Currently at least one million Uighur Muslims have been detained in concentration camps in China’s northwest region of Xinjiang (referred to as East Turkestan by the native population). Reasons for imprisonment range from abstaining from alcohol, having a Qur’an in the house, eating breakfast before dawn, or even saying As-Salam Alaikum (peace be upon you), all viewed as ‘suspicious’ behaviors indicative of ‘religious extremism...

"While at Georgetown, Moez Hayat (SFS’19) has sought out every possible opportunity to expand his academic knowledge. So much so, in fact, that he was once asked if he was a professor after he attended (almost) every single Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) and Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS) event. Hayat fondly recalls that as one of his favorite memories from his time at Georgetown." SFS

"For many years, the relationship between the United States and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) has been under fire, plagued by myth and delusion. The United States and the Muslim Brotherhood have faced conflicting accusations of colluding in order to maintain U.S. interests in the Middle East or, conversely, of fiercely sparring over the antagonistic values of liberal democracy versus theocracy. A careful and rigorous analysis..."

"Iran-U.S. relations have reached their worst condition in decades, and the key question is whether the United States has achieved its goals, or if this new strategy can be useful? This new strategy of “maximum pressure and negotiation” has very clear elements that the United States has tried to implement, but the result and future remains obscure."

Muslim Americans: Debating the Notions of American and Un-American is an ambitious attempt to explore how American Muslims, especially immigrants and their children, see the US and are seen by it. It uses the voices of Muslim Americans to explore what peoples and cultures can be considered American, and which are not. The author offers it as “a counter-narrative to the reactionary thinking of academics ... and some media and politicians who have place Islam/Muslims as the Other.”

On April 10th, 2019, Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Dean of the Islamic Seminary of America, presented at ACMCU on the typologies of Salafism pre and post Arab Spring. Dr. Qadhi showcases historic trends and demonstrates a unique critique of contemporary theological categorization practices related to Salafism.

Dr. Saadia Yacoob is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Williams College, her research focuses on the construction of gender in early Islamic legal discourse. Dr. Yacoob presented a talk in early April of 2019 at ACMCU entitled, "Reading Gender in Early Islamic Law".

On this month's episode, we feature Dr. Paul Salem, President of the Middle East Institute. Dr. Salem gave a talk this past November at ACMCU on the topic of the Christian Communities in Lebanon.

On Tuesday March, 26, ACMCU hosted a panel discussion with three special guests concerning the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand. The panel included Dr. Alan Tidwell of Georgetown's Center for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Studies, Dr. Saleem H. Ali of Columbia University, Dr. Claire Higgins of UNSW Sydney, and ACMCU's Dr. Jonathan A.C. Brown.

On ACMCU's Building Bridges Podcast, we present a conversation on Muslim-Christian relations and highlight experts in the field and the work that they do. On this episode, we feature Dr. Juan R.I. Cole, author of the new book "Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires".

The March 14, 2019 massacre in two mosques in New Zealand is a horrific tragedy. We send our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and friends, the Christchurch Muslim community, to Muslim communities worldwide, and to all people who cherish the value of human life. Our hearts ache together...

The first book to provide a seamless account of the millennium-old venture of Islam in Malaysia, this book investigates how Islam has shaped the social lives, languages, cultures and politics of both Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia.

"OPENING FORUM OF INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC THOUGHT AND SOCIETAL REFORMS. Topic: Islam and Multiculturalism - The Need for Educational Reform" with John L. Esposito & Anwar Ibrahim video published by Institut Antarabangsa Tamadun Islam dan Dunia Melayu in early February.

"About 40 years ago, Iran underwent a huge movement to escape from tyranny. In this movement, people tried to overthrow the shah and his government with great enthusiasm because of its corruption and despotism. While both ordinary people and leaders of the revolution were focused on overthrowing the shah, they did not have a clear idea of a new political system after the movement ended..." ACMCU VR Dr. Amir Mohammad Soori

In this third volume on vocation from editor David S. Cunningham, the thirteen contributing scholars identify with a wide variety of religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. Some contributors identify with more than one of these; others would claim none of them. The authors met on multiple occasions to read common texts, to discuss agreements and differences, and to respond to one another's writing; some of these responses are included at the end of each chapter.

On ACMCU's Building Bridges Podcast, we present a conversation on Muslim-Christian relations and highlight experts in the field and the work that they do. This episode features Al Jazeera producer Laila Al-Arian as she talks about her new documentary, "The Ban" which brings to light the impacts that President Trump's travel ban has had on families and children from the Middle East.

In late December of 2018, Oxford University Press highlighted the works of ACMCU Founding Director Dr. John L. Esposito in a collection of books on the topic of Islam.

