Muslim professor a first for university

AN academic who is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day is set to become the first Muslim professor to teach at Edinburgh University’s school of divinity.

Professor Mona Siddiqui will take up her post as professor of Islamic and inter-religious studies at the university on 1 December.

Professor Siddiqui has taught for the past 15 years at Glasgow University, where she also served from 2002 to 2005 as head of the department of theology and religious studies.

She said: “This is a really huge opportunity for me to establish Islamic studies in a new context. I have been very happy at Glasgow, but every change is about facing new challenges.

“My double role in Edinburgh will allow me to engage with religion in the academy as well as in public life and both are incredibly important to me”.