Jonathan Brown

Jonathan Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He holds a BA in History from Georgetown (2000) and a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago (2006). His research focuses on Islamic law, religious history, and contemporary ethical dilemmas in Muslim communities. He has conducted fieldwork in Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, South Africa, India, Indonesia, and Iran.

• Expertise: Islamic legal theory, LGBTQ issues in Islam, civil liberties, and interfaith dialogue.
• Teaching: Taught at Georgetown and the Ihsan Program in Istanbul, addressing topics like gender rights and religious ethics.

His work bridges classical Islamic scholarship with modern challenges, emphasizing ethical rigor in legal interpretation. Recent publications explore the presumption of innocence in Islamic law and LGBTQ rights advocacy in America. He critiques patriarchal norms while advocating for communal solidarity against systemic oppression.