Garden Court North Chambers
Garden Court North Chambers
T: 0161 817 6377 E: gcn@gcnchambers.co.uk

Overview

Professor Javaid Rehman has been a full time Professor of Law at universities in the United Kingdom since 2002. He is currently a Professor of Law at Brunel University of London. Javaid possesses over 30 years of experience as an academic lawyer and is one of the leading global authorities on the subject of Muslim constitutionalism and international human rights law. Javaid is currently undertaking a mini-pupillage at Garden Court North under the supervision of Mikhil Karnik.

Javaid has a distinguished academic career with considerable achievements: he has over 180 peer-reviewed publications which includes 19 authored, co-authored and edited books. His books include International Human Rights Law (Longman, 2009) pp. 1016, Islamic State Practices and the Threat from Terrorism (Hart Publishing, 2005); Rule of Law, Freedom of Expression and Islamic Law (Co-authored, Hart Publishing, 2017); Terrorism and International Law (co-edited) (Oxford University Press, 2011). His published works have been translated into various languages, including German, Japanese, French, Persian, Arabic and Urdu. He has taught and developed various programmes and modules on international and regional human rights law at undergraduate and post-graduate levels and supported the completion of over 150 doctorates. Javaid has been invited as a visiting Professor at various institutions, including: Emory University School of Law (2004), University of Tezukayama Law School, Japan (2004); Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (1997) Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Economiques, University of Maine, France (1999–2001); Dublin City University, Ireland (2005–2010); and the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (2009–2013).

Javaid has had a considerable impact in developing the law as well as the reform of law, policy and practice in a number of countries. Between July 2018 to July 2024, he served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran. During 2019–2020, Javaid served as Member of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures United Nations Human Rights Office.

Javaid acts as consultant and advisor to leading inter-governmental, governmental, international and national organisations. He has been an adviser to various United Kingdom Parliamentary Groups including as a senior legal consultant to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief and to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Pakistani minorities. He has been invited to present evidence to various United Kingdom Select Committees including the International Development Select Committee (2021) and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (2018) and has acted as an advisor or member of various Parliamentary enquiries.

In 2010, during Pope Benedict VXI’s visit to the UK, Javaid was invited to have an audience with the Pope in recognition for his services to Islamic law and was awarded a papal medal. Between 2009–2011, Javaid was member of the International Bar Association (IBA) Taskforce on International Terrorism.

In 2015, Javaid was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) as a leading authority in the UK and globally on Islamic law, international terrorism and Muslim family law.

Javaid has conducted high-level university administrative positions with great distinction. This includes a successful career as the Head of Brunel Law School (2009–2013). He was also a member of the University Senate, and the Senior Management Group (2009–2013) at Brunel University.

International human rights law

Javaid is regarded as one of the world leading authorities on the subject of international human rights law and Muslim constitutionalism.  Javaid’s magnum opus, entitled International Human Rights Law (Longman, 2009) pp. 1016 is regarded as one of the most authoritative and comprehensive analysis on the subject.

In addition to his over 180 peer-reviewed publications, Javaid is currently the series editor of Islamic Law in Context (Routledge) as well as editor for Comparative Constitutionalism in Muslim Majority States (Routledge). He was formerly an editor of Asian Yearbook of International Law (Brill-Nijhoff) 2009–2010 and the Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Brill-Nijhoff) 2017–2022.

Javaid is working on two major research and publications projects, Unravelling Religious Moralities: Muslim Constitutionalism and Legal Reform and Labour Rights are Human Rights: Analysing International Labour Standards and International Human Rights Law.

He has published in several leading law journals including The Australian Law Journal (1998), Human Rights Quarterly (2007, 2022), The German Yearbook of International Law (2012), Irish Studies in International Affairs (2011), Nordic Journal of International Law (2008), Journal of Conflict and Security Law (2005), Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights (2001), International Journal of Law, Family and Policy (2007), Fordham International Law Journal (Featured Article 2013).

In his capacity as the Rapporteur and Co-Rapporteur of the International Law Association (ILA) Committee on International Law and Islamic law Javaid authored and co-authored several reports including The Rule of Law and the Islamic Legal System (2012) and Islamic law and Freedom of Expression: Challenges and Prospects (2016).

Javaid is a member of Alliance for Lawyers at Risk Alliance for Lawyers at Risk CIO – Supporting lawyers and human rights defenders around the world and is an invited member of Academic Committee of the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty (Paris, 2026).

