ECU welcomes Fulbright scholar from Pakistan
GREENVILLE, NC — A Pakistani scholar and lawyer will spend the fall visiting East Carolina University on a Fulbright grant designed to promote Americans’ understanding of Islam and modern Muslim societies.
Dr. M. Aslam Khaki will spend four weeks in eastern North Carolina, delivering lectures, consulting with educators, and participating in cross-cultural discussions on the basic tenets of Islam and the role of religion in the culture and politics of Muslim societies. ECU’s departments of geography and international studies are co-hosting the scholar.
Khaki’s keynote address on Islam, Contemporary Politics and Human Rights will be held at 7 p.m., Oct. 25 at ECU’s Willis Building.
He will also discuss “Inter-faith Alliance – Muslim-Christian-Jewish Relations” at 7 p.m., Oct. 29 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, on E. 4th St.
Accompanying Dr. Khaki is Ms. Yasmin Haider who is a lawyer of the Federal Shariat Court in Islamabad. Haider, whose practice focuses on domestic violence and the legal rights of women in Islam, will present a public lecture at ECU at 7 p.m., Nov. 5, at the Jenkins Fine Arts Auditorium. A lecture open to women only of all faiths will be held at 10:30 a.m., at the Islamic Center (14th and Evans Streets, Greenville), Saturday, Nov. 3.
“We are delighted to be hosting Dr. Khaki and Ms. Haider,” said Holly Hapke, ECU professor of geography. “Their visit presents a wonderful educational opportunity, and we are pleased that response from ECU and the broader community has been overwhelmingly positive. This Fulbright program is quite competitive, and ECU is fortunate to have received the award of a visiting specialist.”
Khaki holds degrees in education and Islamic law from Punjab University and the International Islamic University Pakistan. He works both at the Federal Shariat Court in Islamabad and teaches at various universities in Pakistan. He is the author of several books, including Human Rights: Issues and Religion (Pakistan, 2005) and Readings in Human Rights published by Ford and Fereich Nauman Stifting (Germany, 2002).
In addition to the geography and international studies departments, other local hosts include: ECU’s Office of International Affairs, the Honors and EC Scholars Programs, and the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences. Also, Pitt County Schools, the Rotary Club, the World Affairs Council, The Daily Reflector, the Islamic Center, and the Inter-faith Alliance.