Mulki Al-Sharmani is a Professor at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Cultures (specializing in Middle Eastern Studies). Her research focuses on Islamic feminism, Muslim family law, gender studies, and transnational migrant communities. She examines how religious texts and practices intersect with legal frameworks and social dynamics in contexts like Egypt, Finland, and the Somali diaspora. Her work includes analyzing Islamic legal reform, gender equality in marriage, and the lived experiences of Muslim women. Key publications explore Qur'anic hermeneutics, the role of feminist activism in legal change, and the wellbeing of transnational families. She has contributed to projects like 'Reclaiming Adl and Ihsan in Muslim Marriage' and co-edited volumes on Islamic ethics and family law reform. Research interests: Islamic feminist theory, Middle Eastern legal traditions, transnational family dynamics, and religious praxis. Recent articles highlight themes like Qur'anic ethics of marriage, legal pluralism in Finland, and the political dimensions of Egyptian family law reform. Active in international conferences, including presentations at SOAS University of London, American University in Cairo, and panels on Islamic law and gender at venues like MESA and EASR. Involved in interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Africa Research Forum and Musawah's global network for equality in Muslim family laws.
Mashood Baderin is a Professor at SOAS University of London's School of Law, where he has established himself as a leading scholar in Islamic law, international law, and human rights. With over 90 publications spanning more than two decades, Professor Baderin has made significant contributions to bridging Islamic legal traditions with contemporary international legal frameworks. Professor Baderin's research interests focus on the intersection of Islamic jurisprudence with modern legal challenges. His work explores how Islamic legal principles can inform contemporary human rights frameworks, international criminal justice systems, and social reform initiatives in Muslim-majority countries. He has extensively examined Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh), the application of Islamic law in modern contexts, and the relationship between Islamic law and international legal norms. His most recent publications reveal a continued focus on the universality of international law from Islamic perspectives, the application of Islamic law in African contexts, and the relationship between Islamic principles and human rights frameworks. Professor Baderin has edited significant works including 'Islamic Legal Theory' (2014) and authored the widely recognized 'Islamic Law: A Very Short Introduction' (2021). Professor Baderin has supervised numerous doctoral students working on Islamic law topics with regional focus on Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. His students' research often examines gender issues, legal reform, and the practical application of Islamic law in contemporary settings.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Rachel Marion Scott is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. She is also affiliated with ASPECT (Alliance of Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought), reflecting her interdisciplinary engagement with political and ethical theory in Islamic contexts. Her research centers on Islamic political thought, modern Islamic law, constitutional development in Muslim-majority countries, and personal status law. She has made significant contributions to understanding the interplay between religion and the nation-state, particularly in Egypt. Her scholarly work explores how religious authority is negotiated in constitutional frameworks, the evolution of Islamic legal thought, and the role of institutions like al-Azhar and the Muslim Brotherhood in shaping political discourse. Professor Scott’s publications reveal a sustained focus on the dynamics of Islamic law in modern governance, with a particular emphasis on Egypt’s constitutional history and legal reforms. Her work bridges religious studies, political science, and legal theory, addressing themes such as secularism, religious pluralism, citizenship, and hermeneutics. The articles show a trajectory from broader studies of political Islam to more nuanced analyses of constitutionalism, gender, and religious authority. She has authored two major monographs: The Challenge of Political Islam: Non-Muslims and the Egyptian State (Stanford University Press, 2010) and Recasting Islamic Law: Religion and the Nation State in Egyptian Constitution Making (Cornell University Press, 2021), both of which are central to contemporary scholarship on Islam and governance. While no formal list of awards is provided in the text, her publications with leading academic presses indicate recognition and scholarly impact in her field. Rachel M. Scott advises graduate students and contributes to academic mentorship through her leadership roles. As department chair, she oversees curriculum development, faculty collaboration, and interdisciplinary initiatives. There is no explicit mention of external grants, but her research output suggests engagement with funded scholarly projects or institutional support. She is affiliated with research initiatives related to Islamic studies, political thought, and constitutional law, particularly through her work with ASPECT and the Department of Religion and Culture. These affiliations support collaborative scholarship on ethics, cultural thought, and the role of religion in public life.
