معرفی
Lena Larsen is a historian of religion affiliated with the University of Oslo, specializing in Islam in Europe, Islamic legal thought, and gender and religious freedom. With a PhD in religious history, she leads the Oslo Coalition for Freedom of Religion and Belief since 1999 and coordinates the New Directions in Islamic Thought project since 2003. Her work bridges academic research and advocacy, focusing on modern applications of Islamic law.
- Education:
- Cand. Mag (University of Oslo, 1987) in Spanish, Arabic, and art history
- Cand. Philol (University of Oslo, 1995) in religious history and Arabic
- PhD (University of Oslo, 2011) on Islamic legal thought and fatwas
Her research explores intersections of Islamic legal reasoning with contemporary issues like gender justice, freedom of expression, and children's rights. She has co-edited three major publications on these topics and authored articles analyzing Islamic jurisprudence in European contexts.
As part of the Faculty of Theology's advisory committee for continuing education of religious leaders and editorial board member of the Journal of Muslims in Europe, she contributes to academic-practitioner dialogues. Her work emphasizes the role of academia in promoting religious freedom through knowledge-building and capacity development.