Family law

Javaid is a recognised expert in Islamic family laws in particular issues relating to the rights of women (including marriage, divorces and inheritance laws) and rights of children (including guardianship, custody and Kafala).  In 2015, Javaid was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) as “leading high profile UK and global authority on Islamic law and international terrorism [and] Muslim Family law”.  He is also currently a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a Senior Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, United Kingdom.

Javaid’s many relevant publications include “The Sharia, Islamic Family Laws and International Human Rights Law” 21 International Journal of Law, Family and Policy (2007) 108–127; “Religion and Human Rights Law: Complexities in Applying the Sharia in Modern State Practices” 62 Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly (2011) 153–166; “Women’s Rights” in Rubya Mehdi and Farida Shahid (eds.) Women’s Law in Legal Education and Practice in Pakistan: North South Cooperation (New Social Sciences Monographs) 1997, 106–128.

His recent presentation at a webinar Ending child marriage: legal obligations and global responses can be found here:

Notable cases

Professor Rehman has given legal opinions in high profile cases including:

AB v HT & Ors [2018] EWCOP 2 (capacity to marriage; sexual relations and Islamic law)

XCC v. AA, and Others [2012] EWHC 2183 (COP) (Islamic law of marriage; cross jurisdiction marriage; Bangladeshi Laws)

Ahmed & Anor v. The Queen [2011] EWCA Crim 184 (international terrorism, nationality, Pakistan law)

SH v. NB [2009] EWHC 3274 (Fam) (marriage, consent in Islamic family laws)

R v Khyam & Others [2008] EWCA Crim 1612 (international terrorism; Pakistani laws; torture)

Publications

Published books and studies:

Peer-reviewed journal articles

  • ‘Combating International Terrorism without Undermining Human Rights–Is there a way forward?’ 8(2) Human Rights Review (2014) 1–30. (REF, 2021)
  • ‘Is Green a part of the Rainbow? Sharia and homosexuality in the Muslim World’, 37 (1) Fordham International Law Journal (2013), pp. 1–52. Featured Article: (Co-authored)
  • ‘Justice after Democracy in the Arab World: Islamic Law Perspectives on Accountability’ 54 German Yearbook of International Law (2012) 53–86. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Is “Defamation of Religions” Passé?’ 44 George Washington International Law Review (2012) pp. 431–472. (Co-authored)
  • ‘The Sharia, Freedom of Religion and European Human Rights Law’ 22 Irish Studies in International Affairs (2011) pp. 37–51
  • ‘Religion and Human Rights Law: Complexities in Applying the Sharia in modern State Practices’ 62 Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly (2011), pp. 153–166
  • ‘Freedom of Expression, Apostasy and Blasphemy within Islam’ 79 Criminal Justice Matters (2010) 4
  • ‘Indigenous Peoples: An Introduction to the Socio-Legal Framework’ 8 European Yearbook of Minority Issues (2009) pp. 211–245. (Co-authored)
  • ‘International Law, US Foreign Policy and Post-9/11 Islamic Fundamentalism’ 77(2) Nordic Journal of International Law (2008) pp. 87–103. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Islam, “War on Terror” and the Future of Muslim Minorities in the United Kingdom’ 29(4) Human Rights Quarterly (2007), pp.831–878
