The text of Dr. Nielsen’s address on May 22, 2017: Luce-Hartford Nielsen Keynote 2017

Jørgen S. Nielsen is Professor 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 Adjunct Professor in the Faculties of Humanities and Theology.

He has previously held academic positions in Beirut, Birmingham, Leiden, and Utrecht. From 2005 till 2007 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 currently teaches 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).

Dr. Nielsen’s research has been focused on the situation of Muslims in Europe and mutual perceptions between Europe and the Arab world with a focus on religion, specifically Christian-Muslim relations. He was chief editor of the first six volumes of the Yearbook of Muslims in Europe (Leiden: Brill, 2009-14) and executive editor of the Journal of Muslims in Europe (2013-15), and Annotated Legal Documents on Islam in Europe (both Leiden: Brill).

Other recent publications include Muslims in Western Europe (Edinburgh University Press, 1992, 2nd ed. 1995, 3rd ed. 2004; 4th ed. 2015); 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).