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IRIC Vision:
Introducing Islamic teachings to the
researchers and academia in the western world based on the Holy Quran and
the Traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and His Progeny (Ahlul-Bait
(A.S)).
Short History:
The Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC)
was established by a group of Muslim graduate students in Washington D.C.,
USA in 1990. In a short period of time, this center was able to create a
network of 40 different Islamic institutes across North America, and
prepared the ground for further cooperation. Through this network, the
Islamic Cooperation Council was established. This Council held monthly
meetings across different States, and set up multiple educational and
cultural programs. IRIC was also successful in publishing the Islamic
Monitor journal, as well as the Bosnia Watch weekly bulletin which played a
key role in providing vital news and support to stop human genocide in
Bosnia in the last decade of the 20th century.
A summary of activities and achievements in
the initial stage are as follows:
1. Weekly classes on Islamic studies and
development of a syllabus for youths, adults, and university students.
2. Active cooperation with different
Islamic communities and centers in order to establish a network of Islamic
institutes.
3. Established cooperation with scholars,
authors, professors and research centers in USA and Canada.
4. Provided response to selected criticisms
and false information provided in different Western publications.
IRIC continued its second round of activities
in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1996 as a registered non-profit NGO. It
was able to attract exceptional talented researchers and students to
undertake projects related to the contemporary issues of the Islamic World.
Current Activities:
1. Holding conferences and lectures to reflect
Islamic views especially in relation to contemporary Muslim Issues.
2. Cooperation with mass media to introduce
the true image of Islam through production of movies and TV programs.
3. To educate talented Muslims to be proactive
in pursuing their religious duties and promote the Islamic & Muslim culture
through proficiency courses.
4. To enlighten Muslim minority groups living
in the West to protect their rights.
5. Identify important research topics on
different Islamic subjects and assign talented scholars to do research in
those areas.
6. To create an academic and research network
amongst different Islamic educational institutions around the world in order
to create a syllabus and course content for Islamic schools in English.
7. Introduce authentic Islamic sources to
scholars and researchers who expressed their interest in different Islamic
Issues.
8. Cooperation with peer institutions in the
areas of mutual interest.
9. To Monitor the latest publications, movies
and documentaries in the West on the subjects of Islam and Muslims.
Research
The Islamic Research and Information Center,
in collaboration with researchers, professors and experts in the area of
Islam and the West performs research on the contemporary issues of Islam and
the West, Islam and globalization, the political, social, cultural, and
religious status of the Muslims in the Western countries and recognition of
Islamic teachings for the West. For example, preparation of the educational
curriculum and text for the Islamic schools in the West according to
different age groups and levels is one of such research projects.
Another research activity of the Center is
evaluation and publication of the situation of the Muslims in the western
countries such as the U.S., Canada, Netherland, Denmark, Australia, etc. The
objective of this series of publications is to study the status of Muslims
who live in the West from the religious, political, cultural and social
aspects by collecting the latest information about them.
In addition, IRIC has performed research on
Challenges between Islam and the western world such as Islam and violence,
Islam and issues related to women, Islam and human rights, Islam and the
environment and family life in Islam.
Study of the history of Judaism and
Christianity as one of the significant manifestations of the western
civilization is also one of the research areas in IRIC.
Furthermore, some research has been performed
on the study of the Holy Quran, life story of the Prophet and His progeny (Ahlul-Bait),
Introduction to Nahjul-Balagha and the Islamic Jurisprudence, among other
subjects.
Information
& Media
Television
and Video Programs
In order to provide a true image of Islam for
English-speaking people, IRIC has produced several television programs on
the subjects of the principles of Islam, Islamic culture and history, as
well as introduction Islam to the western world. Several seminars and
conferences on different religious occasions have been also produced and
broadcasted over the satellite channels. Among the programs that have been
produced and broadcasted by the satellite TV networks such as the Sahar
International Network, Hadi TV, and Jame Jam Network are as follows:
Quest for Truth, Islamic Lifestyle, History of
Christianity, Nahjul Balagha at a Glance, Ashura in English Literature,
Insight, Perspective, Halal Issue & …
Journal of
“Islam from the Viewpoint of the West”
This Journal is a monthly periodical published
since 2006 with the goal of introduction and provision of critical reviews
for the most recent published works on the subject of Islam and the West for
the Persian-speaking scholars, top religious leaders and institutions of
advanced studies on Islam and related studies. In addition, a number of
different articles are included in each issue. With the latest changes
within the periodical documentaries, movies, digital publications and
websites covering Islam and the Muslim world will also be covered. The
periodical would also include different reviews of Ph.D. dissertations as
well as M.A. thesis completed in the universities in the west with regards
to the issues related to the Islamic and the Muslim world.
