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CISS researcher presents paper at World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, Barcelona

During July 19th – 24th 2010, CISS researcher, Sajad Jiyad, will be presenting a paper at the World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES) in Barcelona.

WOCMES is a huge academic networking body which aims to foster links between researchers, encourage dialogue, hold conferences and issue reports in the field of Middle Eastern Studies. Presently, many researchers are gathered in Barcelona to present papers on a variety of Middle Eastern topics. Sajad Jiyad is presenting a paper called, “A case study of identity in Iraq: the Arab Shi'a in Baghdad and Samarra.” Here is his abstract below:

Abstract:

“The Shi'a in Iraq has had a long history since the time of the Caliphate of Ali, though their identity has been questioned just as long. Throughout the early Islamic empires, they were seen to be anti-state and had no loyalty to one government. With the later Ottoman Empire, conflicts again arose due to their sectarian inclination over other identities. The advent of the post-colonial Iraq again brought about the question of to whom the Iraqi Shi'a owe allegiance to: Their religious authorities in Najaf, the political entities in Iran or the state of Iraq as a whole. Though Najaf and Karbala have traditionally been the centres of Shi'a power, it is in fact Baghdad which was the centre for large periods of history. The early pioneering scholars such as al-Mufid, al-Murtadha and al-Tusi were all based there. This paper addresses the contribution of the Iraqi Shi'a to the development of Baghdad and how they questions over their national sentiment/identity arose. The paper also uses the city of Samarra as an example to answer the questions of Arab Shi'a identity in Iraq, mentioning local tribes, politicians, scholars, noblemen and their interactions with the different classes and groups, and with neighbouring powers such as the Ottoman empire, the Safavid empire, the politicians of Baghdad and the clergy of Najaf and Karbala throughout history. The underlying significance of the shrines of the Imams (in Baghdad and Samarra) and the fact that Samarra is the birth place and last known residence of the Imam Al-Mahdi is analysed. The contribution of the Shi'a to the cultural heritage of Baghdad and Samarra through government, building, tourism, publishing and prestige is addressed. The paper concludes with the difficult questions posed to the Shi'a in Iraq recently. Are they Arab or are they Shi'a? Can they be both? To whom is their identity most associated with, the clergy in Najaf, the state of Iraq or the government of Iran? The answers to this are shown to be both complex, heterogeneous and varied according to different towns such as Baghdad and Samarra.”

For more information on the WOCMES conference, please visit: http://wocmes.iemed.org/en/new-panel- 9135-approaches