Role of Islam in Practical Life amongst Some Young Swiss Muslim Adults: A Focused Ethnographic Analysis

Contemporary secular Switzerland has been polarised by more than two decades of anti-Muslim sentiments, conveyed through misrepresentative narratives by some politicians and media, ‘otherising’ Islam and Muslim-related issues. This polarised environment may have triggered ambivalent impacts on the personal development of Swiss-born Muslims Consequently, I suggest that they live in an ambivalent position, where their status as Muslim is not fully acknowledged and their belonging to Switzerland still questioned. Indeed, this article will explore the following research question: How do some young Swiss-born Muslim adults construct their subjectivities and experiences linked to Islam in their daily lives in contemporary Switzerland? The research methodology of this focused ethnography draws on various semi-structured interviews and informal conversations with several young Swiss Muslim men and women. The paper focuses on (a) Switzerland’s socio-cultural and political context and (b) the various ways this study’s research partners construct their ambivalent subjectivities through the analysis of their individual trajectories and narratives. It concludes that young Swiss Muslim adults formulate and produce alternative narratives, in order to make sense of their lives and accommodate various layers of identification in contemporary Switzerland. Eventually some recommendations for further research are formulated.  

Genesis of Dolomitization in the Jutana Formation Cambrian Salt Range Pakistan : Based on Field Studies, Petrographic Observations, Geochemical Signatures and Isotopic Analysis

In Salt Range and Trans Indus Range (Pakistan), field observations in Jutana Formation (Cambrian) exhibits two main sub-divisions which includes; (i) the lower oolitic-pisolitic unit and (ii) upper massive dolomite unit. In the lower unit, dolostones containing ooids/pisoids and faunal assemblages are interlayered with whitish grey sandstone with distinct depositional sedimentary features (i.e., ripple marks, trough-, herring bone- and hummocky-cross bedding). The upper dolostone unit consists of thick bedded to massive dolostone. These two units are separated by shale beds. Detail microscopic studies identified three distinct diagenetic phases containing; (i) fine crystalline dolomite (Dol. I), (ii) medium-coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. II) and, (iii) fracture associated, coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. III). Mineralogical analysis, which include X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis identified the concentration of dolomite and quartz mainly in the studied formation. Based on stoichiometric calculations, dolomites of Jutana Formation are classified into two groups; fine crystalline dolomite (Dol. I), exhibits non-stoichiometric low ordered dolomites, while medium-coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. II) and, (iii) fracture associated, coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. III) are identified as stoichiometric ordered dolomites. Major and trace elemental studies exhibits high concentrations of Sr and Na with comparatively low values of Mn and Fe for Dol. I, whereas Dol. II and Dol. III represents high Mn and Fe contents with low Na and Sr concentration. Stable isotopes ( 18O) signatures denotes low values in fine crystalline dolomite (Dol. I). Furthermore, medium-coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. II) and, (iii) fracture associated, coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. III) represents high and more depleted values respectively. In addition, 13C values of fine crystalline dolomite (Dol. I), mediumcoarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. II) and fracture associated, coarse crystalline dolomite (Dol. III) lie in the range of marine signatures. Results of strontium isotopes lies above its original marine signatures indicating interaction with radiogenic lithologies. Magnesium 25 26Mg) result elucidates altered marine (mixing zone) and hydrothermal dolomitization origin for these dolomites.In conclusion, above mentioned studies demonstrated that dolomites of Jutana Formation are formed in multi stages i.e. initially in mixing zone near surface shallow condition followed by hydrothermal dolomitization in intermediate to deep burial environmental setting in later stages.