Qudsia Mirza is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of East London (UEL), affiliated with the Department of Law & Criminology in the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. A qualified solicitor, she has extensive academic experience across the UK and US, including roles at Birkbeck, University of London, Albany Law School (New York), and the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on Islamic Law with a particular emphasis on feminist/reformist perspectives, diasporic legal cultures, and human rights intersections. Research interests include Islamic Law and Gender, Islamic Feminism, Legal Pluralism, and Human Rights. Current projects examine the impact of religious and legal frameworks in Pakistan and globally, co-directed with Southern Methodist University. She has held prestigious visiting positions at Harvard Law School, UC Berkeley, and Spain's Onati Institute. Publications span topics like intersectionality in Muslim labor markets, human rights cinema, and feminist exegesis of religious texts. She has received two British Academy Research Grants and holds editorial roles at Social and Legal Studies and Muslim World Journal of Human Rights . Active in professional governance, she serves on Liberty's Executive Committee and advises organizations like the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute.
Hakan Coruh is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University. He joined the university in 2015 as a lecturer and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in November 2021. Dr. Coruh has served as the Higher Degree Research Coordinator (HDR) for master's and PhD candidates at the center from 2020 to 2022. He is actively involved in multiple academic associations including the Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS), CRES (Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society), and PAPER (Practical and Public Ethics Research group) at Charles Sturt University. Dr. Coruh obtained his Bachelor of Divinity (Ilahiyat) degree from the Faculty of Divinity at Sakarya University. In 2007, he completed his master's degree in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) at the same university. Between 2003 and 2008, he actively participated in academic circles and centers such as İSAM (Centre for Islamic Studies) in Istanbul. In 2015, he successfully earned his PhD from Australian Catholic University, focusing his research on the early modern exegesis of the Qur'an, specifically studying the works of Said Nursi, Muhammad 'Abduh, and Sir Ahmad Khan. Dr. Coruh specializes in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) and actively teaches and writes on subjects related to Qur'anic studies, classical exegesis, and contemporary approaches to the Qur'an and Islam. His academic interests encompass various fields, including classical and modern Qur'anic exegesis, contemporary Islamic thought, Islamic Legal Theories (usul al-fiqh) and Jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic Ethics (akhlaq), Islamic theology, Medieval Classics (Islamic, Christian, and Jewish), and Comparative Theology. His teaching includes subjects such as Usul al-Tafsir, Usul al-Fiqh, Islamic Family Law and Society, and Islamic Jurisprudence of Five Pillars. Dr. Coruh's research output shows a strong focus on Qur'anic hermeneutics, particularly examining the works of key figures like Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Muhammad 'Abduh. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches, connecting Islamic studies with contemporary issues such as religious freedom, science and religion dialogue, bioethics, and interfaith relations. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between traditional Islamic scholarship and modern contexts, especially regarding topics like religious freedom (Qur'an 2:256), the methodology of Qur'anic exegesis, and Islamic responses to contemporary challenges. Dr. Coruh supervises multiple research students, including PhD candidates David Drennan, Sarkhan Gasimov, and Nadia El-Mouelhy (as co-supervisor), as well as Master's students Ikramullah Ahmad and Ensar Cutahija. His supervision topics cover diverse areas such as Islamic legal theory, interfaith relations, and contemporary Islamic thought. Dr. Coruh is actively engaged with various academic communities, serving as a member of the CISAC Research Team, CISAC School Board, Sufi Studies Network at Monash University, and the Comparative Theology Reading Group at Australian Catholic University. In 2023, he held a visiting research fellow position at the Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.
K. Mohrman is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research intersects sexuality, race, religion, gender, and U.S. imperialism across the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries. Ph.D., American Studies, University of Minnesota M.A., Humanities and Social Thought, New York University B.A., Study of Women and Gender, Smith College Her work examines the construction of heteronormativity and racial hierarchies through Mormonism, popular culture, and political discourse. She has contributed to journals like Radical History Review and Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology , and authored the book Exceptionally Queer: Mormon Peculiarity and U.S. Nationalism (2022). Her publications address topics such as queer Mormon experiences, polygamy, and the interplay between religion and U.S. national identity. The articles demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement across gender studies, religious studies, and cultural critique. 2018-2019 LGBT Religious History Award Mohrman teaches courses on race, religion, research methods, and queer histories, including cross-listed courses with Women’s and Gender Studies.
