Rate Professor Farrah Ahmed

Professional Summary: Professor Farrah Ahmed

Professor Farrah Ahmed is a distinguished academic at the University of Melbourne, Australia, with a notable career in legal scholarship. Her expertise lies in the intersection of law, religion, and human rights, and she has made significant contributions to the understanding of religious freedom, discrimination law, and legal theory.

Academic Background and Degrees

Professor Ahmed holds advanced degrees in law from prestigious institutions:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Melbourne
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Law from the University of Cambridge
• Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law from the University of Oxford

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Professor Ahmed’s research focuses on:

• Religious freedom and the law
• Discrimination and equality law
• Legal theory and jurisprudence
• Social and political philosophy in legal contexts

Her work often explores how legal systems accommodate religious diversity while balancing individual rights and societal interests.

Career History and Appointments

Professor Ahmed has held several prominent academic positions:

• Professor of Law at the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
• Previously, Associate Professor at Melbourne Law School
• Fellow and Tutor in Law at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford
• Lecturer in Law at Brunel University, UK

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Professor Ahmed has been recognized for her contributions to legal scholarship:

• Awarded the Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship for her work on religious accommodation
• Recipient of grants and funding for projects on law and religious diversity

Key Publications

Professor Ahmed has authored numerous influential works, including:

• Religious Freedom under the Personal Law System (Oxford University Press, 2016)
• “Religious Accommodation and Disproportionate Burdens” in Modern Law Review (2017)
• “The Autonomy Rationale for Religious Freedom” in Oxford Journal of Legal Studies (2017)
• Co-authored articles on discrimination law and religious rights in various peer-reviewed journals

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Ahmed’s scholarship has significantly shaped contemporary debates on religious freedom and legal pluralism. Her work provides critical insights into how legal systems can address tensions between individual rights and collective norms, influencing both academic discourse and policy discussions in Australia and internationally. Her book, Religious Freedom under the Personal Law System, is widely cited as a seminal text in the field of law and religion.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Professor Ahmed is actively engaged in the broader academic and public sphere:

• Delivered public lectures and keynote addresses on religious freedom and human rights at international conferences
• Serves on editorial boards of legal journals focusing on law and society
• Contributes to policy discussions on discrimination and religious accommodation through advisory roles and public commentary