Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: book discussion In brief Date - 23 February 2026Venue - Lecture Theatre A, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Dr Nicola Perugini, Dr Shaira Vadasaria, Dr Samer Abdelnour, and Danya DelfsFormat - Book discussion of 'Palestine and the Western Academe: Fighting the Exception, Defending Epistemic Justice' Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventThe ongoing devastation in Gaza and other parts of Palestine, alongside the systematic destruction of Palestinian universities, has coincided with intensified censorship and repression within Western academic institutions.These developments reveal the distinctive position that Zionism and its defense has held for decades within Western imperial structures, creating patterns of epistemic injustice. 'Palestine and the Western Academe' emerges from a collective sense of political and intellectual urgency in response to mounting repression against scholars and students working on and studying Palestine.While attacks on academic freedom and freedom of speech in Western academia have intensified, they have been met with new forms of resistance and disobedience, bolstered by coalitional anti-racist and anti-capitalist solidarities extending from Palestine globally.'Palestine and Western Academe' brings together significant contributions from scholars and students offering fresh approaches to the epistemic and political struggles surrounding Palestine. It demonstrates the timely and enduring relevance of the Palestinian question to international academic spaces and is essential reading for academics, researchers, and students interested in Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Critical Theory, Decolonial Studies, and Academic Freedom discourse.The event is co-badged with The School of Social and Political Sciences (SPS).About the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Feb 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: book discussion Join us for a hybrid seminar discussing the book 'Palestine and the Western Academe: Fighting the Exception, Defending Epistemic Justice' with book co-editor Dr Nicola Perugini and several book contributors. Lecture Theatre A 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: book discussion In brief Date - 23 February 2026Venue - Lecture Theatre A, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Dr Nicola Perugini, Dr Shaira Vadasaria, Dr Samer Abdelnour, and Danya DelfsFormat - Book discussion of 'Palestine and the Western Academe: Fighting the Exception, Defending Epistemic Justice' Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventThe ongoing devastation in Gaza and other parts of Palestine, alongside the systematic destruction of Palestinian universities, has coincided with intensified censorship and repression within Western academic institutions.These developments reveal the distinctive position that Zionism and its defense has held for decades within Western imperial structures, creating patterns of epistemic injustice. 'Palestine and the Western Academe' emerges from a collective sense of political and intellectual urgency in response to mounting repression against scholars and students working on and studying Palestine.While attacks on academic freedom and freedom of speech in Western academia have intensified, they have been met with new forms of resistance and disobedience, bolstered by coalitional anti-racist and anti-capitalist solidarities extending from Palestine globally.'Palestine and Western Academe' brings together significant contributions from scholars and students offering fresh approaches to the epistemic and political struggles surrounding Palestine. It demonstrates the timely and enduring relevance of the Palestinian question to international academic spaces and is essential reading for academics, researchers, and students interested in Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Critical Theory, Decolonial Studies, and Academic Freedom discourse.The event is co-badged with The School of Social and Political Sciences (SPS).About the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Feb 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: book discussion Join us for a hybrid seminar discussing the book 'Palestine and the Western Academe: Fighting the Exception, Defending Epistemic Justice' with book co-editor Dr Nicola Perugini and several book contributors. Lecture Theatre A 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Feb 23 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: book discussion Join us for a hybrid seminar discussing the book 'Palestine and the Western Academe: Fighting the Exception, Defending Epistemic Justice' with book co-editor Dr Nicola Perugini and several book contributors.
