Masoumeh Rad Goudarzi, "Shi’a Reformist Jurists and the Challenge of Human Rights in Islam."

The inability of traditional jurisprudence to respond effectively to the challenges of modern times, particularly in the area of human rights, has led to objections from Muslim scholars, lawyers, and human rights activists in Iran. Over the past three decades, a group of jurists known as reformist jurists has gradually emerged from the Qom Seminary, seeking to reinterpret Shari’a, reevaluate jurisprudential laws, and find a path within the religion to reduce the existing conflict between Islamic laws and universal human rights standards. While maintaining a commitment to the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, they have introduced new tools for interpreting the Quran and evaluating Hadith, along with innovative methodologies for dealing with religious texts. This approach has resulted in the issuance of several new fatwas on various subjects, including family law, women's rights, the best interests of the child, the rights of religious minorities, the right to choose and change religion, and issues surrounding apostasy, blasphemy, and political freedoms.

Masoumeh Rad Goudarzi is an Assistant Professor of Islamic Political Thought at the University of Guilan, Iran and a Fellow at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies. Her research interests lie at the intersection of religion and politics, focusing on areas such as Shi'a political jurisprudence, Shi'a political theology, Islamic law and human rights, and the rights of women and religious minorities in Islam. She specializes in new methods of studying Islam within Shi’a jurisprudence, with a particular emphasis on Shi’a reformist jurists and the subject of human rights.

Minoo Mirshahvalad, "The Untold Story of Italian Shiism."

Crises and Conversions explores the phenomenon of conversion to Shi'a Islam in Italy. It thoroughly examines the motivations behind this religious transition and scrutinizes the doctrinal characteristics that Shiism incorporates thanks to the contributions of Italian converts. The text emphasizes the significance of René Guénon’s Traditionalism as a pivotal factor in driving this religious mobility. Additionally, the book delves into the writings of figures such as Julius Evola, who introduced Guénon to Italy, shedding light on Evola’s impact on the youth in the post-World War II era. Furthermore, it evaluates the influence of Henry Corbin on this spiritual journey. To realize this study, between 2018 and 2023, Minoo Mirshahvalad employed multidisciplinary methods that integrated sociology and history.  

Minoo Mirshahvalad holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Turin. Her work primarily focuses on the historical and sociological aspects of Shiism, with a particular emphasis on its evolution in Italy. She is currently a research fellow at the University of Copenhagen.