PUBLIC LECTURE: Islamic Militancy: Women and Men as Agents

The Institute of Advanced Studies and the History Discipline at UWA present a series of ten public lectures attached to a new History Honours seminar. The series aims to present a context for contemporary terrorism by inviting lectures from scholars working on historical and contemporary terrorism movements. The lectures are open to all with an interest in political and social movements and their methodologies and repercussions.

Abstract: The terrorist attacks since 11 September 2001 in the United States and other countries have initiated a debate on the role of Islam and Islamic militancy. Most of the available literature looks at the issues in terms of the causes of militancy and/or the best way to countering the threat of militancy. The discussion assumes that men remain the main agents of terrorism and that women play a supportive role in the process. To what extent are these assumptions valid? What differences and similarities exist in the roles played by men and women in militancy. The presentation will look at the issue with reference to the positions taken by women and men of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish Mohammad in Pakistan. It will discuss their origin and ideological outlook, and then investigate the extent to which women are emerging as independent actors in Islamic militancy.

Biographical note: Associate Professor Dr Samina Yasmeen is Director of Centre for Muslim States and Societies in the School of Social and Cultural Studies, the University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth. She teaches courses on Islam and strategic studies in Political Science and International Relations Group at the University. She is also a Co-Chair of the Discipline of International Studies at the UWA. Dr Yasmeen is a specialist in political and strategic developments in South Asia, the role of Islam in world politics, and citizenship among immigrant women. Her current research focuses on the role of Islamic militant groups in Pakistan’s foreign policy. She is co-editor of Islam and the West: Reflections from Australia (2005) and has written numerous articles and given lectures on Islam and Muslims in Australia, developments in South Asia and transnational Islam. She is a regular commentator on issues relating to Islam and Muslims in national and international media.

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