Currently a PhD researcher at SOAS University of London, Department of Religions and Philosophies, Sofia holds an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies (SOAS University of London) and a BA (Hons) in Ancient and Modern History (The Open University).
Sofia is particularly interested in the many aspects of digitalization of religion and the role of social media in the shaping of religious identity. Sofia speaks four languages, including the British Sign Language. She maintains a YouTube channel of humanities, with the primary purpose to teach Islam to non-Muslim audiences and breach the gap between Islam and “the West”.
Sofia lives in a village just outside London. When the weather permits it, she holds long sessions of crocheting in her garden. Otherwise, she cuddles with her two cats in front of the fireplace philosophizing about religion and life.
Publications
"Artificial Intelligence on Sunni Islam's Fatwa Issuance in Dubai and Egypt", published in 2022 in the journal Islamic Inquiries.
"Khaled Abou El Fadl and Amina Wadud's (re)politicisation of the mosque and employment of social media as a means of shaping religious identity based on values of progressive Islam", published in 2020 in the journal Contemporary Islam.
Academic Conference Presentations:
"The future of religion in the East and West", Institute of Discourse Perspectives, Lahore, Pakistan, March 2023
"Means by which lay Muslims oppose the deculturation and Arabisation of Muslim communities", 2nd Paris Conference, Association: "Islam in the 21st Century", UNESCO Palace. February 2022
"Islam's Contribution, via Social Media, in Shaping Post-Secular European Societies". Conference of International Society for Media, Religion and Culture, Sweden. August 2021