M. Steven Fish is a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in democracy and authoritarianism, religion and politics, and constitutional systems and national legislatures. He is a leading comparative political scientist with extensive research experience across Eurasia, East Europe, and Southeast Asia. His educational background includes a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University. Previously, he has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and universities in Russia, Poland, China, and Indonesia, including serving as a Senior Fulbright Fellow at Airlangga University in Indonesia and the European University at St. Petersburg, Russia. Professor Fish's research explores the relationship between democratic institutions and societal factors, with particular attention to national legislatures' role in sustaining democracy and the connection between religious cultures and political systems. His work demonstrates that strong legislatures are crucial for democratic consolidation, as evidenced by his co-authored 'The Handbook of National Legislatures: A Global Survey'. His publications span decades of scholarly work, with his most recent book 'Comeback: Routing Trumpism, Reclaiming the Nation, and Restoring Democracy's Edge' (2024) analyzing contemporary challenges to American democracy and proposing strategies for renewal. His influential 2011 book 'Are Muslims Distinctive? A Look at the Evidence' challenged prevailing assumptions about Islam's relationship with democracy. Distinguished Social Sciences Teaching Award of the College of Letters and Science at Berkeley Best Book Award of 2006 from the American Political Science Association's Comparative Democratization Section Professor Fish is an active public intellectual who frequently appears on BBC, CNN, and other major networks. His commentary has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Foreign Policy. He has served as an expert consultant to U.S. federal agencies and international organizations including the European Commission for Democracy through Law, bridging academic research with practical policy applications. His teaching includes courses on comparative politics, Russian politics, democracy's global crisis, and foundations of political thought, reflecting his broad expertise across multiple subfields of political science.
Mouez Khalfaoui is Professor of Islamic Law at the Center for Islamic Theology at the University of Tübingen, where he has served since 2014. He previously held the position of Junior Professor for Islamic Law (2012-2014) and served as Deputy Director of the Center for Islamic Theology from 2021-2023. His administrative roles include Head of the Examination Board, Member of the Study Commission, and Member of the Center Council. Dr. Khalfaoui earned his Doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Erfurt in 2008 and completed his State Examination in Islamic Studies and Arabic Studies at Manouba University of Tunis, Tunisia in 1998. Prior to his academic career, he served in the Kuwaiti Embassy in Berlin (2010-2012) and worked as an Academic lecturer for Islamic and Arabic studies at the Free University of Berlin (2009-2012). His research focuses on Islamic law, normative theory and history, Islamic theology, minority rights, Islamic education, and social ethics with particular emphasis on Islam in European contexts. Dr. Khalfaoui has led major research projects including comparative studies of work ethics across Abrahamic religions, Islamic Law and Ethics from a European perspective, Islamic family law in Europe, and the normativity of the Quran in contemporary contexts. His work addresses critical issues such as Muslim minority rights, the role of women in Islam, Islamic family law in Europe, Sharia and secular law, and Islamic work ethics in global contexts. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of Islamic legal tradition with contemporary European contexts, particularly examining how Muslim minorities navigate religious obligations within secular legal frameworks. His work demonstrates a methodological approach combining historical, sociological, philosophical, legal and theological perspectives to address current challenges facing Muslim communities in Europe. Dr. Khalfaoui has been awarded research funding for projects including the comparative study of work ethics across Abrahamic religions and research on Islamic family law in Europe. His work has been supported by institutions including the Akademie für Islam in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft (AIWG) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), with a recent May 2024 application for research on 'The primacy of what is right in a plural and multi-religious society'. He supervises the interdisciplinary post-doc research group 'Religion and Rationality − Faith and Reason in the Life and Thought of Muslims, Christians and Jews in the Context of Plural Societies' and serves as consultant and reviewer for European foundations including DAAD, Humboldt Foundation, and Porticus Foundation. Dr. Khalfaoui is actively involved in academic organizations as co-founder of the German International Society for Theological Studies (DIGITS), founding member of the Berlin Institute for Public Theology, and founding member of the Tübingen School of Education.
Dr. Imranali Panjwani is a Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, Faculty of Business and Law, specializing in Islamic law, jurisprudence, and human rights. He holds a PhD in Theology & Religious Studies from King’s College London and has extensive academic and legal experience across the UK, Middle East, and Australia. His research focuses on Islamic legal traditions, access to justice for minorities, and decolonial approaches to legal education. Panjwani is the founder of Diverse Legal Consulting, providing expert reports on MENA regions for asylum seekers. He has received awards for teaching excellence and contributions to access to justice. His work bridges scriptural exegesis, philosophy, and modern legal systems, advocating for minority rights through interdisciplinary analysis. Education: PhD in Theology & Religious Studies, King’s College London PGDip in Academic Practice, King’s College London LLB Law, University of Sheffield Seminary Training in Islamic Studies, Al-Mahdi Institute, Birmingham Research Interests: Islamic law, asylum seeker rights, legal education reform, decolonialism, and interfaith dialogue. Awards: Excellent Teaching Award, ARU 2022 Highly Commended Access to Justice Award, UK Diversity Legal Awards 2021 Teaching: European Union Law, Child and Family Law, Civil Litigation, Company Law, and Medical Law at ARU. Consultancy Work: Over 75 expert reports for MENA asylum cases, cited in UK tribunals. Advocates for culturally sensitive legal analysis to improve asylum outcomes.
