importantly, Syria's neighbors in the Middle East.
Reading the Poems of ISIS If you want to understand ISIS and violent Muslim extremists… read their poetry. That’s according to Robyn Creswell, poetry editor of the Paris Review, and Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton. They’ve co-authored an article headlined “ Battle Lines ” in this week’s New Yorker. Westerners are familiar with brutal videos of beheadings and other displays of outlandish violence. But ISIS propaganda for Arabic speakers is different. Chanting that forms the background for some ISIS videos illustrates the use of poetry for propaganda. It’s an art form that’s as old as the Arabic language and the cultures of the Middle East and reading it is important to understanding the appeal of the Jihadi movement.
Avoiding the "I" Word During his summit on violent extremism, President Obama refused to use the word "Islamic" to describe the brutal group calling itself the "Islamic State." He says connecting its savage acts to religion gives religion a bad name. "We must never accept the premise that they put forward because it is a lie. Nor should we grant these terrorists the legitimacy they seek. They are not religious leaders, they are terrorists." A chorus of critics, including some scholars, say he's denying reality. Like it or not, they insist, ISIS is rooted in the Koran. So, what's to be done about the continuing flood of ISIS supporters? Should there be less talk about words and more about living conditions for the poor, young people and women in much of the Muslim world?
Update on the Cargo Plane Bomb Plot Officials in the United States and Britain are saying two highly sophisticated package-bombs were headed to the US from Yemen. The bombs traveled on four planes, two carrying passengers, until they were intercepted in Britain and Dubai. But how did a Saudi informant know enough to tip-off intelligence agencies? We hear about the bombs, airport security and the politics of Yemen.
The Latest on the Cargo Plane Bomb Plot Officials in the United States and Britain are saying two highly sophisticated package-bombs were headed to the US from Yemen. The bombs traveled on four planes, two carrying passengers, until they were intercepted in Britain and Dubai. But how did a Saudi informant know enough to tip-off intelligence agencies? We hear about the bombs, airport security and the politics of Yemen.
Misogyny in Islamic Countries and the US A Bangladeshi woman was hounded out of her country for comments about the Koran and women's rights. Now she's had death threats from Muslims in India. In Saudi Arabia, a rape victim's sentence of 200 lashes has inspired international outrage. After facing a barrage of questions at last week's Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, promised the courts will review the sentence for the 20-year old woman who was raped—along with a male companion—by seven men. In the United States, women were not given the right to vote until 1920. Current law allows a woman to be elected President, but Hillary Clinton is the first to have a real chance. Misogyny, however, is by no means dead, as demonstrated by many Facebook headlines about her candidacy. Moreover, when a woman supporter asked Senator John McCain, "How do we beat the bitch?," he famously did not rebuke her for using that term. Is misogyny enshrined in Islamic law? What about the United States? We look attitudes toward women in religion and culture.
Harsh Sentences for Women in Saudia Arabia, Sudan In Sudan, a British teacher could get 40 lashes for allowing students to call a Teddy bear Mohammed. Gillian Gibbons, a 54-year-old British teacher, was charged with insulting religion and inciting hatred. If she's convicted, she could be subject to prison, a fine or 40 lashes. In Saudi Arabia, a 19 year-old rape victim faces 200 lashes. Bernard Haykel is a professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and the author of Revival and Reform in Islam as well as a forthcoming book on Wahabism.
Another Roadblock to Peace in the Middle East Two weeks ago in Mecca, Saudi Arabia brokered a "unity government" deal between the Palestinian factions, Islamist Hamas and secular Fattah. That was good news for Palestinians exhausted by bloody fighting between the two, but bad news for peace between the Palestinians and Israel--and for Condoleezza Ric e, who left a three-way summit today empty handed. Is peace among the Palestinians killing hopes for peace between the Palestinians and Israel? Did Secretary Rice jump too soon in hopes of a much-needed diplomatic breakthrough?
The Voting is Over, but the Campaign Continues Women had a major impact on the midterm elections. So did $5 billion in campaign spending. Meantime, Democrats now lead the House while Republicans dominate the Senate, and the politics of division continues on Capitol Hill. We’ll hear how former House Speaker Newt Gingrich helped start an era of gridlock and perpetual campaigning.
Jerry Gonzalez, Latin Jazz Heavyweight, RIP We interviewed Gonzalez twice on KCRW—in 1996 and 2000—and we hear excerpts from those Café LA visits in this special feature.
The Left, Right & Center Midterms Special The results are in. Who’s happy? Who’s not?
California catastrophe The fires rage on in our own backyard, and in Northern California, encompassing tens of thousands of acres each. In L-A and Ventura Counties, the Woolsey Fire has scorched everything in its path. To the north, in Butte County, the Camp Fire has charred and destroyed even more acreage, of trees, brush and everything else, north of Sacramento, and the town of Paradise is a scene of utter devastation and heartbreak.