OIBI press release – 18 January 2022
Steven Greer BA (Oxon), MSc, PhD FRSA FAcSS, Professor of Human Rights at the University of Bristol Law School, has been appointed the first Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for British Islam (OIBI).
Professor Greer is an internationally-renowned human rights expert who has taught, and delivered numerous papers, throughout the UK and abroad, including in China, Palestine, Malaysia, at Harvard Law School and at other major US universities. Amongst these other achievements, he has worked with a wide range of organisations around the world, including several Muslim and Arab institutions. He has also published widely, particularly in the fields of criminal justice, human rights, and law and counterterrorism.
Two of his books have been short-listed for prestigious prizes. His most recent, Tackling Terrorism in Britain: Threats, Responses, and Challenges Twenty Years After 9/11 was published by Routledge last year. In July 2021, Professor Greer was unreservedly cleared of spurious allegations of Islamophobia in his teaching and other public output by a formal University of Bristol inquiry. These unfounded charges had been brought by the University of Bristol Islamic Society.
Dr Taj Hargey, Provost of OIBI, said: “The OIBI is an independent Muslim public policy think tank and research institute promoting fresh inquiry, bold rationalism and creative solutions for contemporary British Muslims in a lively cosmopolitan and novel inter-faith environment. As an autonomous research and educational charity, it seeks to be at the forefront of pioneering study and scholastic output for the diverse British Muslim community and actively encourages the participation of those from all faiths and none. We are delighted, therefore, to host Professor Greer as OIBI’s first Visiting Research Fellow and greatly look forward to working with him in devising and facilitating an exciting research programme relating to Islam in Britain.”
Professor Greer commented: “It is an undoubted honour and huge privilege to be the first Visiting Research Fellow at the OIBI, an imaginative new academic institute which fills an undeniable gap in the existing research, scholarly and campaigning landscape within British Islam. As a non-Muslim, I look forward to the opportunity this presents to contribute to a better understanding and inter-relationship between Muslims and others in the UK and beyond.”