Irene Schneider

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.