Siraj Khan, LLM

Head of Projects

Project Activities

Jordan, Libya and Tunisia

Other Activities and Research Interests

Comparative Constitutional Law, Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, Judicial Reform, Judicial Development and Training, Constitutional Processes (National Dialogue, Constitution Drafting), Legislative Drafting, Modern Legal Systems in Muslim-Majority Countries, Islamic Law and Jurisprudence (Shari’a, Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Maqasid al-Shari’a), Islamic Legal Theory, Law and Religion

Since 1/2021 Head of Projects, Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law

2015–12/2020 Country Manager, Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law

Since 1/2013 Research Fellow, Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law

9/2012–12/2012 Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public and International Law, Heidelberg (Germany)

4/2011–3/2013 Board Member – Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, SLCC, Scotland (United Kingdom)

2007–2010 Lawyer, Corporate Immigration, Mulberry Finch LL.P., London (United Kingdom)

Since 2020 PhD in Law and Religion: The Codification of Islamic Law in Muslim-Majority Countries – University of Tübingen, Germany

2011 MScR in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies – Dept. of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)

2010 Called to the ‘Bar’ of England & Wales – Inns of Court School of Law, City Law School, City University, London (United Kingdom)

2010 Called as a ‘Barrister’ – The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London (United Kingdom)

Since 2008 Studies in Arabic, Islamic Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh al-Hanafi) and Scriptural Exegesis (Cairo, Egypt)

2007 Master of Laws (LLM) (Hons), International Law (with Islamic Law), University of the West of England, Bristol (United Kingdom)

2006 Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons) Law, London (United Kingdom)