Website
In 2002 the website www.iric.org was created
in order to keep in touch with audiences interested in Islamic studies, to
understand their needs and to act as a bridge between Islamic institutions.
Today with hundreds of users, IRIC website has provided the news related to
the Muslim world, introduce articles, websites, digital libraries, as well
as keep in contact with broad audiences.
Education
Educational
Proficiency Course on “Cultural Interaction between Islam and Non-Muslim
Societies”
In order to train interested individuals to
better introduce & propagate the true teachings of Islam in English, IRIC
has already developed series of courses related to Islam and the West since
January, 2007. These courses would span over 5 semesters.
Major Titles of the Courses:
* Islam and the contemporary issues
* Islamic terminology in English
* Resources on Islam in English
* Research methodologies in Islam
* History of Christianity and Judaism
* Structure of western societies
* Western Philosophy
* Orientalists
* History of Islamic studies in the West
* Political and Religious Groups in the West
* Media in the West
* Project Management Workshop
* Public Speaking Workshop
* Audio Visual Techniques Workshop
* Writing Workshop
Workshops
and Short-term Courses
IRIC has been successful in holding short-term
modular courses related to the above-mentioned topics for the interested
institutions and welcomes holding such seminars for the interested parties.
International Cooperation
IRIC for the aim of achievement of its goals
has already organized some kind of cultural and scientific cooperation with
Islamic institutes and organizations and also academic centers in western
countries through its representative offices.
IRIC, based on its past experience, is very
interested in participating and sponsoring regional and international
conferences in comparative religions, contemporary Islamic issues, rights of
Muslim minorities, interaction between Islam and the West, etc. In this
context, several research projects on the above-mentioned subjects have been
identified.
Cooperation in the establishment and support
of Islamic studies in the institution of higher education, and international
cooperation in the production of appropriate films, TV programs,
audio-visual programs and publication of books in the relevant areas of
interest are among additional activities of IRIC.
One of the objectives of IRIC is membership in
the international organizations and associations in order to provide an
opportunity for interaction between Islam and the West and also know the
Muslim communities and defend their natural rights.
IRIC also is willing to exchange its cultural
products with other interested individuals and institutions.
Seminars
& Conferences
Monthly
conferences
IRIC has organized and held about 60 monthly
conferences from 2001 – 2008 in order to spread information pertaining to
contemporary Islamic and global issues for foreigners residing within Iran,
students and families studying abroad, academic and research centers, as
well as English language media outlets. With over 7 years of experiences it
can be said that this has been one of the most successful activities
partaken by IRIC in order to show the true face of religious matters to
students, scholars, and other interested participants in English language.
Global Hope
for Global Peace Exhibition
Three successful exhibitions on the blessed
and happy occasion of the 15th of Shaban, the Birth Anniversary of Imam
Mahdi (A.S.), were held from 2005 to 2007 with the coordination of the Youth
Branch of IRIC named “Global Hope for Global Peace”. Other exhibitions in
the U.S. and India have also been modeled.
Special
Events & Symposiums
To the
purpose of analyzing the especial subjects related to Islam and the West,
this center is organizing seasonal seminars with the attendance of scholars
, intellectuals ,thinkers and representatives of some institutes with the
aim of mutual companionship and collaboration among them .Some of the
previous subjects were :
The Young
Muslim in Western World, The Image of Islam and Muslims in Western World,
How to Introduce Islam to the Western Societies, etc.
Also IRIC
has already organized conferences on the occasions of Birthday Anniversary
of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) , Hadj Pilgrimage , Birthday Anniversary of Imam
Mahdi (AS) , the Critical Views of Pope about Islam ……
