Sept. 14: The Gulf Region after 9/11

Indiana council on world Affairs Distinguished Speakers Lecture by Dr. Fatma Hasegh Al-Sayegh

When: Wednesday 14 September, 7:15-9:00 PM

Where: Butler University, Robertson Hall Johnson Room, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Since September 11, 2001, many of us in the United States have attempted to expand our understanding of Islam and its followers. This desire to understand the values of Islam has grown as we observe the Iraqi National Assembly debates over the ratification of the country’s new Constitution and what consideration it give to women’s rights. One should also take into consideration the impact that the adoption of a new constitution will be for the rest of the Middle East. If Iraqi women gain more rights under the new system will this encourage women in neighboring countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, to challenge the restrictive laws? Or, if Iraqi women are not granted equal rights will this lead Arab and Muslim women to rise up in protest? Will the world witness a Suffrage Movement on grander scale that of the Untied States in the early twentieth century? Moreover, what message does this send to groups such as Al-Qaeda, who believe that Westernization, and particularly Americanization, has had a demoralizing effect on Muslim society? Overall, how can we here in the U.S. give our support, whether it be moral, technical, or physical, to the Iraqis, and most especially the women of the Middle East and Muslim societies, as they attempt to move toward governmental system of shared and equally distributed power? Dr. Fatma Hassan Al-Sayegh will help us answer these questions as she shares the history and economics of the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, including the history women in the region, at the 2005-2006 ICWA Distinguished Speakers Program Presents: “THE GULF REGION AFTER 9/11”, hosted by the Indiana Council on World Affairs and Butler University. Dr. Al-Sayegh is an associate professor in the Department of History and Archeology, University of United Arab Emirates. She is also a two-time recipient of the William Fulbright Research Grant, author of seven books and numerous articles.