Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS

“Global Islamic finance assets grew by approximately 14.9% year-on-year in 2025, reaching nearly USD 5.2 trillion.”
“The European Commission has countered criticism from far-right political groups for allocating EU research funds over the past years on projects focused on subject matters like Islam, the Qur’an, Sharia, and Islamophobia.”
“The Sawt Al-Azhar newspaper published statements from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayebrefuting various misconceptions regarding greeting Christians in Egypt on their holidays….He stressed that the Quran and the Sunnah do not prohibit the construction of churches, and that Sharia law equates the defense of mosques with the defense of churches and synagogues.”
“Prominent Indian Islamic scholar Mufti Shamail Nadwiwho become famous after his debate with Javed Akhtar on the existence of God, has stated that Pakistan cannot be regarded as an Islamic country, arguing that Islamic laws are not effectively implemented there.”
“As K-pop and K-beauty trends attract more Muslim tourists to Koreatheir ‘culinary maps’ are changing. Muslims, who previously relied on kebabs or lamb dishes in areas like Itaewon, Seoulare now actively seeking Korean restaurants that meet Halal standards.”
In Malaysia“the MADANI government has continued its efforts this year to uphold and strengthen Islam based on the values of compassion, justice and wisdom, positioning it not merely as an identity but as a foundation for national governance and leadership, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.” For more content and context on Islamic law in Malaysia, consult our Editor-in-Chief Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Legislation and Regulation of Islamic Law in Malaysia” and its appended resource roundup.

CASES AND FATWĀS

“Bollywood actor Nushratt Bharuccha is facing severe criticism from a Uttar Pradesh-based cleric following her visit to the Mahakaal temple in On your fingers [India]. The Bareilly-based cleric Maulana Shahabuddin Razvitermed Nushratt’s worship ‘haram’ and a ‘major sin’ under Islamic law and also issued a fatwa objecting to her participation in her Hindu rituals.”
“The Kano State Hisbah Board [Nigeria] have arrested eight teenage girls and one young man over their alleged involvement in street wandering activities commonly referred to as ‘good evening.’”
The Taliban “collected and burned dozens of musical instruments in the eastern province of Nangarharsaying the move was aimed at enforcing Islamic principles.” The same week, “Taliban officials in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat have instructed local media outlets and online content creators to enforce a ban on publishing images of living beings.” For more content and context on the recent developments in Afghanistan, consult our Editor-in-Chief Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Resource Roundup: Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Islamic Law.”
In the Maldives“two individuals have been arrested in a case where an alleged thief was badly injured and then thrown into the sea….Per [the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, which condemned the violence]as long as an individual has not been convicted of a crime, they are to be regarded as innocent as Islamic law and Maldives’ constitution grants this as a basic right.”

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

PIL & Harvard Events:

Workshop: Arabic TEI (Textual Encoding Initiative), April 2–3, 2026

PIL & Harvard Opportunities:

Global Events:

Conference: Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 6–9, 2026
Conference: Faith, Values, and the Rule of Law—An Interdisciplinary Conference, Seton Hall University School of Law, February February 4–5, 2026
Conference: American Society for Premodern Asia Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, April 24–27, 2026
Conference: Middle East History and Theory Conference (MEHAT), University of Chicago, May 1–2, 2026
Workshop: The Law and Humanities Workshop for Junior Scholars, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, June 8–9, 2026
Conference: Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities Annual Conference, Chicago, June 17–18, 2026

Global Opportunities:

Call for Applications: Lilly Scholar in Residence Short-term Fellowship for Technology & African and Middle Eastern Religious Cultures, Library of Congress, January 9, 2026
Call for Applications: Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Postdoctoral Fellowship, Northwestern University, January 26, 2026
Call for Submissions: Fusayfsa’, the Smith College student-led Middle East Studies Journal, January 30, 2026
Call for Papers: Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities Annual Conference, Chicago, January 31, 2026
Call for Papers: 40th Annual Middle East History and Theory Conference (MEHAT), University of Chicago, January 31, 2026
Call for Papers: Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (MEIS) Graduate Student Virtual Symposium, University of Alberta, February 2, 2026
Position Opening: Visiting Assistant Professor of Medieval Middle East, Colby College, July 1, 2026