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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Program in Islamic Law
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DTSTART:20260308T070000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260204
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260306
DTSTAMP:20260515T094138
CREATED:20260108T023748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T233318Z
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SUMMARY:Conference: AI Methodologies and Applications in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies\, Kuwait University\, February 4–5\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:From the organizers: \nDate: February 4-5\, 2026\nVenue: Global Studies Centre\, Gulf University for Science and Technology\, Kuwait \nThe new age of artificial intelligence (AI) presents many opportunities and challenges to methodology in all disciplines of Social Sciences and Humanities including in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies. AI technologies\, such as data analysis\, machine learning\, and natural language processing\, can uncover hidden patterns\, automate repetitive tasks\, and provide deeper insights into the topic of study. \nHowever\, these benefits also come with some significant ethical challenges such as concerns about data privacy\, algorithmic bias\, and human responsibility and accountability in the use and application of AI technologies. This research conference is focused on the use and application of AI in the methodology of all disciplines of Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies broadly defined. \nOverarching questions to be addressed include: What is the difference between the types of uses of AI: are some more acceptable than others? Are there some fields in which the use of AI presents huge opportunities and others in which it causes major issues? Can we speak of AI in terms of being a “net-good” in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies? \nConference themes include but are not limited to the following: \n\nOpportunities/Challenges/Ethics in incorporating AI in the methodology of the Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines including in Islamic Philosophy\, History\, Religious Studies\, Literature\, Anthropology\, Theology\, Sociology\, Communications.\nSpecific Social Sciences or Humanities research projects or applications with significant use of AI or other digital technologies in Middle Eastern and Islamic World Studies.\nAI applications in religious law\, textual commentary and prophetic traditions.\nAI applications in the cultural heritage of the Middle East and Islamic World.\n\nConfirmed Keynote Speakers \n\nDavid Wrisley\, Professor of Digital Humanities\, New York University Abu Dhabi\nShoaib Malik\, Lecturer in Science and Religion\, University of Edinburgh\n\nLimited travel funding may be available for graduate students\, post-doctoral fellows and faculty from low-income countries and institutions. We aim to publish the revised papers as articles/chapters in either a refereed special issue of a journal or as an edited volume. \nEmail questions to both Dr. Ismail Lala (Lala.I@gust.edu.kw) and Dr. Jennifer Lofkrantz (Lofkrantz.J@gust.edu.kw).
URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu/event/conference-ai-methodologies-and-applications-in-middle-eastern-and-islamic-world-studies-kuwait-university-february-4-5-2026/
CATEGORIES:conferences and workshops
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260209T181500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260209T193000
DTSTAMP:20260515T094138
CREATED:20260205T234916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T234858Z
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SUMMARY:Workshop: Middle East Beyond Borders—Chris Rominger\, “Sea Changes: Trans-Mediterranean Lives and Networks at the Turn of the 20th Century\,” February 9\, 2026 @ 6:15pm
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Chris Rominger (Social Studies)\, “Sea Changes: Trans-Mediterranean Lives and Networks at the Turn of the 20th Century.” Professor Adam Mestyan (NELC) will respond. \nWe will be meeting from 6:15-7:30pm in the Finnegan Room (Barker 403) and dinner will be provided. See event flyer for more info and to RSVP. \nThe Middle East Beyond Borders (MEBB) workshop aims to foster an interdisciplinary community of scholars working on the past and present of the Middle East. It takes as its founding premise the idea that the “Middle East” as an object of inquiry must fundamentally engage notions of boundaries\, mobility\, and transformation. Our goal is to offer a platform for collaboration and discussion to all Middle East scholars at Harvard across a wide range of academic fields and disciplines. To date\, our community has welcomed scholars from NELC\, History\, Middle Eastern Studies\, Anthropology\, the Study of Religion\, Law\, Art and Architecture\, and more. During meetings\, we typically workshop a polished dissertation chapter or prospectuses from graduate students.
URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu/event/workshop-middle-east-beyond-borders-chris-rominger-sea-changes-trans-mediterranean-lives-and-networks-at-the-turn-of-the-20th-century-february-9-2026-615pm/
CATEGORIES:conferences and workshops,Harvard Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T133000
DTSTAMP:20260515T094138
CREATED:20260129T023746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T233516Z
UID:10001827-1770726600-1770730200@pil.law.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Islamic Law Speaker Series: Sohaira Siddiqui (Georgetown University)\, “Islamic Law on Trial: Contesting Colonial Power in British India\,” February 10\, 2026 @ 12:30pm
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, February 10\, 2026\, at 12:30-1:30PM US EST\, Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui will present her latest monograph\, Islamic Law on Trial: Contesting Colonial Power in British India\, which reexamines long-held assumptions about Islamic law under British rule. The book uncovers how colonial interventions disrupted existing legal traditions while revealing the strategies through which Muslim elites navigated\, negotiated\, and at times reshaped the new institutions imposed on them. \nRegister here. 
URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu/event/islamic-law-speakers-series-sohaira-siddiqui-georgetown-university-islamic-law-on-trial-contesting-colonial-power-in-british-india-february-10-2026-1230pm/
CATEGORIES:PIL events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260212
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260213
DTSTAMP:20260515T094138
CREATED:20260115T230414Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T224819Z
UID:10001821-1770854400-1770940799@pil.law.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Call for Panels: Middle East Medievalists at MESA 2026\, February 12\, 2026 @ 8:00pm
DESCRIPTION:The call for papers for MESA 2026 (60th annual meeting\, Nov 21-24\, 2026\, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza) is now out: https://mesana.org/annual-meeting/call-for-papers \nNote that the deadline for submissions is Feb 17 (2026) \nAs in previous MESA meetings\, Middle East Medievalists will sponsor panels in the MESA 2026 meeting. \nWe encourage all medievalists organizing panels to send us abstracts for both individual papers and the panel as a whole (as well as the names of the participants)\, by Thursday February 12th  8pm so that the board may consider them for sponsorship before the MESA deadline (Tuesday\, Feb 17th). \nEmail your materials and/or any questions to Jonathan Brack: Jonathan.brack@northwestern.edu.
URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu/event/call-for-panels-middle-east-medievalists-at-mesa-2026-february-12-2026-800pm/
CATEGORIES:Call for papers,Due dates,Opportunities
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260213
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260214
DTSTAMP:20260515T094138
CREATED:20260104T030423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T233441Z
UID:10001814-1770940800-1771027199@pil.law.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Call for Applications: 2026–2027 PIL Research Fellowship\, February 13\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:PIL Research Fellowship Application\, 2026–2027\nThe Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School is pleased to invite applications for the 2026-2027 PIL Research Fellowship (due: February 13\, 2026). This fellowship is designed to provide an intellectual home to promising young scholars in Islamic legal studies\, to advance their research\, and to contribute to the intellectual life of the Program and the greater Harvard community. The opportunity allows the selected fellow to pursue independent research on Islamic law and history that utilizes the extensive collections of the Harvard Libraries. The PIL Research Fellowship award is a full-time residential fellowship at Harvard Law School (for nine months\, during the academic year). \nSuccessful applicants will have completed an advanced degree (JD\, PhD\, or SJD) before the start of the fellowship\, and plan to pursue a scholarly research agenda in Islamic law that engages legal history\, law and society\, or comparative law approaches. Fellows will receive a stipend for the duration of the fellowship. \nTo apply for this fellowship\, please submit the following materials via the research fellowship online application form by February 13\, 2026: \n1. a curriculum vitae\n2. a research proposal consisting of \n\na single-paragraph abstract of your proposed research\na research statement\, not to exceed 1500 words (3 single-spaced pages)\, and\na bibliography of works you have consulted that describes the proposed work during the fellowship period.\n\nThe proposal should outline research in your area of expertise or interest related to contemporary or historical issues of Islamic law that can be accomplished during the fellowship term; projects are to utilize the Harvard collections to advance a novel contribution to scholarship through research in Islamic law\, with a legal history\, comparative law\, or law and society approach.\n3. an explanation of why Harvard/PIL is the required venue for your research (e.g.\, identification of specific Harvard/PIL resources that are necessary to pursue the research project)\n4. a writing sample of no more than 25 pages in length\, in English (which can be a recent publication or unpublished work; works-in-progress are especially welcome) \n5. 3 reference letters from recommenders who are to upload letters directly at the referee link.\nA panel of scholars at Harvard will review your application materials. The panel will consider your application in relation to numerous other proposals. Evaluation criteria will include: \n\nThe significance of the contribution that the project will make to knowledge in the field\nThe quality or the promise of quality of the work\nThe quality of the conception\, definition\, organization and description of the project\nThe likelihood that the applicant will complete the project\nThe appropriateness of the research for Harvard/PIL resources\n\nPlease ensure that your references have ample time to consider and comment on your proposal. Letters of reference are more highly regarded if they address the specific proposed activity and how well the candidate is suited to undertake it\, as opposed to letters that verify character\, limit comments to previous work\, or make only general observations on the topic. \nFollowing a process of committee review\, applicants will be notified of decisions on March 1st.\nDeadline: February 13\, 2026 \n 
URL:https://pil.law.harvard.edu/event/call-for-applications-2026-2027-pil-research-fellowship-february-13-2026/
CATEGORIES:Due dates,Fellowships,Opportunities
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