Fatima Rajina

Dr. Fatima Rajina is a Senior Legacy in Action Research Fellow at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester. Trained in sociology and social anthropology, she specializes in British Bangladeshi Muslims, with a focus on identity, dress, language, Islamophobia, and postcolonialism in urban contexts such as Tower Hamlets, Luton, and Birmingham.

Education:

• PhD, SOAS, University of London (Nohoudh Scholarship)
• MA in Islamic Societies and Cultures, SOAS
• BA, PGCE, MPhil

Her research explores race-making, transnationalism, and the sociocultural dynamics of Muslim communities in Britain. She examines how stigma, political discourse, and media narratives shape identity, particularly among British Muslim men and women. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public engagement, addressing urgent issues like citizenship, belonging, and racialized policy.

Dr. Rajina’s publications include a 2024 book with Manchester University Press, peer-reviewed articles in Journal of Muslims in Europe, Identities, and Sociology, and numerous opinion pieces in The Guardian, The Conversation, and Al Jazeera. Her recent work highlights the aesthetics of Jummah attire, media representations of Muslim women, and the impact of Brexit and the 'hostile environment' on British Bangladeshis.

Scientific Awards:

• Shortlisted for the 2023 Sage Prize for Innovation/Excellence for 'The Burden of Conviviality'

She supervises PhD students, including Gary Napier, and leads a British Academy-funded project on 'Jummah Aesthetics'. She has presented at major conferences such as BASAS, BRAIS, and the German Sociological Association, and has contributed to public discourse through podcasts, radio interviews, and public lectures at institutions like CUNY.

Dr. Rajina is actively involved in decolonial scholarship, advocating for critical Muslim studies and challenging dominant narratives about race, religion, and citizenship in contemporary Britain.