Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law

مركز القانون الإسلامي والشرق الأوسط

The Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law (CIMEL) is a research centre of the SOAS School of Law. Founded in 1990, CIMEL is dedicated to building bridges and the mutual exchange of ideas and legal approaches between western academics and practitioners and colleagues in Muslim majority countries. In this increasingly globalised world, we seek to play our part in building a spirit of mutual respect and understanding between Europe and the Muslim world. Our research takes this mission to heart.

CIMEL academics and practitioners seek to generate and disseminate rigorous, unbiased, and contextually focussed research of the highest academic and professional calibre. Our members are specialised in a diverse range of law and law-related practices, ranging from Islamic law to the legal systems of Muslim majority jurisdictions.

Our research is often interdisciplinary as we seek to observe and understand the law amidst the growing complexity of social life in Muslim majority states and minority Muslim populations across the globe. 

CIMEL encourages the study and understanding of Islamic and Middle Eastern law by means of lectures, seminars, conferences and publications. It also provides academic links and exchanges between institutions, scholars, industry practitioners, and lawyers from Middle Eastern countries, Europe and the rest of the world.