Tolga U. Esmer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University (CEU), where he has been teaching since 2009. He is affiliated with the Doctoral School of History and the Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Prior to joining CEU, he taught Islamic and Ottoman history at Northwestern University and Pennsylvania State University in the United States. MA, University of Washington, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (2000) Ph.D., University of Chicago, Department of History (2009) His research and teaching focus on Ottoman, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Mediterranean history, with thematic interests in comparative empire, the history of everyday life, gender and masculinity, crime, corruption, governance, violence, state-building, social rebellion, Muslim-Christian relations, and the history of emotions. He approaches these themes through an anthropological and interdisciplinary lens, emphasizing socio-cultural dynamics in imperial contexts. The 15 most recent articles in his body of work reflect a consistent engagement with the intersections of violence, sovereignty, and social order in the late Ottoman Empire. His publications span journals such as Past & Present and Comparative Studies in Society and History , covering subfields like banditry, emotional communities, borderlands, property practices, and trans-imperial knowledge networks. A central theme across these works is the re-examination of informal power structures and their role in shaping state-society relations during periods of transformation. He is currently completing a major monograph titled Economies of Violence: Tales of Banditry, Corruption, and Sovereignty in the Late Ottoman Empire (1790s–1820s) , which re-conceptualizes banditry as a politicized phenomenon reflecting broader societal tensions and negotiations of power. Flora Ghazaryan – Confessional Relations in 19th-century Ottoman Constantinople Ahmet Bilaloglu – Trans-Imperial Knowledge Networks (co-supervised) Eda Guclu – Social Practices of Property in Istanbul Scott Michael Rank – Christian-Muslim Polemics in the Ottoman Print Sphere Dr. Esmer has participated in academic events such as 'Emotions and Religious Sentiments across Central and Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean' (2018) and 'Dangerous Gifts & Pernicious Transactions' (2017), reflecting his interdisciplinary reach. While no scientific awards are listed in the provided text, his publication record and supervisory roles indicate an active and influential scholarly profile.
Besnik Sinani is a Research Fellow at the Center for Muslim Theology at Tübingen University. He holds a PhD in History and Islamic Studies from Freie Universität Berlin (Summa Cum Laude, 2020) and has held fellowships at institutions including the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin and New York University. His research focuses on contemporary Islamic movements, Saudi religious policy, transnational Sufi networks, and Sharia implementation in Europe. Current Position: Research Fellow (since 2022) Previous Affiliations: Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin (2021) Research interests include post-Salafism evolution, religious reform in Saudi Arabia, transnational Sufi orders, and the intersection of Islamic law with modern European contexts. His work analyzes how political changes shape religious discourse in authoritarian regimes and explores the cultural dimensions of religious revival in post-communist Southeast Europe. His publications include studies on Saudi Salafism's transformation, debates over prophetic veneration, and the role of Sufi orders in shaping Islamic futures. He has received prestigious awards including the DAVO Dissertation Award (2021) and German Federal Excellence Program funding (2016–2020).
Professor Irene Schneider is a distinguished scholar of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Göttingen, currently on sabbatical as a Distinguished Fellow at the Max Weber Institute/University of Erfurt since October 2024. She leads the ERC Advanced Grant project '(De)Colonizing Sharia?' focused on tracing transformation, change and continuity in Islamic Law in the Middle East and North Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Her research spans Islamic law (particularly family, criminal, and public law), gender studies with emphasis on gender constructions in law, legal history, and contemporary Muslim societies in Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Iran, and Afghanistan. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between international law and national legislation in Palestine, as detailed in her influential book 'Debating the Law, Creating Gender: Sharia and Lawmaking in Palestine, 2012-2018.' Professor Schneider's scholarly work demonstrates a remarkable historical depth, examining issues from Islam's formative period to contemporary contexts. Her publications span multiple languages including German, English, French, and Farsi, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach that combines historical analysis with contemporary legal and social issues. Her recent research particularly focuses on conceptual history, civil society development, and the translation of global legal concepts into local Islamic contexts. Among her notable achievements is the establishment of the 'Islamic Law' specialization in the Master's program at Göttingen in 2011, which allows students to gain intensive insight into Islamic legal language while simultaneously taking modules from the Faculty of Law. She has also established the research and teaching focus 'Palestine and the Middle East Conflict' in 2014. ERC Advanced Grant recipient (2024) Deputy Chair of the German Working Group on the Middle East (DAVO) since 2022 Director of SAI II since 2021 Former Chair of Gender Studies Working Group at University of Göttingen (2010-2013) Professor Schneider has supervised numerous academic projects and collaborations, including work with Judge Somoud al-Damiri on Palestinian women's legal status, and has been instrumental in fostering academic dialogue between German and Palestinian institutions. Her research methodology uniquely combines socio-legal analysis with detailed linguistic examination of legal terminology evolution, particularly examining how terms like 'moussab' (equality) transform during legal discourse.