  • ‘The Sharia, Islamic Family Laws and International Human Rights Law’ 21 International Journal of Law, Family and Policy (2007), pp. 108–127
  • ‘South-Asia’ 11 Asian Year Book of International Law (2002–2003) (2006)
  • ‘Islamic Criminal Justice and International Terrorism’ Journal of Islamic State Practices in International Law 2(3) (2006), pp. 12–39
  • ‘Developing an Islamic Perspective in International Law’ 1(2) Journal of Islamic State Practices in International Law (2005) pp. 1– 4
  • ‘The Concept of Jihad in Islamic International Law’ 10(4) Journal of Conflict and Security Law (2005) pp. 321–343. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Institutions of International Law and the Development of the Multilateral forum for Peaceful Dialogue in South Asia’ 1 Asian Journal of Comparative Law (2006) 24–43
  • ‘Islamophobia after 9/11: International Terrorism, Sharia and Muslim Minorities in Europe’ 3 (2003/2004) European Yearbook of Minority Issues (2005), pp. 217–235
  • ‘Islamic Practices and Developments in International Law’ 1(1) Journal of Islamic State Practices in International Law (2005) pp.1–3
  • ‘South-Asia’ 10 Asian Year Book of International Law (2001–2002) (2005) at pp. 208–213
  • ‘Freedom of Religion versus Equality in International Human Rights Law’ 4(3) Nordic Journal of Human Rights (2003) pp. 404– 428. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Assessing the legality of the Attacks by I.C.A.T’ 67(5) Journal of Criminal Law (2003) pp. 415–430. (Co-authored)
  • ‘The Influence of International Human Rights Law Upon Criminal Justice Systems’ 66(6) Journal of Criminal Law (2002), pp. 505–523
  • ‘Access to ICJ in Resolving Environmental Disputes’ 7 Tezukayama Law Review (2002) pp. 91–108. (Translated in Japanese)
  • ‘Europe Union and human rights law’ Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 24(1) 2002, pp. 1–16. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Minority Rights and the Constitutional Dilemmas of Pakistan’ Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights 19(4) 2001, pp. 417–443
  • ‘The Role and Contribution of the World Court in the Progressive Development of International Environmental Law’ Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law, 5(4), 2000, pp. 3–15
  • ‘Accommodating Religious Identities in an Islamic State’ International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 7(2) 2000, pp. 139–165
  • ‘Re-Assessing the Right to Self-Determination’ Anglo-American Law Review, 29(4) 2000, pp. 454–475
  • ‘Accommodating National Identity’ International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 6 (1/2), 1999, pp. 267–272
  • ‘Substantiating Minority Rights’ Journal of Law and Society, XXI (No. 3) July 1999, pp. 1–13
  • ‘Raising the Conceptual Issues: Minority Rights in International Law’ The Australian Law Journal, 72(8) August 1998, pp. 615–634
  • ‘International Law and Indigenous Peoples’ Journal of Civil Liberties 3(3) 1998, pp. 224–239
  • ‘The Right to Physical Existence in International Law’30 Liverpool Law Review, 1998, pp. 201–227
  • ‘The Role of the International Community in Dealing with Individual Petitions under the Optional Protocol’ Journal of Law and Society, XI (No. 1) July 1992, pp. 13–23
  • ‘Minorities and International Law’ Journal of Law and Society, XIX (No.1) January 1997, pp. 23–35
  • ‘Self-Determination, State Building and the Mohajirs’ Contemporary South Asia 3(2) (1994) pp. 111–129

