COREnet members presented their research at the MIGREL conference

The annual meeting of the COST Action COREnet Management Committee and Working Groups members took place on 14-16 June at VID University, Stavanger, Norway. More than 50 researchers and academics from 23 European countries and South Africa attended the COREnet meeting in Stavanger.

Members discussed the achievements and work carried out during the Second Grant Period and actively discussed new ideas and plans for the Third Grant Period. To sum up, researchers will work on migration and religious diversity publications. There will also be a PhD Summer School planned for 2024. Additionally, COREnet members will organise webinar series on migration, religion and gender. COREnet members are therefore looking forward to an active Third Grant Period, which will provide valuable results.

The COREnet meeting was full of discussions and up-to-date insights on European migration processes and challenges related to religious diversity. COREnet members presented their research at the international MIGREL conference.

COREnet presenters at the MIGREL conference

WG 1

• Gülay Ugur Göksel (Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey) presented her book “The other stories”.
• Egle Aleknaite (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) – “Migrants and religion: experiencing religious diversity in Lithuania and the UK”

WG2

• Michelle Pace (Roskilde University, Denmark) – “Unofficially tolerating citizenship stratification in the service of supporting migrants: The invisible sensibilities of Danish welfare professionals”
• Besim Can Zirh (Middle East Technical University, Turkey) – “Transformation of Self-Narratives on Alevism in the Context of Migration: A Retrospective Reading of An Immigrant’s Journal from 1982 to 1989”
• Vladimir Naxera (University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic) – “Not all immigrants are the same”? Pro-immigrant and anti-immigrant discourses in contemporary Czech politics”
• Aybiçe Tosun (Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey), Bayram Koca (Kilis 7 Aralık University), Dilara Özel (Middle East Technical University) – “Narrative Café: Stories of Migration from Syria to Türkiye”
• Paulina Polko (WSB University, Poland) – “Migration security nexus. Towards flexible approach”

WG3

• Aleksandar Nacev (European University, North Macedonia), Berihun Wagaw (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland) – “The Role of Religion in the Motivation of Extremism and Terrorism”
• Gülay Ugur Goksel (Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey) – “Religious but not Humanitarian Duty to Protect: The Perception towards Syrian Refugees in Turkey”
• Katarina Komenska (University of Presov, Slovakia) – “Responsibility towards communities of forced migration – Ukrainians in Moldova in 2022”
• Goda Cicenaite (University of Iceland) – “Racialisation of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lithuanians in Iceland case”
• Annette Leis-Peters (VID Specialized University, Norway) – “Capturing what Happens at the Grassroots. Knowledge Production Through Master Thesis Research about Practices Related to Migration and Religious Diversity in Norway”

WG4

• Milda Ališauskienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) – “Queer Migration in Contemporary Lithuania and Roman Catholic Church”
• Celia Jenkins (University of Westminster, Great Britain), Umit Cetin (University of Westminster, Great Britain/) – “Anti-discriminatory action research with the London Alevi Community: Identity, inclusion and education work with second generation Alevi youth”
• Ana Uka (University College Beder, Albania) – “Reintegrating mothers and children returnees from conflict zones. The role of religion and gender”
• Halina Grzymala-Moszczynska (Jesuit University Ignatianum, Poland) – “Acculturation of Polish Families in Norway”
• Deniz Cosan Eke (University of Vienna, Austria), Siniša Zrinščak (University of Zagreb, Serbia), Aleksandra Djuric (Institute for Balkan Studies SASA, Serbia) – “Comparative Perspectives on the Role of Religious Leaders in Interfaith Dialogue”.

The following COREnet members’ meeting is scheduled for April 2024. The meeting will include a conference where COREnet members present the latest research and insights on migration and religious diversity. More information will be shared in Autumn.