On June 8, as part of our activities, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Faika Çelik from Manisa Celal Bayar University. During our meeting, we discussed opportunities for further cooperation between the University of Gdańsk and Manisa Celal Bayar University.
Today, students from Manisa Celal Bayar University are already studying at the University of Gdańsk through the Erasmus+ programme, including within the Global Studies programme. Our goal is not only to strengthen the existing partnership but also to increase academic mobility opportunities for students and staff from the University of Gdańsk to study and conduct research in Türkiye.
The visit also resulted in today’s guest lecture at the Faculty of Social Sciences:
“Women in Islam: Moving Beyond Gendered Orientalism”
In her lecture, Dr. Çelik offered a critical perspective on the ways Muslim women are often represented in Western public discourse. She addressed common stereotypes about women in Islam, highlighted the diversity and complexity of Muslim societies, and reflected on the ways relations between the West and the Islamic world are frequently interpreted through the lens of the “clash of civilisations” narrative.
Drawing on the work of Edward Said, Dr. Çelik discussed the concept of Orientalism and demonstrated how knowledge about the ‘Orient’ has historically been constructed and used. She also referred to Michel Foucault’s reflections on the relationship between knowledge and power, reminding the audience that those who produce and control knowledge also possess power; a perspective that remains highly relevant in contemporary debates on Islam, women, and intercultural relations.
We would like to thank Dr Faika Çelik for these inspiring meetings and discussions. We hope this visit marks the beginning of many future initiatives and collaborations between the University of Gdańsk and Manisa Celal Bayar University.
Polish-Turkish Studies Centre