About
Education
3/2006-12/2010
Habilitation (venia legendi) in Political Science
University of Zurich, Institute for Political Science, Department of
International Relations
8/1996-11/2000
Ph.D. (high honors) in Political Science
University of Zurich, Institute for Political Science, Department of
International Relations
08/1993-08/1995
M.A. (Cum Laude) in Comparative Politics
The American University, Washington, D.C.
09/1985-05/1989
B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in Political Science
Kuwait University
Professional Experience
Since 03/2011
Privatdozentin / Associate Professor, University of Zurich, Institute for Political Science, International Relations
Since 06/2016
Senior Fellow, The European Foundation for Democracy, Brüssels
Since 02/2016
Senior Lecturer, University of Bern, Institute for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
Since 9/2014
Senior Researcher, Project Safeguarding Democracy: Contests of Values and Interests, Swiss South African Joint Research Programme(SSAJRP)
Since 09/2014
Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich
Since 05/2008
Consultant in Politics, Religion and Gender in the Middle East for governmental, non-governmental and international organizations
03/2006-03/2009
Post-doc Fellow “UFSP Asien und Europa”, University of Zurich Institute for Political Science, Department of International Relations
07/2005-2010
Affiliate Researcher, NCCR Democracy: "Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century” – Project 3 “Democratizing Divided Societies in Bad Neighborhoods”, University of Zurich
Since 03/2005
Lecturer in Political Science, University of Zurich
Institute for Political Science, Department of International Relations
Institute for Political Science, Department of International Relations
01/2004-12/2005
Deputy Head of the Arabic Service, Swissinfo, Bern, Switzerland
06/1997-12/2003
Multimedia Journalist and Radio Presenter, Swissinfo / Swiss Radio International, Arabic Service, Bern, Switzerland
01/1991-07/1993
Teaching Assistant, Political Science Department University of Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
06/1990-03/1993
Secretary of the Academic Staff Affairs Committee
Office of the Vice Rector, Sana'a University
Office of the Vice Rector, Sana'a University
Orther relevant Experience
Since 09/2014
Fellow of the Secular Global Institute (SGI), Washington, DC
8-12 Feb 2014
Member, Swiss Delegation, 5th Round of Human Rights Dialogue between Switzerland and Tajikistan
Since Aug 2013
Co-Chair Inclusive Mosque Initiative, Swiss Branch
Jan & Aug 2013
Field Work on Impact of Legal Pluralism, UK
Since 01/2012
Member, Federal Commission for Women Affairs
By appointment of the Swiss Federal Council
By appointment of the Swiss Federal Council
Since 03/2010
Member, Roundtable “Female Genital Mutilation and Child Protection”, UNICEF Swiss Section
09/2006-11/2008
Field Work in South Africa (August – September 2015), UK (January-February 2013; July 2013), Yemen (September-October 2006), Syria (July 2007), and Kuwait (November 2008)
University Courses
- Muslims in Europe: Migration, Integration and Conflicts, University of Bern, HS 2017
- Yemen: a Failed State?, University of Zurich, FS 2012, FS 2013, HS 2014, FS 2015; ETH HS 2015; University of Bern, FS 2016
- ‘Activism’ and Social, Ethnic and Political Exclusions in the MENA Region, ETH, HS 2014
- Political Islam: Islamists Parties in Arab States, University of Zurich, FS 2012, HS 2012, HS 2013, HS 2014, FS 2015; FS 2016, HS 2016, FS 2017
- Islamism between Ideology and Context, University of Bern, FS 2016
- Civil Society and Democratization in Arab States, University of Zurich; HS 2009, HS 2011, FS 2013
- Histories of Yemen in the 20th Century: Contested Perspectives and Historical Narrations, University of Bern, HS 2012
- Regional Politics of the Arabian Peninsula, University of Zurich, SS 2005, WS 05/06; SS 2007; HS 2008 & FS 2010, 2011, HS 2015; ETH, FS 2015, FS 2016
- Democratization of the Arabian Peninsula, University of Zurich, SS 2006, HS 2010
- The Arab State and Women Rights, University of Zurich, WS 06/07, HS07; FS09
- Frauenrechte in den arabischen Staaten, University of Bern, HS 2009
- Gender und Politik in den arabischen Staaten, University of Zurich, HS 2010, HS 2011, HS 2012, HS 2013
- Gender and Politics in the MENA Region, University of Zurich, FS 2014, FS 2016, FS 2017
Awards and Grants
- Research Grant, Swiss South African Joint Research Program (2014-2016)
- Fellowship of UFSP Asien und Europa, University of Zurich (2006-2009)
- Membership of the Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honour Society, USA, 1994
- Fulbright Scholarship, USA, 1993-1995
- The Golden Medal for Achievement, Kuwait University, 1991
Languages
Arabic (mother tongue), fluent in English and German
