This interview is part of our Fellow Spotlight series. This series features interviews with current and previous PIL Fellows, highlighting their work with the Program, their path getting here, and the road going forward. For more information on our Fellows, visit our website.
Can you tell us a little bit about your personal and academic background?
I was born in Iran into a family with a deep appreciation for academia and poetry. My parents nurtured a love for literature in me from an early age by reciting poetry rather than offering direct instructions. Ironically, I initially pursued mathematics in high school but soon realized that my true passion lay in the humanities. After completing high school in the humanities, I entered law school and graduated as valedictorian from Allameh Tabatabai'i University. I was subsequently invited as a visiting fellow to the University of Münster in Germany, where I completed my doctorate with the highest distinction (summa cum laude) and received the "Harry Westermann Award" for the best doctoral dissertation. My nine years in European academia significantly broadened my perspective, allowing me to engage with both Middle Eastern and Western academic viewpoints. In 2023, I was honored to be invited by the Abdallah S. Kamel Center for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization at Yale Law School, where I greatly benefited from its excellent and rich academic environment.
What was your doctoral dissertation about? And what is your current book project?
My doctoral dissertation, soon to be published by Oxford University Press under the title of On Theocratic Criminal Law, explores the roots and structures of the criminal law system of the world's most prominent constitutional theocracy, the Islamic Republic of Iran. This work provides a critical assessment of the criminalization and sentencing theories that have stemmed from the sharīʿatization (Islamization) of all law in the wake of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. By embarking upon a typology of punishment in Shī ͑ī Islamic jurisprudence and the Iranian Islamic Penal Code the book then provides a systematic critical analysis of the three types of punishment stipulated in the Iranian Penal Code, namely taʿzīr, ḥadd, and qiṣāṣ. It also explores the jurisprudential principles and dynamic power of Shī ͑ī Islam not only as a driving force behind political and social change but as a force that has been capable of forging a whole theocratic legal system. My current book project stems from an international interdisciplinary conference I organized at the University of Münster on "Islamic Law in the Crucible of the Modern State: Problems and Perspectives." This edited volume will feature contributions from fifteen distinguished scholars who presented their research at the conference.
What are your current research interests? How did you first get interested in this research?
My research interests include religious studies, Islamic jurisprudence, criminal law, Islamic law, and history. At Harvard, my research focuses on crisis and opportunity seen through the politico-juridical dynamics of Islamic jurisprudence with a focus on Shī ͑īsm. My interest in this area developed during the revision of my doctoral dissertation, when I explored how Shī ͑ī dynamics can address socio-legal crises and act as a catalyst for innovation and reform, providing insights into the evolving role of Islamic law in society. This focus continues to guide my research and understanding of the field.
Why did you apply to become a PIL Research Fellow?
One of the main reasons why the possibility of researching at and collaborating with the Program in Islamic law appeals to me is its academically international atmosphere. The program hosts distinguished scholars from a diverse range of backgrounds, academic traditions, and scholarly interests who conduct research on a wide range of issues related to Islamic law. This diversity would be a highly valuable resource for my proposed research. As my project is supported by perspectives from legal history, cultural history, sociology of religion, political and legal philosophy, and even theology, the existing variety of approaches among the scholars will be of specific importance to my methodological questions and analytical assessments. This intellectual context would be of tremendous support in helping me to gain multidisciplinary insights into the questions I will seek to answer in my research. The fellowship will also give me the chance to participate in lectures, seminars, and workshops held by scholars of Islamic law from around the globe, which will, of course, enable me to build relationships with new colleagues whose expertise is aligned with mine. Finally, yet importantly, having access to the rich Library of Congress during my fellowship will be of great help as I develop and enrich my proposed research project.
What project(s) are you focusing on as a part of your PIL fellowship?
In addition to publishing the edited volume related to the conference, I plan to write several papers on the theoretical opportunities and challenges concerning the suspension of ḥudūd punishments, as well as maṣlaḥa and its implications for legal and political decision-making.
What PIL resources (material or people/intellectual) have you drawn on for your research?
In addition to the Law School library, Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies is a vital interdisciplinary resource for my work, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration. Consulting with esteemed Harvard scholars such as Intisar A. Rabb, Mohsen Goudarzi, and Malika Zeghal will be extremely helpful as I address various theo-juridical issues in my research. Engaging with such a diverse group of experts will be highly beneficial, and I hope my interdisciplinary perspective and collegial approach will contribute positively to their work as well.
Where do you think your research will take you after the fellowship?
During the fellowship, I aim to deepen my research and broaden my academic experience, which will enhance my resume and position me strongly for securing an academic position afterward. My goal is to continue contributing to the fields of religious studies, Middle Eastern studies, and Islamic law.
Any overall principle or saying that you draw on for inspiration or drive?
I draw inspiration from many principles, but the following poem by the Persian poet Saadi, which I learned in my childhood, has been particularly influential:
"Human beings are members of a whole
In creation of one essence and soul
If one member is afflicted with pain
Other members uneasy will remain
If you have no sympathy for human pain
The name of human you cannot retain"
What do you like to do when you aren't working?
In my leisure time, I find solace in reading philosophical books, novels, and poetry. I also cherish long night walks accompanied by classical music, which allows me to reflect and meditate. But most importantly, connecting with my family, who live far away, fills my heart with inspiration and warmth, lifting my spirits every time we speak.
What is a fun fact about you?
My first name, Bahman, sometimes gets mistaken for "Batman" or "Barman" when I say it. I'm just glad no one has confused it with "Badman".
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