  • A Comparative Analysis of the Draft Constitutions of Tunisia 2022: Zero-Sum Games, published by the Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (25 July 2022).
  • Review: Review of Aria Nakissa, The Anthropology of Islamic Law: Education, Ethics and Legal Interpretation at Egypt’s al-Azhar’, Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, 23(1), (Oxford University Press, 2020), 419-441; https://brill.com/view/journals/mpyo/23/1/article-p419_16.xml 
  • ‘Arab and Islamic States’ Practice: The Sharíʿah Clause and its Effects on the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court’, in ‘Islam and International Criminal Law and Justice’ (Nuremberg Academy Series No.2, Torkel Opsahl Academic Epublisher, 2018, Brussels), Ed. Gray, T., (http://www.toaep.org/nas-pdf/2-gray).
  • ‘The Islamic Caliphate: A Basis for Modern Statehood?’, in ‘Constitutionalism, Human Rights and Islam after the Arab Spring’ (Oxford University Press, 2016), Grote, R., Röder, T.J. and El-Haj, A. (Eds.).
  • ‘Blasphemy in Islamic Law’, in Mohammed in History, Thought and Culture. An Encyclopaedia of the Prophet of God in: Fitzpatrick, Coeli and Walker, Adam Hani (eds.), ABC-Clio Inc., 2014.
  • Invited as an Expert at the GiZ Conference on the ‘Rule of Law, Justice and Development’ Judicial Integrity in the 21st Century: Supporting Strong, Independent African Judiciaries, 26-28 January 2020, Berlin, to speak on ‘Strengthening institutional structures for an independent judiciary: implementing codes of conduct and anti-corruption in the judiciary’
  • Invited as an Expert to the ‘Third High Level Meeting for the Chief Justices and Presidents of African Constitutional and Supreme Courts and Constitutional Councils’, to speak on: ‘The Application of International Law by Constitutional Courts in the Middle East and North Africa’, 15-22 February 2019, Cairo, Egypt
  • Invited to Facilitate an Expert Workshop on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law in the Middle East and North Africa, Cyprus (2019)
  • Invited as an Expert to the ‘Third High Level Meeting for the Chief Justices and Presidents of African Constitutional and Supreme Courts and Constitutional Councils’, to speak on: ‘Cohabitation between Supreme Courts and Constitutional Courts’ 19-21 February 2018, Cairo, Egypt
  • Invited as a specialist on Constitutionalism in Arab and Islamic countries to present on “Constitutionalism in the Sharī’a & the Sharī’a in Constitutions” – Workshop on Law, Religion and Social Order: Unpacking the Promise of Shari’a’, 17th May 2013, Law, Justice and Society, Wolfson College, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
  • Invited as a specialist on Islamic Law to present on “International Human Rights Law and Invocation of the Sharī’a Clause by Islamic States: A Convenient Stalemate or a Viable Opportunity?” – International Conference: Islam & International Law, 14/15 June 2012, University of Innsbruck (Austria)
  • Invited to present on ‘Judicial Review of Administrative Action: The Common-Law Model’, at “Innovating Afghan Administrative Law: The Draft Administrative Procedure Code and its Consequences for the Judicial System” (22-24 April, 2013), Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg, Germany
  • Invited as an expert on Islamic Law to present paper on ‘Retaliation, Mediation & Punishment in Islamic Law’ – International Max Planck Research School on ‘Retaliation, Mediation and Punishment (Dec 2012)’, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law & International Law, Heidelberg
  • Invited as a specialist on Islamic Law to present on ‘International Human Rights Law and Invocation of the Sharī’a Clause by Islamic States: A Convenient Stalemate or a Viable Opportunity?’International Conference: Islam & International Law (14-15 June 2012), U. of Innsbruck, Austria.
  • “Liberation and Takfīr through Fatāwa on TV: Remapping a traditional discipline” – “Iftā on Screens”, 27/28 June 2011, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Society, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, May 2013, Qatar Foundation, Doha (Qatar)
  • “The Importance of a multidisciplinary approach in Islamic & International Law”, 1 June 2011, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, Doha (Qatar)
  • “De-spiritualising the Prophet: 18h C. Orientalists’ analyses on the Sīrah of Muḥammad”, ‘Modern Trends in Sīrah Writing’, 21–24 Mar. 2011, Int’l Islamic University, Islamabad (Pakistan) (Chaired final session and keynote speech)
  • “Islam at the legal crossroads: postcolonial translations of Islamic legal texts in 19th University of Sunderland”, 16–17 Apr. 2010
  • “The Fiqh of Jihād and the International Law of War: Collective Security within the Framework of the Laws of War, and the concept of ‘Ahd’ (compact) and ‘Ṣulḥ’ (treaty) in International Islamic Law”, BRISMES Annual Conference 4–6 July 2009, University of Manchester (United Kingdom)
  • “Al-Maqāṣid al-Sharī’a: Application of classical Islamic Law through an objective-driven methodology”,  Salzburg Global Seminar 2008 on Islamic and International Law, Session: 457, Salzburg (Austria) – see also: Salzburg Journal (Fall 2008): Islamic and International Law: Searching for common ground – Journal of the Salzburg Global Seminar (Session 457)
  • Invited to Chair panel on Islamic Law & International Law at the International Conference on ‘Islam, Multiculturalism, Pluralism & Peace’ 16–17 June 2008, Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic & Islamic Studies, UK
  • Appointed youngest-ever Board Member of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (April 2011)
  • Awarded full scholarship for The Islamic Manuscript Association for the ‘Intensive Introduction to Islamic Codicology’, 6–13 Feb. 2012, Cairo, Egypt, by The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA islamicmanuscript.org)
  • Awarded ‘Best Graduate Paper’, 1sta Better Future: Islamic Law & Governance, (13–14 June 2011) Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, Doha
  • Awarded ‘Nippon Foundation’ Scholarship for the Salzburg Global Seminar 2008, ‘Session: 457 International Law & Islamic Law’; presented a paper at the Seminar
  • Editorial Reviewer, ‘Law and Religion’, BRISMES New Middle Eastern Studies e-Journal (Aug 2010)
  • Called to the Bar of England & Wales; published as a ‘Barrister’ (Lincoln’s Inn) London (March 2010)
  • Runner-up (2nd Mooting Competition 2003 & 2004) in London Metropolitan University’s Lady Oliver Cup
  • Barrister – The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, UK
  • Member of BRISMES – British Society for Middle Eastern Studies
  • Member of BIICL – British Institute for International and Comparative Law
  • Specialist Instructor and Advisor for the Judicial Studies (Training) Commission in Scotland on ‘Islamic Law and Muslims in Courts’, 2012
  • Training 60 Judges and Sheriffs on understanding the use, application and invocation of Islamic legal principles and Islamic customary norms in the Courts of Scotland
  • Engaged as an expert consultant for the JSTC to draft the relevant sections of the Judicial Studies Benchbook, detailing the principles and rules regarding administering the Oath for Muslims and the handling of the Qur’an in the Courts of Scotland