Birgit Krawietz

Prof. Dr. Birgit Krawietz is a distinguished Professor at the Institute for Islamic Studies within the Department of History and Cultural Studies at the Free University of Berlin. Her academic work spans multiple disciplines within Islamic Studies, with particular focus on Islamic law, cultural history, and the intersection of religion with contemporary social practices. She actively supervises doctoral students and serves on important academic committees including as Chair of the Doctoral Committee of the Department of History and Cultural Studies and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Orient-Institut-Beirut (OIB).

Her research interests encompass a diverse range of topics including Islamic normativity, Salafism, body and sport studies, and regional studies of the Arabian Gulf and Türkiye. Krawietz has established herself as a leading scholar examining how Islamic legal traditions interact with modern practices, particularly in areas like sports, medical ethics, and consumer culture. Her work often explores the tension between traditional Islamic jurisprudence and contemporary social transformations.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining Islamic legal traditions through cultural and anthropological lenses. Her work demonstrates particular strength in analyzing bodily practices within Islamic contexts, from oil wrestling traditions in Turkey to medical ethics and sports regulations. She has made significant contributions to understanding how Islamic legal traditions adapt to modern contexts, particularly in the Gulf region where traditional practices intersect with rapid urbanization and globalization.

Prof. Krawietz has supervised numerous doctoral projects covering diverse topics including Islamic jurisprudence regarding non-Muslims, theology in the Shafi'i school, and the recited Qur'an. Her academic leadership extends to organizing conferences and workshops, including upcoming events like the "South-South Comparativism" conference scheduled for June 2025. She has also served as co-editor for multiple significant publications that have shaped contemporary discourse in Islamic Studies.

Her teaching portfolio demonstrates engagement with both foundational Islamic legal concepts and contemporary applications, including courses on human body modifications in Islamic jurisprudence, food regulations, and space construction in Islamic contexts. Her academic influence extends beyond Berlin through her membership in the Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Vorderer Orient (DAVO) and her participation in international scholarly networks.