PrintQamar-ul Huda
Senior Program Officer, Religion and Peacemaking Center
Contact
Please submit all media inquiries to interviews@usip.org or call 202.429.3869.
For all other inquiries, please call 202.457.1700.
Languages: Arabic, Urdu
Multimedia
Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
Qamar-ul Huda is a Senior Program Officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Center and a scholar of Islam at U.S. Institute of Peace. His area of expertise is Islamic theology, intellectual history, ethics, comparative ethics, the language of violence, conflict resolution and non-violence in contemporary Islam. His edited USIP book, The Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam, provides a critical analysis of models of nonviolent strategies, peace building efforts, conflict resolution methods in Muslim communities. His research is on comparative Sunni-Shi’ite interpretations of social justice, ethics, dialogue, and the ways in which the notion of justice is used and appropriated. Dr. Huda has examined the production of religious knowledge, the diversity of religious practices, identity, and peacemaking in Striving for Divine Union: Spiritual Exercises for Suhrawardi Sufis (RoutledgeCurzon). He taught Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion at Boston College, College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University. He earned his doctorate from UCLA in Islamic intellectual history and his B.A. from Colgate University.
Publications:
- The Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam
USIP Press | October 2010 - Islamic peacemaking since 9/11
USIP Special Report (2009) - "Coming to terms with the Qur'an,"
Islamic Publications International | April 2008 - Islamic Reform Relating to Conflict and Peace
USIP Peace Brief (2006). - The Diversity of Muslims in the United States: Views as Americans
USIP Special Report (2006). - "The 40th Anniversary of Vatican II: Examining Dominus Iesus and Contemporary Issues for Inter-religious Dialogue between Muslims and Catholics," Journal of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (2004).
- "The Light beyond the Shore in the Theology of Proper Sufi Moral Conduct-Adab," The Journal of the American Academy of Religion (2004).
- Striving for Divine Union: Spiritual Exercises for the Suhrawardi Sufis (2003).
- "The Problems of Violence and Conflict in Islam: A New Theological Hermeneutic toward Building an Islamic Liberation Theology," Contagion: Violence, Mimesis, and Culture (2002).
Multimedia
- America & Islam (Gallup World Poll, September 14, 2007)
- Islamic Reform in Practice: The Ideas of Mahmoud Taha (USIP Event, January 2006)
- Madrassa Reform in Pakistan (Al-Jazeera, December 23 2009)
Publications & Tools
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From the idea of an interfaith center in Baghdad to prospective programs encouraging Burmese media to contribute to peace, USIP experts discuss conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in 2012 and plans for this new year in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Burma, the two Sudans and more. Countries: Afghanistan, Libya, Myanmar/Burma, The Two Sudans
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USIP Senior Program Officer Qamar-ul Huda looks at 2012 lessons learned in religion, conflict, and peacebuilding, including the Koran desecration incident in Afghanistan and the controversial “Innocence of Muslims” film. |
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Qamar-ul Huda, USIP's senior program officer in the Religion and Peacemaking Center and a scholar of Islam, talks about the deaths of more than 150 Shiites in recent weeks in Pakistan and the the targeting of Shiite mosques and neighborhoods and Shiite religious processions. |
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Qamar-ul Huda, USIP's senior program officer for the Religion and Peacemaking Center, talks about a a six-month investigation report recently released on the burning of Korans in Afghanistan last February, which sparked riots and deadly violence across Afghanistan. |
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Qamar-ul Huda, senior program officer for USIP's Religion and Peacemaking Center, reflects on the foreign ministers at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed resolution to expel Syria from the international body. Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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In an effort to strengthen peacebuilding skills inside of volatile but strategically important Pakistan, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) will conduct an unusual training workshop on mediation, conflict resolution and conflict-prevention skills for 20 senior religious leaders from Pakistan in June. |
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Qamar-ul Huda captures the key perspectives of a roundtable convened by the United States Institute of Peace which drew on the expertise of scholars, practitioners, U.S. government officials, and the policy community to discuss the implications of the burning of the Koran in Afghanistan in February, 2012. |
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The importance of USIP’s convening authority and its unique expertise in religion, peacebuilding, Afghanistan, and conflict management training was evident in a closed-door session between leading religious leaders, scholars, practitioners and representatives from the U.S. government on Monday, March 5, 2012. Countries: Afghanistan
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Post-Conflict and Peacekeeping Activities, Religion and Peacemaking
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The still-young field of religious peacebuilding has made significant strides in its development, though much more remains to be done in understanding its potential and its practical application to easing conflicts, a panel of practitioners said at an event hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on Nov. 9. Issue Areas: Mediation and Facilitation, Religion and Peacemaking
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In October of 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week dannually during February 1-7. In honor of this week, on February 3, 2011, Qamar-ul Huda presented his work on a panel entitled "The Role of faith-based organizations and interfaith initiatives in Development, Reconciliation and Peacebuilding” sponsored by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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The U.S. Institute of Peace continues to follow the developments in Egypt and the Middle East. Read about USIP's work on Christian-Muslim relations in the Middle East, work on national security issues, democratization, and more. Countries: Africa, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Economics and Conflict, Political Reform, Religion and Peacemaking
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned on Feb. 11 after weeks of peaceful protests. USIP takes a comprehensive look at the situation and its implications. Countries: Egypt
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Political Reform, Religion and Peacemaking
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USIP's Qamar-ul Huda, author of "The Crescent and Dove," talks about the recent developments in Egypt. |
