Diliara Brileva

Dr. Diliara Brileva is a historian and Research Fellow at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) in Berlin, Germany, since April 2023. She previously held a Lecturer position at the Department of Religious Studies, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (2016–2018) and a Junior Research Fellow role at the A. Krymskyi Institute of Oriental Studies, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2019–2025). Her academic journey includes a MA in Islamic Theology (2007–2012) and a PhD in History (2005–2011) from Kazan institutions.

• Education:
  • MA in Islamic Theology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (2007–2012)
  • PhD (kandidatskaia) in History, Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan (2005–2011)
  • Specialist degree in Law and Arabic Language/Literature, Kazan institutions (2002–2008)

Research Interests: Dr. Brileva specializes in the Islamic Theology of the Russian Empire, focusing on the periodical press of Muslim Tatars as a platform for public theology, visual anthropology, and postcolonial discourse. Her work explores how historical narratives, Qur’an interpretations, and gender debates were shaped by socio-political contexts. Current projects examine the role of media in constructing Tatar identity and imperial legacies in cultural memory.

Academic Contributions: Her 15 most recent articles span 2017–2023, analyzing topics like the visual representation of historical trauma in Turkish cinema, Qur’anic tafsir debates in early 20th-century Tatar press, and gender discourses in Muslim periodicals. She has also contributed to book chapters and peer-reviewed journals on Tatar diaspora identity, Crimean annexation narratives, and religion-state dynamics.

• Scientific Awards
  • Leibniz Fellowship “Value of the Past” (2023)
  • Philipp Schwartz Initiative of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellow (2022–2023)

Advising and Grants: Dr. Brileva has advised five MA theses at Kazan Federal University, focusing on child-rearing in Tatar families, Salafi movements in Kazakhstan, and Islamic feminist discourse. Her research is supported by institutions like the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Labs and Collaborative Networks: She collaborates with the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, A. Krymskyi Institute, and Prisma Ukraïna network. Her work bridges Islamic studies, visual culture, and post-Soviet memory through transnational research partnerships like the Forum Transregionale Studien.