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On Saturday 8th January 2011, the CISS held its second advisory board meeting at its offices. In addition to the CISS team, the following key academics in the field of Shi’a and widerIslamic studies attended:

Professor Peter Sluglett (University of Utah)

Professor Robert Gleave (University of Exeter)

Professor Sabrina Mervin (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Professor Charles Tripp (School of Oriental & African Studies)

Professor Sajjad Rizvi (University of Exeter)

Dr Andrew Newman (University of Edinburgh)

Dr Mara Leichtman (Michigan State University)

Dr Alla Hassan (CISS Trustee)

Ghanem Jawad (CISS Advisor and Human Rights Activist)

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss CISS’ progress in the year 2010. Since the first CISS advisory board meeting of June 2010, several key developments have taken place. After the welcome speech by the Director, Sayyid Fadhil Bahrululoom, Imranali Panjwani (CISS researcher) kicked off the session by talking about the expansion of the CISS team with 3 new researchers joining. They major in the areas of philosophy, law and hadith respectively. New marketing consultants have also been recruited along with a wider marketing campaign, exemplified by the first issue of the CISS magazine.

The second session was chaired by Ahab Bdaiwi, CISS researcher, who discussed several joint projects with the advisors’ universities. The CISS is now embarking on organising these projects for the next 2 years. The final session was chaired by Sajad Jiyad, CISS researcher, who spoke about the CISS Press which was set up in 2010. He informed advisors that the Press has already published a book and is accepting new proposals.

Hadia Saad, CISS Administrator, wrapped up the session by thanking all the participants and setting the date for the next advisory board meeting. Overall, the meeting was a success with lovely Lebanese food, constant shots of tea and coffee and of course, valuable suggestions by the CISS advisors! The CISS would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended on the day.

The CISS Team