School of Divinity appoints first professor of Islamic Studies

Professor Mona Siddiqui, a regular on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day, will take up her post as Professor of Islamic and Inter-religious studies at the University on 1 December.

Professor Siddiqui has taught for the past 15 years at the University of Glasgow, where she also served from 2002 to 2005 as Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

At Edinburgh, where she will be based at New College on The Mound, Professor Siddiqui will lecture and conduct research on Islamic theology, ethics and Christian-Muslim relations. She will also take up the newly created position within the University of Assistant Principal for Religion and Society.

Professor Siddiqui said: “This is a really huge opportunity for me to establish Islamic Studies in a new context. I have been very happy at Glasgow but every change is about facing new challenges. My double role in Edinburgh will allow me to engage with religion in the academy as well as in public life and both are incredibly important to me.”

Strengthening Divinity programmes and cross-disciplinary study

In May 2012 Professor Siddiqui will host an event on religious freedoms, with invited speakers from around the world coming to speak.

In recent years she has lectured widely around the world and made major contributions, in the United Kingdom and abroad, to public perceptions of Islam and inter-religious understanding.

The establishment of this new Chair and the appointment of Professor Siddiqui will strengthen our School’s excellent programme in Religious Studies and enhance our historic programme in Theology and Ethics. Her work will contribute in vital ways to cross-disciplinary teaching and research within our College of Humanities and Social Science and indeed across the whole University.

Professor Stewart J Brown

Teaching and research in Divinity has been an integral part of the work of the University of Edinburgh since the formation of the University in 1583. The School of Divinity has been located at New College, on the Mound, since 1935.