27.04.2026 Report on the ENIS Spring School 2026

On 14 April 2026, the ENIS Spring School took place at the Freie Universität Berlin under the theme “Islamicate Concepts: Between Particularism and Universalism.” The event brought together scholars and students from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and present their research. (see the full report on the ENIS webpage).

The participation of Philipps-Universität Marburg was particularly notable. Herr Pierre Hecker contributed as a keynote speaker with a lecture on “Is Atheism Universal? Conceptualising Non-Religion in Islamicate Societies,” in which he critically examined the universality of concepts such as atheism and emphasized the importance of context-specific (emic) terminology.

Marburg was also represented by student participants. Among them, Ragab Kamal Abouhalima presented his research on “German Perceptions of Islam Through Travel literature.” In addition, PhD student Mahmoud Ali Khan contributed to the academic discussions with his work on political theory and religion. The active engagement of students added a dynamic and interactive dimension to the conference.

Overall, the Spring School provided an important platform for academic exchange and highlighted the strong involvement of Philipps-Universität Marburg at both faculty and student levels.