Birzeit University Mourns the Late Professor Ibrahim Abu Lughod

It is with deep sorrow and regret that Birzeit University announces the passing away of Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod after a brief period of illness. He is described by the President of the University as one of the most distinguished professors who have joined Birzeit in recent times. His dedication and commitment were exemplary.

Dr. Abu-Lughod left Palestine in 1948 and returned in 1991 on a visit and decided to stay for good, leaving the United States and his post as Chairman of the Political Science Department at Northwestern University. His decision to return and stay in his native Palestine came due to his commitment to help in the development of its institutions.

In 1992, Dr. Abu-Lughod joined Birzeit and was immediately appointed as a vice president. He stayed in that post for its duration of four years. During that period he was a pioneering champion in establishing the faculty of graduate studies at the University. He realized that there are many capable faculty members at the University and that a graduate studies faculty will make it possible for students to do their graduate work at Birzeit itself, rather than leave the county and study abroad.

Among the first graduate programs to be offered was that of “International Studies”. When asked few years ago about the rationale behind establishing the program, Dr. Abu-Lughod stated, “We are on the verge of new developments in Palestinian governance and the University should be capable of training foreign service experts and other personnel for this new era." Until his untimely death, Dr. Abu Lughod was a professor in this program.

Two years ago, the University honored Dr. Abu Lughod with its special plaque for that year in recognition for his scholarly vision and achievements - especially in the field of graduate studies.

Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Lughod was born in Jaffa in 1929, and received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1957. His first tenure was with UNESCO as head of its Social Science Division in Egypt, and later went to the United States and became a research associate at Princeton University. In 1967, he taught political science at Northwestern University and later served as director of the Graduate Studies there, where he stayed until 1988. He held two more UNESCO posts, one in Beirut, Lebanon, and one in Paris, France. Dr. Abu-Lughod has also lectured extensively and participated in seminars and conferences dealing with Palestinians issues all over the world.

Dr. Abu Lughod has been an inspiration to many students and faculty members as well. One faculty member, Dr. Hisham Ahmed-Farargeh, professor of Political Science at Birzeit University, said that it was because of Dr. Abu-Lughod’s inspiration that he himself also decided to return to Palestine. He said that Dr. Abu Lughod was a humanist, a distinguished scholar, a true teacher, kind and generous. Dr. Farargeh is now writing a biography of Dr. Abu Lughod.

One of the people who will greatly miss Ibrahim is his long-time friend Professor Edward Said who came especially from the United States today to be with his friend during his sickness. Unfortunately, Ibrahim passed away few hours before Edward Said’s arrival.

Dr. Abu-Lughod is survived by three daughters and a son: Leila, Mariam, Dina and Jawad. According to his wish he will be buried on Friday in his beloved hometown, Jaffa.

The University, its Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students share with the family in the mourning of Ibrahim. May his soul rest in peace and grant his family and friends the courage to cope with this tragic loss.