Yousra Ibrahim

Research/Teaching Associate, Chair of Muslim Cultural & Religious History.

Research Interests:

Political Islam

Salafism

Islamic Reform Discourses

Integration of Muslims in Europe

Egyptian Diaspora

Sociology in Islam.

Middle East Politics

International Law.

Constitutional and Legislative Affairs in Egypt.

Education and Qualifications:

2019-   PhD Candidate, Chair of Muslim Cultural & Religious History, University of Erfurt, Germany.

2018    Master of Arts, Religious Studies, University of Erfurt, Germany

2010    Master of Science, Political Science and International Relations, Cairo University, Egypt.

1999    Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Cairo University, Egypt.

Doctoral Work:

Diaspora communities represent a battlefield for examining the core ideas of integration (i.e. coexistence, acceptance and abandoning dichotomies…etc.) through confronting these ideas to the immigrants preexisting set of beliefs, in which religion is a major component that inevitably influences the perception of the ‘other’, and hence the integration process as a whole. Accordingly, the preliminary reason for this Ph.D. research is to observe the reception of the contemporary Islamic reform discourse/s amongst Egyptians living in Europe. This assessment is a key element in evaluating the effectiveness of such discourses in changing the mindset of traditional Muslims to a more receptive one. This project is associated to the researcher master thesis that explored the factors that forced the religious discourse motion to settle down at the end of the twentieth century creating not only a Salafi-inclined society in Egypt but also a subconscious mindset that confines Islam exclusively to a Salafi image. Accordingly, in this Ph.D. project the researcher is trying to expand the assessment to the diasporic space to understand the impact of the reform dynamics at homeland on the mindset of Muslim Egyptian expatriates, through the different mediums of cultural engagement, and its reflection on the integration process in the host countries.

Professional Experience:

2021- Research and Teaching Associate, Department of Religious Studies, University of Erfurt.

2021- Students Counselor for MA. Religious Studies Program.

2001- 2015   Political researcher at the Research Service and the Standing Committee for Arab Affairs, the Egyptian Parliament.

2012- 2014    Instructor for Legislative rules, The Egyptian Democratic Institute, Cairo.

Research Publications:

2014: “The Historical Acquired Rights in Fresh Water: Comparative study." Al-Multaqa 1, April 2014, Cairo.

2011: "Modifying and Terminating International Treaties: Case Study of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty." Al-Syasa al-Dawliya 186, October 2011, Cairo.

2011: (Co-author) Parliamentary Democracy in the Constitutional Monarchy of Bahrain. The Gulf Center for Strategic Studies, September 2011, Manama.

Contact Information:

Email: yousra.ibrahim@uni-erfurt.de

Dept. of Religious Studies 
University of Erfurt 
Room: LG 4 / E 05
Nordhäuser Straße 63
99089 Erfurt, Germany