In late November of 2018, Dr. Juan R.I. Cole presented a talk at Georgetown University's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding on the history of the early Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad.

In late November, Dr. James Millward, Professor of Inter-Societal History at Georgetown University, presented at ACMCU on China's Muslim Internment Camps and the policies behind them.

Dr. Ronald Stockton presented a talk on Muslim Gravestones in Detroit on October 31st here at Georgetown University. His talk was hosted by ACMCU and centered around the significance of burial and gravestone customs within Muslim communities within SouthEastern Michigan.

ACMCU special guest Dr. Zachary Wright presents on medieval Islamic intellectual scholarship and the Sufi movements that emerged during the 18th Century.

ACMCU Founding Director Dr. John L Esposito co-published two new books, (Key Islamic Political Actors and Islam and Politics Around the World) with co-author Emad El-Din Shahin in October, 2018.

On October 2nd 2018, Dr. Bernard Adeney-Risakotta gave a presentation at Georgetown University on Religion and Democracy in Indonesia entitled, "Living in a Sacred Cosmos". This video is a full edited version of his presentation and the following Q&A presented by ACMCU.

Join Campus Ministry and our special guest, the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU), for Chaplains' Tea! We'll bring the tea and snacks, you bring the conversation. Immediately after, please join us for our weekly Prayer for Peace and Justice at 3:50 p.m.

[ACMCU Publications] Dr. Elisabeth Mehl Greene, visiting researcher at ACMCU, was featured this month in the Summer edition of The Mizna journal.

ACMCU Founding Director John L. Esposito and "Sharia: What Everyone Needs to Know" co-author Natana DeLong-Bas discuss the myths and modern realities of Sharia in a blog entry showcased within Oxford University Press.

On April 18, 2018, Dr. John L. Esposito, founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, received an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid. After receiving his honors, Dr. Esposito gave a brief address to those in attendance on his work and life.

Alberto Priego, International Relations professor at Comillas Pontifical University, interviews John L. Esposito on the occasion of his appointment as Doctor Honoris Causa.

By Shireen Hunter. Throughout the last seven decades, Iran’s direct or indirect involvement in Middle-East-related issues has been a source of difficulties for its foreign relations and domestic politics.

Featuring ACMCU Education Outreach Coordinator Susan Douglass. The North Kingstown School District’s Central Administration Building hosted a day-long event focused on understanding Islam in America April 5, culminating in a town hall gathering that featured speakers from across the globe.

By Shireen Hunter. Popular demonstrations in Iran at the end of 2017 reflected economic and other grievances along with a growing frustration and impatience with the Islamic system’s shortcomings. However, the demonstrations also revealed deep cultural cleavages in Iranian society.

By Shireen Hunter. Following the end of World War II, Middle Eastern countries consolidated their state structures. By contrast, over the last two decades, those structures have largely been dismantled.

Featuring Jonathan Brown. A common parameter used in journalism to assess whether or not Islam is moderate is the absence or presence of Sharia.

Featuring Shireen Hunter. A major criticism of Trump and other detractors of the JCPOA has been that it does not limit Iran's ability to resume its nuclear program beyond 2025. This close, they insist, defeats the purpose of the JCPOA that is to prevent Iran from acquiring the capacity to produce a nuclear device

Featuring Shireen Hunter. Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter tells the Tehran Times that that “The new U.S. strategy only sets out the broad outlines of American priorities, which in fact are not much different from those of previous administrations, or for that matter any other nation, namely security and economic prosperity.”

By Shireen Hunter. What makes Iran’s situation different—and the risk of war higher—is the existence of both a regional and a domestic U.S. lobby in favor of an American attack on Iran.

Featuring John L. Esposito. The Noble Quran is the Book of Allah, and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the person through whom that Book came to humanity, and his words and deeds are the first and most important commentary and explanation on it.

By Mehdi Hasan. Speaking over the weekend, Gen. John Hyten, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, or STRATCOM, which is responsible for nuclear deterrence, revealed what he would do if he were ordered to carry out a nuclear strike.

Featuring Shireen Hunter. "The Saudis are the greatest sponsor of terrorism, and they have been. Saudi ideology has destroyed the Muslim world," says Hunter who is also the author of Iran's Foreign Policy in the Post-Soviet Era.

By Mehdi Hasan. Who says Donald Trump doesn’t keep his promises?

Written by Shireen Hunter. In his speech describing America’s new approach towards Iran, Donald Trump accused it of responsibility for just about all of the ills of the Middle East and South West Asia.

Featuring Jonathan Brown. A Yaqeen Institute audiobook reading.

