Muhammad Hallaj (1932–2017) was a Palestinian scholar and writer on Palestinian affairs. He could not pursue his academic career in Palestine in the 1980s and settled in the US. He served as a member of the Palestinian National Council.
Muhammad Hallaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1932 |
| Died | 2017 (aged 84–85) |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Occupations | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Political sciences |
| Institutions | |
Early life and education edit
Hallaj was born in Qalqilya, Mandatory Palestine, in 1932.[1] He attended a high school in Jaffa.[2] Following the Nakba the family left their hometown.[2] He obtained his Ph.D. in political sciences from the University of Florida in 1966.[1]
Career and activities edit
Following his graduation Hallaj joined the Jacksonville University, Florida, as a lecturer and taught there until 1970.[2][3] Then he taught at the University of Jordan in Amman from 1970 to 1975.[3] During his tenure Hallaj served as dean of social sciences.[2] Next he joined Birzeit University on the West Bank in 1975 and became a full professor.[2] He was appointed vice president of Birzeit University and then was named as the first director of the Council for Higher Education in the West Bank and Gaza.[2] He taught at Birzeit University until 1981 when he went to the US for a study visit at Harvard University.[1] After the end of his study visit in 1983 he returned to Birzeit University, but the Israeli authorities did not grant him a work permit.[2] Therefore, he had to leave Palestine and settled in the US.[3]
Hallaj was the editor of a magazine entitled Palestine Perspectives between 1983 and 1991.[2] He was the director of the Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine from 1991 to 1994.[1] He was made a member of the Palestinian National Council in 1991.[3] He headed Palestinian delegation during the multilateral talks on refugees which had been initiated after the Madrid Conference in 1991.[1]
Hallaj was a board member of various Palestinian organizations such as the commissioners of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights.[1]
Work edit
Hallaj published many articles on Palestinian affairs.[1] He was among the contributors of the 1988 book entitled Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question edited by Edward Said and Christopher Hitchens.[4]
Death edit
Hallaj died in 2017.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Kathleen Christison (2005). "Hallaj, Muhammad". In Philip Mattar (ed.). Encyclopedia of The Palestinians (Revised ed.). New York: Facts On File, Inc. p. 194. ISBN 978-0816057641.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Muhammad Hallaj (2008). "Recollections of the Nakba through a Teenager's Eyes". Journal of Palestine Studies. 38 (1): 66–73. doi:10.1525/jps.2008.38.1.66.
- ^ a b c d e "Hallaj, Mohammed (1932-2017)". Passia. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Charles D. Smith (1988). "Book review". Middle East Studies Association Bulletin. 22 (2): 237–239. JSTOR 23060679.