Media Advisory: Experts can discuss terrorist attack at French satirical magazine


Wed, 01/07/2015

author

George Diepenbrock

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas experts are available to discuss Wednesday's terrorist attack that has killed as many as 12 people in Paris at the offices of a satirical magazine, according to initial news reports.

French officials have said three masked gunmen carried out the attacks at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a weekly publication that in the past had published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, and according to news reports, the magazine's Twitter account posted an image of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State militants, just before the attack.

Don Haider-Markel, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, researches terrorism and public policy. He is available to speak about the tactics of terrorist groups, including Islamic State, which the United States with the support of France has targeted in recent months in Iraq and Syria.

"The attack is almost certainly retaliation for the magazine's depiction of Islam and particular Muslims," Haider-Markel said. "Although it is too early to determine if the attackers have direct links to Islamic State, the incident — along with several others in the past few months — highlights the particular threat faced by European countries to homegrown jihadists.

To arrange an interview with Haider-Markel, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.

Raj Bhala, associate dean for International and Comparative Law and Rice Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law, can discuss Islamic law, Islamic criminal law (including offenses against the public order, religious freedom and blasphemy), terrorism, Islam, Islamic State, al-Qaida, U.S. policy toward the Middle East, international trade law and policy.

Bhala has a global reputation in the scholarship of international trade law, having lectured around the world and published an acclaimed two-volume treatise, “Modern GATT Law; a leading textbook, International Trade Law, and more than three dozen articles. His latest book, “Understanding Islamic Law (Shari’a),” was published by LexisNexis. Bhala practiced international banking law at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before entering academia and currently serves as a legal consultant to Cheniere Energy and other prominent organizations and firms. He has worked in 25 countries, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and throughout India.

To arrange an interview with Bhala, contact Mike Krings at 785-864-8860 or mkrings@ku.edu.

Wed, 01/07/2015

author

George Diepenbrock

Media Contacts

George Diepenbrock

KU News Service

785-864-8853