Denis MacEoin Irish professor, Islamic studies specialist and writer Date of Birth: 01.01.1949 Country: Ireland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Academic Career
3. Middle East Quarterly and Policy Exchange Report
4. Controversy and Legal Battles
5. Pro-Israel Advocacy
6. Literary Career
7. Novel Writing
8. Alternative Medicine Advocacy

Professor Denis MacEoin: A Prominent Figure in Middle Eastern Studies and Islam

Early Life and Education

Denis M. MacEoin was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1949. He pursued English and Literature at the University of Dublin before venturing into Persian, Arabic, and Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh. For his doctoral degree, he delved into the study of two heterodox movements within 19th-century Iranian Shiism at King's College, Cambridge.

Academic Career

In 1979-1980, MacEoin taught English, Islamic Civilization, and Arabic-to-English translation at the Mohammed V University in Fes, Morocco. However, he soon resigned due to contractual and workplace issues. In 1986, he became an Honorary Fellow at Durham University's Centre for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.

Middle East Quarterly and Policy Exchange Report

From 2009-2010, MacEoin served as Editor-in-Chief of the "Middle East Quarterly," a journal that explores the Middle East and Islam from a British perspective. He co-authored a report with the "Policy Exchange" think tank in October 2007, alleging that "extremist literature advocating killing gays and oppressing women" was found in 25 of 100 British Islamic institutions.

Controversy and Legal Battles

The report sparked significant controversy when BBC Newsnight reported that some of the evidence of extremist literature had been fabricated. MacEoin and "Policy Exchange" were sued by Finsbury Park Mosque, one of the institutions featured in the report. The case was eventually dismissed in October 2010, with the plaintiff ordered to pay "Policy Exchange" legal costs.

Pro-Israel Advocacy

MacEoin has been an outspoken advocate for Israel. He first visited the country in 1968 and has expressed strong pro-Israel sentiment. He maintains a blog titled "A Liberal Defence of Israel" and currently serves on the advisory board of "StandWithUs," a pro-Israel advocacy organization.

Literary Career

MacEoin's prolific writing career extends beyond academic publications. Since the 1960s, he has published numerous works on Islamic studies, including contributions to the Encyclopedia of Islam, Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, and Encyclopedia Iranica. He has also written a series of academic books.

Novel Writing

Under the pen names Daniel Easterman and Jonathan Aycliffe, MacEoin has authored 26 novels, several of which have achieved bestseller status. As Daniel Easterman, he pens thrillers, while Jonathan Aycliffe is his nom de plume for ghost stories.

Alternative Medicine Advocacy

MacEoin has been a passionate advocate for alternative medicine since the 1960s. He has served as Chairman of the Society of Natural Medicine and has lectured on traditional and alternative health practices.