Islamic Studies: A Contested University Subject. The third in a series of lectures entitled Recognising Islam in Europe and North America.

Salema Idris Ahmed Announcement
Location
United Kingdom
Subject Fields
Islamic History / Studies, Political History / Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies and Theology, Teaching and Learning

November 6, 2019

6:00 pm-7:30 pm | London

Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisation

The German initiative a decade ago to establish five departments of Islamic theology with 15 chairs invites a closer look at how university-level Islamic studies have developed over generations. The approach to the subject has itself changed in response to changing market demands and the international and domestic environments. And what are the challenges of growing numbers of Muslims studying in this field?

This talk is the third in a series of lectures presents exciting research on Muslim contexts in Europe and North America focusing on issues relating to Muslim agency, creativity and strivings. What engages people and drives them to find new directions? Each event will challenge conventional narratives about Islam in Europe and North America by providing stimulating, new perspectives based on recent and ongoing research.

Speaker

Jorgen S. Nielsen is Professor Emeritus of Contemporary European Islam, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham. Previously, he was Danish National Research Foundation Professor of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, until June 2013 and remains attached as Affiliate Professor in the Faculties of Humanities and Theology. He has previously held academic positions in Beirut, Birmingham, Leiden, and Utrecht. From 2005 till 2007, he was Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus and Cultural Counsellor at the Danish Embassy. He has been a consultant to the Council of Europe and to the EU Presidency on religious minorities and is currently teaching courses at the EU’s External Action Service. He is founding trustee and board member of the International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations (IMIR) in Sofia, Bulgaria, corresponding member of the Arab Group on Muslim-Christian Dialogue and chairs the Advisory Board of the Erlangen Centre for Islam and Law in Europe (EZIRE).

His research has focused on the situation of Muslims in Europe and mutual perceptions between Europe and the Arab World, particularly on religion and Christian-Muslim relations. He is an editor of the Yearbook of Muslims in Europe and of the Journal of Muslims in Europe, and executive editor of Annotated Legal Documents on Islam in Europe (all Leiden: Brill). Other recent publications include Muslims in Western Europe (Edinburgh University Press, 1992, 2nd ed. 1995, 3rd ed. 2004; 4th ed. 2015 with Jonas Otterbeck); Methods and Contexts in the Study of Muslim Minorities: Visible and Invisible Muslims, ed. with Nadia Jeldtoft (London: Routledge, 2012); Muslim Political Participation in Europe, ed. (Edinburgh University Press, 2013).

This event is free but booking is essential

Organiser: Jonas Otterbeck, Professor of Islamic Studies, Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations.

Contact Information

Aga Khan Centre (ACR, 1st floor)

10 Handyside Street, London 

N1C 4DN

Contact Email
ismc.events@aku.edu