In deciding to indefinitely delay accepting or declining a think tank’s offer to fund an endowed chair in Islamic studies, Temple University officials determined that no decision would be made pending the completion of post-September 11 federal investigations of the Virginia-based International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) — a private, nonprofit institution “concerned with general issues of Islamic thought and education.” The institute was the subject of a 2002 search warrant in connection to a federal investigation of the financing of groups accused of terrorist activities.
The university’s inaction, however — which eventually led to the institute withdrawing its $1.5 million offer in December with plans to resume negotiations with other institutions — has spurred concerns about the chilling of intellectual inquiry in Islamic studies by mobilized interests.
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