Dr. Ian G. Williams

Educated at the Universities of London, King's College, Nottingham, and Derby Dr Williams has previously taught Religious and Islamic Studies at the universities of Chester, Derby, and Birmingham City University. His doctoral research focussed upon contemporary perceptions of ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib amongst Sunni and Twelver Shi'a traditions in the UK. He has published and given papers at international academic conferences on his current research into the work of a modern Turkish Religio-Social Movement with a global network of schools and universities, media, relief agency and inter-religious dialogue activities.

Currently, Dr Williams is completing a book entitled Ali ibn Abu Talib: A Study in Meanings and Semiotics in British Islam for publication in 2011.

Recent publications and papers include amongst others:

• "Relics and Reliquaries: Signs and Semiotics in contemporary UK Islam.", in Peter Collins & Elizabeth Arweck, eds Texts and Religious Contexts, London, Ashgate. 2006.
• "The Vision of Education within pluralistic societies in the thought of Fethullah Gulen: A study of contrasts between faith sector and non-denominational education in the UK, Turkey and the USA" in Yilmaz & Williams [ed's] Peace and Coexistence. Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University Press 2008
• "A Resort out of Radicalism in the World the Gülen Movement's Way of Resolution" in Sekiniz, A & Erol, M. Qasim The Gülen Movement in Contemporary Perspectives, Vilnius Pedagogical University Press. 2010.
• Alongside his research and writing, Dr Williams' enthusiasms include inter-faith dialogue, theatre, choral music, hill walking, Turkish cuisine, and hazardous travel!