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Crescent and Dove looks at the relationship between contemporary Islam and peacemaking by tackling the diverse interpretations, concepts, and problems in the field of Islamic peacemaking. It addresses both theory and practice by delving into the intellectual heritage of Islam to discuss historical examples of addressing conflict in Islam and exploring the practical challenges of contemporary peacemaking in Arab countries, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Countries: Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
| Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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This Working Paper is the culmination of the work of the Study Group on Reform and Security. Countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Economics and Conflict, Mediation and Facilitation, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Security Sector Reform/Governance
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Conflict, Identity, and Reform in the Muslim World highlights the challenges that escalating identity conflicts within Muslim-majority states pose for both the Muslim world and for the West, an issue that has received scant attention in policy and academic circles. Issue Areas: Political Reform
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Muslims in general and Muslim leaders particularly have often been severely criticized for not more energetically condemning the violent acts of Muslim extremists. The uninformed often assume that extremists represent Islam’s mainstream. Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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The resignation of Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf — once a key Washington ally — marks a new stage in the country’s often volatile politics. Institute specialists Alex Thier and Qamar-ul Huda discuss a host of challenges on Pakistan's political scene. Countries: Pakistan
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Events
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October 18, 2012
In May 2012, Education Above All, a Doha-based education group, commissioned papers from practitioners and thematic experts that map and analyze the most widely used of different curricula, collectively designated as “education for global citizenship,” and the policies that have accompanied their implementation. To explore the findings of this research, the project director, technical adviser and expert on conflict and education, Margaret Sinclair, discuss these research findings with experts from USIP and the Brookings Institution. |
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October 16, 2012
Dr. Chaiwat Satha-Anand, a prominent nonviolent activist and scholar from Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, joined us for a conversation on the subject of transforming radical extremism with principles of nonviolence action.
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January 19, 2012
The U.S. Institute of Peace, in collaboration with the Institute for Inclusive Security, hosted a panel of experts to examine the ways in which diverse civil society actors, including youth and women, as well as the media, religious and business communities, confront real conflicts with collaborative problem-solving approaches. |
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November 9, 2011
To mark USIP's Religion and Peacemaking program's ten-year anniversary, USIP hosted a workshop to reflect on what the wider field of religious peacebuilding has achieved and how best to move forward over the next decade.
Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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November 10, 2010
Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri discussed his fatwa against Al-Qaida, Taliban, and other radical organizations and how he and his organizations have been working toward reducing the spread of extremism. Countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan
| Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking, Youth and Peacebuilding
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October 25, 2010
Please join USIP's Qamar-ul Huda and this panel of experts as they celebrate the publication of Cresent and Dove; Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam, published by USIP. Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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March 12, 2010
This USIP event examined the role of the clergy in Iran's political system both historically and as it relates to the Green Movement today. Countries: Iran
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Rule of Law, Youth and Peacebuilding
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January 22, 2010
This USIP event examined the complex nexus between democratic change and U.S. security interests, with a principal focus on Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen. Countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis and Prevention, Negotiation and Diplomacy
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October 7, 2009
Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Excellency Dr. Ali Gomaa will speak about moderation in Islam and the challange of religious extremism. |
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September 30, 2009
H.E. Ihsanoglu discussed OIC projects contributing to peacemaking and assessed the prospects of advancing U.S. - Islamic relations. Countries: Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Europe, Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon
| Issue Areas: Economics and Conflict, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Religion and Peacemaking
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June 25, 2009
On June 12, Iran held an historic, and as it has turned out, highly contentious presidential election. While the government declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the decisive winner, his challengers--led by Mir Hossein Mousavi--have accused the regime of massive voter fraud, thus setting up a unprecedented conflict between a regime and major segments of society. These developments come on the heels of efforts by the Obama administration to engage Iran. USIP hosted a fascinating discussion of the implications of Iran's presidential election for the country's domestic politics, and even more so, for the course (and fate) of U.S.-Iranian engagement. Countries: Iran, United States
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December 11, 2008
A public event co-sponsored with the Heritage Foundation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Asia Society, Bridging Nations, East-West Center in Washington, Indian American Forum for Political Education, The Elliott School of International Affairs and the American Jewish Committee Countries: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
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March 4, 2008
Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan
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November 27, 2007
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November 20, 2007
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June 8, 2007
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February 5, 2007
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November 21, 2006
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January 20, 2006
Issue Areas: Religion and Peacemaking
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