Jesper Petersen

Jesper Petersen serves as Associate Professor in the Section of Biblical Exegesis at the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, where his anthropological research examines contemporary Islamic practices within Danish society through extensive fieldwork.

His research program critically investigates Islamic feminism, LGBTQ+ perspectives in Islam, and sharia implementation among Danish Muslims, with particular emphasis on gender-based violence, religious marriage coercion, and parallel legal institutions. Current work under his Sapere Aude-funded project explores the emerging phenomenon of "Non-Muslim Islam" and its implications for religious authority.

Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a cohesive trajectory examining legal and social tensions at the intersection of Islam and secular European governance, revealing patterns in honor-based violence, religious legal pluralism, and political responses to sharia practices across multiple publication formats including ethnographic monographs and policy evaluations.

Scientific Awards:

• Sapere Aude Fellowship from Danish Council for Independent Research

Petersen leads the Danish Council for Independent Research-funded Sapere Aude project on Non-Muslim Islam, generating policy-relevant insights through ethnographic analysis of Muslim communities. While no formal students are documented in available records, his research methodology involves deep community engagement and collaborative knowledge production with diverse Muslim stakeholders in Denmark.