13 July, Thursday Seminar - Singapore Muslims: Identity Formation in a Brave New World Dr Rahil Ismail – Assistant Professor, National Institute of Education, Singapore Rahil Ismail is an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. She earned her honours degree in History at the National University of Singapore and later a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of London. She received both her Masters and PhD in International Studies from the School of International, Development and European Studies, University of Leeds. Her current research and publishing interests are in international relations, multicultural studies and heritage studies. Her teaching duties at NIE/NTU include American history, Multicultural education and international conflict and cooperation. In Singapore, as elsewhere, Muslims have now entered a Brave New World in which Islamophobic views and perspectives have become normalised and institutionalised as governments have reacted to perceived security threats. As a minority community in a ‘multi-racial’ city-state, the ethnic Malay population have long had the special attention of Government authorities for a variety of intertwining historical, political, economic and social reasons. As any minority group in a political entity, the Malay-Muslim community has had to find a satisfactory working relationship with the sources of authority, in order that their religious and cultural identity can be assured, protected, affirmed and nurtured. However, the events of 11 September 2001 have put new challenges in the community’s path as they straddle their multiple identities as Singaporeans, as global citizens and as ‘good’ Muslims. The seminar highlighted the responses to post-11 September events, which now include the war in Iraq, the drumbeats of war against Iran and the unremitting demonisation of the Islamic faith and its adherents.