The research team wants to deepen understanding of the creation, use and influence of so-called Online Islamic Environments (OIEs) in European contexts.
The project will investigate the characteristics of contemporary OIEs, and their effect on the social and religious practices of different Muslim populations in Europe.
Researchers will examine how Muslim populations in five countries – Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK – use digital platforms to share advice on issues related to Islam.
They will explore how OIEs shape individual behaviours and beliefs in different national settings and how they interact with Muslim networks, policy makers and third sector organisations.
Lead researcher Professor Frederic Volpi says: “While many Muslims remain marginalised from European hierarchies of knowledge, digital platforms provide novel ways to create and share information about themselves and their roles in multicultural European society.”
