VEREAD Webinar Series – Timbuktu
29 April 2026 | Online on Zoom
On Wednesday 29 April 2026, at 4.00 pm, the webinar Timbuktu. Reading Islamic law as a historical source via Timbuktu’s colonial-era marriage, divorce, and paternity-dispute fatwās, within the framework of the VEREAD project, will be held online via Zoom.
To participate: https://shortlink.uk/TimbuktuVereadZoom
The webinar approaches Islamic law from a human perspective, through sources that extend beyond doctrinal texts. By treating fatwās as historical documents rather than purely legal ones, it investigates how juridical opinions can reveal the lived experiences and social dynamics of Muslim communities. Colonial-era Timbuktu will serve as a central case study, offering a highly documented historical context and a rich body of fatwās through which these questions can be explored, and concrete matters such as marriage, divorce, and family disputes take center stage, will reveal the everyday realities of individuals seeking legal guidance.
The seminar will be presented by Dr Shahid Mathee, senior lecturer in the Department of Religion Studies at the University of Johannesburg.
For registration, which is free of charge, please send an e-mail to matteo.rovellini1@gmail.com
Participation is free and open via Zoom through the link provided.
