Heiko Henkel

Heiko Henkel is an Associate Professor and Head of Studies in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Social Sciences. His research focuses on religious citizenship, secularism, and Islamic traditions across Europe, with current leadership of the Danish Research Council-funded 'Religious Citizens' project comparing Protestant, Catholic, and Sunni Muslim experiences in Denmark, Spain, and Turkey. He is also a member of the 'Conflict, Power and Politics' and 'Religion and Subjectivity' research groups.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology from Princeton University (2004), dissertation: 'Pious Disciplines and Modern Lives: The Culture of Fiqh in The Turkish Islamic Tradition'.
• MA in Advanced Social Anthropology from University of Sussex (1996).
• Erstes Staatsexamen in History, Biology and Pedagogy from Universität Hamburg (1995).

Henkel's research examines how religious traditions interact with nation-states and civil society, specializing in ritual studies, moral traditions, and struggles for recognition in contemporary Europe. His work analyzes the political dimensions of religious practice, particularly how Muslim communities navigate secular frameworks while maintaining pious identities, and investigates historical constructions of European social identity.

His publication record (2005-2013) reveals consistent focus on Islamic traditions in European contexts, evolving toward comparative analysis of religious citizenship across national boundaries. Key trends include ritual efficacy in Muslim practice, spatial dimensions of religious identity, and the intersection of secular governance with religious freedom claims, particularly regarding halal food and prayer practices.

Scientific Awards: No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

Henkel secured major funding from the Danish Research Council for the 'Religious Citizens' project and collaborates with PhD fellows Astrid Grue and Ida Hartmann. His academic service includes organizing workshops on religious freedom and European integration, with recent activities addressing 'At the edges of civility: Halal as a double wedge issue' and 'Protestant secularism and the limits of Danish civility'.

He actively participates in the 'Conflict, Power and Politics' research group, examining contemporary European political dynamics through anthropological lenses, with particular attention to post-2011 Scandinavian societal transformations and religious freedom debates.