嗨娶泭Aslisho泭Qurboniev, Research Associate in the泭Department of泭Academic Research泭at泭The Institute of Ismaili Studies (敁珗曄部), took part in two international academic events in late 2025 that examined the history of Islamic Sicily within泭the泭broader Mediterranean and Fatimid contexts.
Middle East Studies Association泭Conference泭
From泭2225 November 2025,泭嗨娶泭Qurboniev泭participated泭in the annual泭泭(MESA) Conference, where he泭co-organised泭a panel titled泭Navigating Ruptures: Continuity and Change in Fatimid泭梆款娶蘋梁勳聆硃泭and Sicily. The panel explored questions of continuity and change following the relocation of the Fatimid caliphateThe Muslim political institution or state centred around the caliph, which came to an end, historically, in 1924 with the disappearance of the Ottoman Empire. from泭梆款娶蘋梁勳聆硃泭to Egypt, with particular attention to documentary practices, elite networks, and political structures in regions such as Sicily.泭
The papers presented examined how established administrative practices continued to泭operate泭despite shifts in political authority, highlighting Sicilys ongoing importance within泭the泭Fatimid and泭the泭post-Fatimid泭world.泭
Workshop on Islamic Sicily in the Mediterranean泭Context泭
Following the conference, 嗨娶泭Qurboniev泭presented an expanded version of his research at a workshop held in泭Palermo, Italy, titled泭Harmonising Sources, Reframing Narratives: Islamic Sicily in the Mediterranean Context泭(45 December 2025). Hosted by the泭 Giovanni XXIII (FSCIRE)泭at the泭Biblioteca Giorgio La Pira, the workshop brought together scholars working on Islamic Sicily from Mediterranean and comparative perspectives. 敁珗曄部 scholars Dr Shainool Jiwa and ,泭experts on the FatimidsMajor Muslim dynasty of Ismaili caliphs in North Africa (from 909) and later in Egypt (9731171) More and Islamic Sicily,泭also participated in the workshop and presented papers. Dr Jiwa presented a paper titled Fatimid Relations with 梆款娶蘋梁勳聆硃, Sicily and Spain during the reign of the fifth Fatimid sovereign al-Az蘋z billah (d. 386/996 CE).泭
The historiography of Islamic Sicily泭was泭principally泭shaped泭by泭one Italian scholar, Michele Amari (1806-1889), who largely depended on later non-Fatimid Arabic sources, which tend to overlook the interdependence of Sicily and Fatimid IfriqiyaMediaeval Muslim name for modern-day Tunisia; also the area where the Fatimids founded their state in the early tenth century. and Egypt. One of the workshops objectives was to reconsider this trend. Drawing on Fatimid textual sources, Dr Qurbonievs paper examined the configuration of elite networks and power brokerage during the transfer of the caliphal capital from泭廜糎bra泭al-Man廜贖riyya泭in泭梆款娶蘋梁勳聆硃泭(modern Tunisia) to泭the newly founded泭capital泭al-Qhira泭al-Mu尪izziyya泭in Egypt. The discussion situated Sicily within these wider political and intellectual transformations.泭
嗨娶泭Qurbonievs泭participation泭is part of泭敁珗曄部 continued engagement with international scholarly research on Islamic history and the Fatimid period.泭