Featuring John L. Esposito. The event aimed to raise awareness of the recent development of Islamophobia, and dispel potential misconceptions about the topic.

Featuring Shireen Hunter. “The United States, despite its great influence has never been able to exercise hegemony,” Shireen Hunter tells the Tehran Times.

Featuring Jonathan A.C. Brown. As with so many aspects of Islam, some non-Muslims criticize "Sharia law" without really knowing the first thing about it.

Featuring John L. Esposito and Karen Armstrong. Some of the world's leading experts on the Quran and Islam visited Scene HumSam on March 13 and 14 in conjunction with the release of the newest issue of Samtiden with special focus on the Quran.

Lehigh’s 149th Baccalaureate Service featured an address by John L. Esposito, a leading American expert on Islam, and discussions of world religious traditions by student adherents of those faiths.

Featuring Shireen Hunter. TEHRAN - Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor of political science at Georgetown University, tells the Tehran Times that that “the most important event in the world” in the Iranian calendar year 1395, which ends on March 20, “was the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States."

Featuring John L. Esposito, University of Oslo. Some of the world's leading experts on the Quran and Islam spoke at the Scene HumSam on March 13 and 14 in conjunction with the release of the newest issue of Samtiden, which has the Quran as its main focus.

Written by John L. Esposito. On January 11, 2017, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill to designate the Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This is not Cruz’s first attempt to see the Muslim Brotherhood added to the U.S.’s list of FTOs.

Written by Engy Abdelkader. Contemporary references to “radical Islam” generally trigger associations with terrorism perpetrated by non-state actors or organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Featuring Engy Abdelkader. In a time of rising Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias, the Tennessee State Board of Education is poised to approve new social studies standards for middle schoolers that would dramatically reduce instruction on Islam.

As anti-Muslim violence persists during a volatile presidential election cycle, at least one Muslim woman recently won our nation’s hearts and minds: Duke grad and Olympian fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Written by Kristin Sekerci. Pope Francis has stated that the ‘world is at war’ following the series of recent terrorist attacks in France and Germany, including the murder of the Catholic priest Jacques Hamel on 26 July.

Featuring Jonathan A.C. Brown. As the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approached, jihadist propagandists told their followers that it was a good time to kill people.

Written by Engy Abdelkader. Texan Senator, and former Republican presidential candidate, Ted Cruz held a congressional hearing today, Tuesday, June 28th, examining federal agency responses to “radical Islam.” The mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando revived debate about the terminology we use to describe violent extremism.

This report highlights trends and patterns surrounding Islamophobia since the start of the 2016 U.S. presidential election cycle. It does so in the broader context of hatred, violence and social hostilities confronting Muslims as a minority faith group in contemporary America and with a particular focus on acts and threats of violence.

Tonight is the first in a two-part interview with one of the world's foremost scholars on Islam and the West, Professor John Esposito.

In conversation with Habib El Mallouki, the renowned US Islam scholar John Louis Esposito talks about burgeoning Islamophobic and right-wing populist tendencies in Europe and the US as a consequence of the terrorist activities of radical Islamist groups

December 2, 2015. Radio interview with host Ben Fordham.

Al Jazeera interview, aired on Dec 8, 2015. Dr. John L. Esposito discusses rise of Islamophobia and Donald Trump.

In this interview, Professor Esposito talks to OnIslam.net about his new center, appropriately titled Bridges, the media and public perceptions, as well as the latest controversies surrounding Bill Carson’s recent comments.

Center for Middle East Studies Director Nader Hashemi hosts a discussion with Egyptian political scientist Emad Shahin, a recent Carnegie Centennial Visiting Fellow with the center.

As stunning and outrageous as the recent mass trial and death sentences handed down for Muhammad Morsi - Egypt's first democratically elected president - and dozens of leading members of his outlawed Freedom and Justice Party are, they come as no surprise. - See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/egypt-terror-name-state-security-1273619807#sthash.6FOtotya.dpuf

When an American convert to Islam was revealed as the wife of the dead Boston bombing suspect, Lauren Schreiber wasn’t surprised at what came next.

Ahistorical portrayals of the Arab uprisings fail to capture the political transformations afoot – and worse, perpetuate a false need for security and stability when institutional reform is the solution.

Thursday on “The Alan Colmes Show,” Alan spoke with Dr. John Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Affairs And Of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University about the controversy surrounding President Obama not wanting to label the Charlie Hebdo attack as an act of radical Islamic terrorism.

The attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, by Muslim extremists reportedly affiliated with or sympathizing with al-Qaeda, is symptomatic of the many ills afflicting Muslim immigrant communities in France and other European countries.