Samia Bano is a Reader in Law and External Engagement Lead at the School of Law, Gender and Media at SOAS University of London. She holds a PhD from the University of Warwick and has previously served as Deputy Director of Research at the University of Reading’s School of Law. Her academic focus centers on Muslim family law in the UK and Europe, multiculturalism, citizenship, Islamic jurisprudence, and gender equality. She teaches courses on family law, multiculturalism, and research methods, and has led initiatives on admissions, inclusivity, and widening participation in higher education. Her research emphasizes the intersection of Muslim legal practices and state law, advocating for policies rooted in the lived realities of marginalized communities. Dr. Bano’s work has been widely recognized, including through extensive media coverage and invitations to speak at conferences. She is an editorial board member of Feminist Legal Studies and Mediation, Theory and Practice , and is completing a monograph on cultural expertise in English family law. She actively advises on social policy projects and supervises doctoral students exploring family law, comparative law, and critical legal theories.
Dominik Krell is a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies and Junior Research Fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. His work bridges legal scholarship, anthropology, and Middle Eastern studies with a focus on contemporary Islamic law. Education: German State Examination in Law B.A. in History and Culture of the Middle East, Freie Universität Berlin M.Sc. in Social Anthropology, University of Oxford Ph.D. from Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law/University of Hamburg (2021) Krell's research centers on Islamic jurisprudence's evolution in modern nation-states, particularly Saudi Arabia's judicial reinterpretation of Sharia. His interdisciplinary approach combines legal anthropology with textual analysis of court decisions and scholarly works, examining how Islamic jurists drive legal reforms in family law, codification, and state-society relations. He investigates tensions between traditional legal theory and contemporary governance needs across Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine. His publications reveal consistent focus on Islamic family law modernization, juristic authority in legal evolution, and cross-jurisdictional comparisons of marriage/divorce systems. Key trends include documentation of Saudi Arabia's transformative judicial practices, analysis of underage marriage regulations, and exploration of non-state pathways for Islamic legal development. Scientific Awards: Max Planck Society's Otto Hahn Medal for outstanding doctoral research German Middle East Studies Association (DAVO) Dissertation Award Association for Arabic and Islamic Law (GAIR) Dissertation Award Honorable mention for BRAIS Prize in Islamic Studies Krell's Leverhulme-funded research examines Islamic law's globalization through the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies' "Globalisation of Islamic Law" project. His work involves translating Arabic legal codes (Syria, Iraq), authoring expert opinions for international bodies, and comparative analysis of family law across Muslim-majority jurisdictions. He collaborates with institutions including the Max Planck Institute, King Faisal Center, and University of Bergen. As part of Oxford's socio-legal research community, Krell contributes to interdisciplinary dialogue on law's role in Muslim societies through the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies and Wolfson College's academic networks.
Anne Katrine Bang is a Professor of History at the University of Bergen, affiliated with the Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion. She is a prominent scholar in the fields of Islamic studies, East African history, and colonialism, with a focus on the Western Indian Ocean region. Her research explores themes such as Sufi networks, Islamic modernity, and the intersections of religion, trade, and colonial administration. Her key works include the 2024 monograph Zanzibari Muslim Moderns , analyzing Muslim scholars' adaptation to modernity in interwar Zanzibar, and the 2003 study Sufis and Scholars of the Sea , examining family and religious networks in East Africa. She has also contributed to edited volumes on topics ranging from Swahili Islamic authority to global Islamic traditions. Bang is affiliated with the Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, reflecting her expertise in trans-regional Islamic intellectual history. Her research often bridges historical, anthropological, and cultural approaches, emphasizing the mobility of scholars, ideas, and networks across colonial and postcolonial contexts.
