Sofia Tsourlaki

Currently a PhD researcher at SOAS University of London, in the department of religions, Sofia holds an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies and a BA (Hons) in Ancient and Modern History.

Her PhD research topic focuses on the impact Progressive Muslim Scholars’ ideas have on young Muslims and the role that social media play in this. Reaching beyond the dry observation of religion as presented in the internet in general, and the social media more specifically, she attempts to examine the impact of this in the young Muslims of the UK. Are young Muslims being affected by the presence of progressive ideas online? How do they react in unconventional hermeneutics of the Qur’an and Hadith? Is their religious identity being shaped by such ideals? If yes, do they realise the impact of the information they come across the internet has on their mentality as Muslims?

On a wider aspect, Sofia is particularly interested in the many aspects of digitalization of religion, the role of social media in the shaping of religious identity and the ways of dissemination and impact of Progressive Islam. Sofia, wrote her dissertation in 2019 on the module Modern Trends in Islam, which she then published in 2020, in the journal Contemporary Islam. Along carrying her PhD, Sofia participates in conferences related to technology and religion in Europe and the USA. Her latest article (awaiting publication) examines the causes that allowed the employment of Artificial Intelligence in the issuance of fatwa, and the impact that this will have on Islam.
 

Sofia is carrying out her PhD research at SOAS University of London, and her research topic focuses on the means to disseminate Progressive Islam and Islamic feminism to lay believers.

Sofia is also a lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Foundation of International Education (FiE) in London and a supervisor of MA Dissertations at SOAS University of London.  

Sofia is also an adjacent lecturer of Philosophy of Religion at Verto Education, from September 2023. 

Sofia has two publications: 

1. "Khaled Abou El Fadl and Amina Wadud's (re)politicisation of the mosque and employment of social media as a means of shaping religious identity based on values of progressive Islam", published in 2020 in the journal Contemporary Islam. 
2. "Artificial Intelligence on Sunni Islam's Fatwa Issuance in Dubai and Egypt", published in 2022 in the journal Islamic Inquiries.   

Sofia has a vivid presence, as a keynote speaker, in international academic conferences related to Islamic Studies since 2020: 

1. "The future of religion in the East and West", Institute of Discourse Perspectives, Lahore, Pakistan,  March 2023
2. "Means by which lay Muslims oppose the deculturation and Arabisation of Muslim communities", 2nd Paris Conference, Association: "Islam in the 21st Century", UNESCO Palace. February 2022
3. "Islam's Contribution, via Social Media, in Shaping Post-Secular European Societies.". Conference of International Society for Media, Religion and Culture, Sweden. August 2021
4. "The Role of Social Media in Challenging Authority and Shaping Religious Identity in 21st Century's Islam." International Conference in Sociology of Social Media. Department of Sociology, University of Meghalaya, India, April 2021
5. "When digital forms of information become a reliable source of academic research." 4th IDHN Online Conference, by Islamicate Digital Humanities Network, November 2020 6. "Artificial Intelligence in Fatwa Issuance, Causes and Impact." Academic Conference "Religion and the Future", University of Boston, USA, October 2020
6. “Digital Reformation of Islam” Feb. 2025  Digital British Islam, University of Coventry, UK