German scholar on Islam, Dr. Annemarie Schimmel dies

Renowned German Islam scholar Dr. Annemarie Schimmel passed away late Monday (January 27, 2003) night at the age of 80, the Central Council of Muslims in Germany announced in a press release.

She was born in Erfurt in Saxony on April 7, 1922. Dr. Schimmel who was awarded the German Book Trade Peace Prize in 1995, and authored 105 books on Islam. The scholar started to learn Arabic at the age of 15, in an effort to better understand Islamic teachings. Dr. Schimmel also spoke fluent Farsi, Turkish, English, Urdu and Dari.

She studied at the University of Berlin and in Marburg, where she became a professor for comparative religious studies. During her academic career, she lectured in Ankara, Bonn, Harvard, New York, and London. She frequently traveled to Pakistan, which, in due time, was to become her second home.

The professor saw it as her life-long mission "to awake understanding for Islam", arguing that "Islam was among the most misunderstood religions". Dr. Schimmel caused a stir in the German media for her criticism of the blasphemous book 'The Satanic Verses', written by Salman Rushdie.

An IIS (Islamic Information Service) Interview with Dr. Annemarie Schimmel.
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