Australian Catholic University's world-leading sociologist of religion Professor Bryan Turner has received Iran's most prestigious book award for his 2023 work, Understanding Islam.
Professor Turner's book, which examines the challenges of understanding Islam in the 21st century, won the 32nd Islamic Republic of Iran's World Book of the Year Award in the Sociology of Religion category.
A prominent expert on religion and especially Islam, this is Professor Turner's first time receiving the Iran World Book Award.
"It is with some degree of humility and trepidation that I am honoured to accept this distinguished and generous award," Professor Turner said.
"I feel privileged to continue working as a professor of the sociology of religion at ACU in Sydney, Australia, and in this way to sustain the work that has defined my academic career, from my earliest critique of Max Weber through to the publication of Understanding Islam".
Professor Turner was a young sociologist when he published his first book in 1974, a critical study of the contributions of German sociologist Max Weber on Islam.
More than fifty years later, Professor Turner has continued his fascination with understanding the sociology of Islam.
Professor Turner said understanding Islam should be one of Australia's top priorities.
"However it's very difficult to talk about Islam and understanding of Islamic culture today because it has a background of violence and international debate," Professor Turner said.
"My book Understanding Islam talks about the difficulties of having dialogue in this international environment of conflict."
Despite the challenges, Professor Turner's research into Islam and the experiences of Muslim Australians is seeing encouraging results.
In 2024 Professor Turner and ACU Honorary Fellow Dr Damien Freeman conducted a study into the experiences of devout Muslim undergraduate students at Australian Catholic University. The study found all the students felt free to practice traditional religious commitments to prayer and the Mosque and none had experienced Islamophobia.
"Our research shows that when young Muslims face problems, they find solutions and ways around it," Professor Turner said.
