MAP2 (2026) Call For Papers

Theme: Building Equitable Futures for Muslim Communities

📍St Margaret’s College, Dunedin, New Zealand
🗓️ TBA, 2026

Following the resounding success of the inaugural Muslims in Asia-Pacific Conference (MAP1), held in Wellington in 2025, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and the Aotearoa New Zealand Islamic Think Tank (ANZITT) in collaboration with the Division of Humanities, University of Otago invite abstract submissions for MAP2.

MAP1 brought together over 150 participants, featuring 40+ presentations across six thematic streams, with contributions from scholars, policymakers, community leaders, and postgraduate students. It marked a historic milestone in centring Muslim voices in academic and public discourse, and laid the foundations for sustainable research and advocacy networks.

MAP2 builds on this momentum with a future-focused theme: Building Equitable Futures for Muslim Communities. We seek contributions that critically examine barriers to equity and offer pathways for meaningful change across education, health, media, law, policy, and community development.

Sub-Themes

Equity and Inclusion in Public Institutions
Exploring access, participation, and representation in education, health, law, and policy.
Muslim Representation in Media and Politics
Challenging narratives, amplifying voices, and shaping public discourse.
Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement
Empowering young Muslims as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
Islamophobia and Anti-Racism Strategies
Addressing discrimination, building resilience, and fostering allyship.
Culturally Responsive Health and Wellbeing
Promoting holistic approaches to physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Gender, Faith, and Intersectionality
Navigating the intersections of gender, faith, identity, and lived experience.
Refugee and Migrant Experiences
Sharing stories of migration, adaptation, and community-building.
Indigenous-Muslim Relationships and Solidarity
Building bridges and learning from tangata whenua.
Faith-Based Community Organising and Advocacy
Mobilising for social justice, equity, and collective action.
Open Theme: New Directions in Muslim Scholarship and Community Practice
We welcome submissions on any topic relevant to Muslim communities in Asia-Pacific, including emerging issues, creative practices, and interdisciplinary research. If your work does not fit within the sub-themes above, we encourage you to share your unique perspective and contribute to our collective vision for equitable futures.
Special Session: Showcasing Muslim Scholars' Work

We welcome submissions from academics, practitioners, community leaders, and students across disciplines. Contributions may take the form of conceptual papers, empirical studies, policy analyses, practice-based projects, case studies, or creative works.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should be 200 words in English. Please submit here.
Abstracts will undergo peer review. Authors may be invited to review their submissions.

Types of Submissions

Talk
Poster

Key Dates

Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2026
First notification: 20 February 2026
Early bird registration deadline: 15 April 2026
Registration deadline for presenters: 31 May 2026
Conference dates: TBA, 2026

Registration

All presenters must register for the conference. Details regarding registration fees, programme, and venue logistics will be shared in early 2026.

We want to encourage postgraduate students to attend. For students that face economic hardship, registration fee can be negotiated. Please get in touch via [email protected].

Contact

For any enquiries, please contact the organisation committee: [email protected]

Organising Committee

Dr Usman Afzali
Dr Zahra Emamzadeh
Dr Fatima Junaid
Prof Mohan Dutta
Rito Triumbarto

Join us in Dunedin to shape the conversation on equity, inclusion, and justice for Muslim communities in the Asia-Pacific. Together, let us build networks of scholarship, solidarity, and advocacy that chart new directions for the future.

Muslims in Asia Pacific (MAP) Conference