Digitalizing Islamic Authority in Europe: Constructing Environmental Narratives on Social Media

Chair: Prof. dr. Thijl Sunier
Coordinator: Ömer F. Gürlesin
This session critically examines the ways in which Muslim organizations, religious leaders, and individual users utilize social media to shape environmental discourse within Islamic frameworks in European context. It emphasizes the role of Islamic values, teachings, and authority in constructing environmental narratives, and investigates how these elements are negotiated and reshaped in the context of climate change.
Topics of Interest:
We invite papers that address the following themes:
- The Role of Muslim Organizations in Environmental Advocacy: Analytical exploration of how organizations employ social media to foster ecological awareness and mobilize collective action.
- Religious Leaders as Environmental Influencers: Case studies of influential figures in europe who utilize Islamic teachings to advocate for environmental concerns on social media, focusing on the negotiation of their authority in this digital landscape.
- Individual Users and Their Engagement with Religious Messages: Analysis of how individual users interact with, respond to, and reinterpret environmental messages from Muslim organizations and religious leaders.
- Islamic Environmental Vocabularies in Online Narratives: Examination of the deployment of key Islamic concepts such as khilafah (stewardship), amanah (trust), and mizan (balance) in framing environmental issues and their effectiveness in digital advocacy.
- Community Engagement with Islamic Environmental Frames: Investigation into the dynamics of interaction between organizations, leaders, and followers on social media, including the reception and impact of their environmental messages.
Scope:
This session aims to provide an in-depth understanding of how Muslim organizations, leaders, and individuals advocate for environmental issues on social media, focusing on the interplay between religious authority and grassroots activism in European Context. It will explore how Islamic teachings and values are articulated within digital spaces and assess the extent to which these messages resonate with diverse audiences. By examining both institutional campaigns and individual advocacy, the session will illuminate the evolving role of Islam in addressing environmental challenges and fostering community engagement.
Submission Guidelines:
We invite interdisciplinary contributions from scholars in religious studies, sociology, environmental studies, and digital communication. Submissions should examine how Muslim organizations, religious leaders, or individual users utilize Islamic teachings and values to advocate for environmental issues in digital spaces. Abstracts should be 250 words and submitted by March 1.
For inquiries, please contact Ömer F Gürlesin [O.F.Gurlesin@tilburguniversity.edu].