Dr. Jasmin Zine Named University Research Professor at Wilfrid Laurier
Throughout her 20-year career at Laurier, Dr. Zine has established herself as a leading global authority on Islamophobia and critical Muslim studies.
Dr. Jasmin Zine, a professor of Sociology and Muslim Studies, has been named one of Wilfrid Laurier University’s University Research Professors (URP) for the 2026-27 academic year.
The annual award recognizes faculty members for excellence and leadership in research, providing recipients with a period of dedicated research time and funding to complete a major project.
A Legacy of Groundbreaking Research
Throughout her 20-year career at Laurier, Dr. Zine has established herself as a leading global authority on Islamophobia and critical Muslim studies.
Her body of work is marked by several foundational milestones in Canadian academia.
She published the first ethnographic study of Islamic schools in Canada and co-edited Islam in the Hinterlands, the first book to define the field of Canadian Muslim Studies.
More recently, Dr. Zine’s research has focused on the "Islamophobia industry," investigating how anti-Muslim sentiment is organized and monetized within Canada.
This work led to her testifying before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights.
Her 2022 book, Under Siege: Islamophobia and the 9/11 Generation, was recognized as one of the year's best books by The Hill Times, further cementing her influence on both academic and public discourse.
Impact on Public Policy and Human Rights
Dr. Zine’s expertise extends well beyond the university.
She has served as a consultant for UNESCO in Paris, an expert witness for the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and an advisor to Canada’s former special representative on combatting Islamophobia.
Her public engagement includes testifying in ten public policy consultations at provincial, federal, and international levels regarding online hate and religious discrimination.
For Dr. Zine, the University Research Professor award is a significant acknowledgment of the challenges inherent in her field.
She noted that because research on Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism is often politically fraught, this recognition serves as an important validation of academic freedom.
She also expressed hope that the award would serve as an encouragement for racialized women in academia to persist despite the barriers they encounter.
Future Research Initiatives
The support from the URP award will allow Dr. Zine to lead a new study examining the impact of heightened Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism on Canadian Muslims.
Her work will also take on a global perspective, exploring how Muslims in various nations—including Palestine, China, Myanmar, and India—are often constructed as "existential threats," leading to systemic discrimination and violence.
As the co-founder and vice president of the International Islamophobia Studies Research Association (IISRA), Dr. Zine continues to foster a transnational network of scholars.
Her upcoming research aims to deepen the understanding of these global phenomena and contribute to international efforts to combat all forms of anti-Muslim racism.
(Source: Wilfrid Laurier University)