Contributions to edited works

  • ‘Faith in the Flesh’ in Lalor (ed.) Sexuality and Social Justice (International Development Studies) 2016, pp. 43–50
  • ‘Islam and Human Rights’ in Akyesilmen & Tumay (eds.) Religion and Human Rights (Selckuk University Press) 2014, pp.114–121 (translated in Turkish)
  • ‘Pakistan’ in Robbers et al, (eds.) Encyclopaedia of Law and Religion (Brill-Nijhoff) 2016
  • ‘Adjudication on the Rights of Sexual Minorities in the Muslim World’ in Green & Waters (eds.) Adjudicating International Human Rights: Essays in Honour of Sandy Ghandhi (Brill-Nijhoff) 2014, pp. 119–147. (REF, 2021)
  • ‘“Prevent” Policies and Law’ in Lennon & Walker (eds.) in Routledge Handbook of Law and Terrorism (Routledge) 2015, pp. 380–397. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Historiography of Islamic International Law’ in Emon et al (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Islamic Law (Oxford University Press) 2016
  • ‘Islam, Terrorism and International Law’ in Saul (ed.) Research Handbook on Terrorism (Edward Elgar) 2014, pp. 177–191
  • ‘The Sharī‘ah, International Human Rights Law and the Right to hold Opinions and Expression’ Frick and Th. Müller (eds.) Islam and International Law (Brill-Nijhoff) 2013, 244–268
  • ‘Islam vs. the Sharia’ in Ellis, Emon, Glahn (eds.) Islamic Law and International Human Rights Law (Oxford University Press) 2012, pp. 371–378
  • ‘Religion, Peace and Human Rights’ in Czada, et al (eds.), Religion and World Peace: Religious Capacities for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (Nomos) 2012, pp. 196–204 (also translated in German)
  • ‘“Prevent” Responses to Jihadi Extremism’ in Ramraj (ed.) Global Anti-Terrorism Law and Policy (Cambridge University Press) 2011, pp. 242–267. (Co-authored)
  • ‘The Influence of Religion on Law and Society’ in Smits (ed.) Islamic Finance and the Influence of Religion on the Law (Eleven International Publishing) 2012, pp. 13–32
  • ‘Regional/International Frameworks of Minority Protection in Europe and South Asia’ in Das (ed.) Minorities in South Asia and in Europe (SAMYA) 2010, pp. 278–308. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Muslims and the Aftermath of 7 July 2005’ Nathan (ed.) Current Issues in Human Rights and International Relations (Brill-Nijhoff) 2010 pp. 350–371
  • ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ in Xanthaki and Allen (eds.) Indigenous Peoples in International Law (Hart Publishing) 2011, pp. 561–584
  • ‘Sharia and Application of Human Rights Norms of Equality and Non Discrimination in the Family’ (Peter Lang) 2008/2009, pp. 361–386. (Co-authored)
  • ‘International law, the Sharia and International Terrorism’ Constantinides and Zaikos (eds.) Essays in Honour of Professor Kalliopi K. Koufa (Brill-Nijhoff, 2009) pp. 239–257
  • ‘Sources of Islamic Law’ (Centre for Legal Education) 2008, pp. 42
  • ‘An Introduction to Islamic International Law’ (Centre for Legal Education) 2008 pp. 46
  • ‘Islamic Law of Obligatory Alms’ (Centre for Legal Education) 2008, pp. 54. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Rights of Religious Minorities’ Baderin (ed.), International Law and Islamic Law (Ashgate) 2008 (Re-published)
  • ‘Minorities and Self-Determination’ in Cane & Conaghan (eds.), The New Oxford Companion to Law (Oxford University Press) 2008
  • ‘Minority Rights: South-Asia’ in R.Green et al, (eds.) World Directory of Minorities (Minority Rights Group) 2008, (+60,000 words.)
  • ‘“A Clash of Civilizations” and “A Conflict of Cities”’ in Loenen and Goldschmidt, (eds.) Religious Pluralism and Human Rights in Europe (Intersentia) 2007, pp. 185–196
  • ‘Minority Rights and Muslims since 7 July’ in Walden (ed.) Terrorism and Human Rights (Charles Nathan Research Centre) 2007, pp. 111–149
  • ‘Terrorism’ in Robertson and Scholte (eds.), Encyclopaedia of Globalization (Routledge) 2006, Vol. 3. pp. 1136–1141
  • ‘Introductory Reflections’ in Rehman and Breau (eds.) Religion, Human Rights and International Law (Brill-Nijhoff) 2007, pp. 3–22. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Nation-Building in an Islamic State’ in Rehman and Breau (eds.) Religion, Human Rights and International Law (Brill-Nijhoff) 2007, pp. 409–439
  • ‘Religion, Minority Rights and the Muslims of the United Kingdom’ in Rehman and Breau (eds.) Religion, Human Rights and International Law (Brill-Nijhoff 2007) pp. 521–550
  • ‘9/11 and the War on Terrorism’ in NicCraith (ed.), Language, Power and Identity Politics (Palgrave) pp. 198–215
  • ‘South-Asia’ in Green (ed.), State of World Minorities (MRG) 2006, pp. 114–124
  • ‘Conflicting Values or Misplaced Interpretations?’ in Ghanea (ed.), Does God Believe in Human Rights? (Brill-Nijhoff) 2006, pp. 65–88
  • ‘Minorities in Asia’ in Skutsch, (ed.) Encyclopaedia of the World’s Minorities (Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers) 2004, Vol. 1–3 (pp 60+)
  • ‘Islamic Perspectives of International Economic Law’ in Qureshi (ed.). Perspectives in International Economic Law (Kluwer) 2002, pp. 235–258
  • ‘The Future of Minority Rights’ in Kabogulu (ed.). Minority Rights (Istanbul Bar Association) 2002, pp. 408–415 (Translated in Turkish)
  • ‘Minority Rights in International Law’ in Kabogulu (ed.). Minority Rights (Istanbul Bar Association) 2002, pp. 95–123. (Translated in Turkish)
  • ‘Concluding Remarks’ in Tierney (ed.), Accommodating National Identity (Kluwer) 2000, pp. 285–293
  • ‘International Law and Minorities’ in Constantopoulos et al (eds.), Peace and Human Rights–Thesaurus Acroasium (Thessalonki University) Vol.44 (2000) pp. 705–716
  • ‘The Conception of `Peoples’ in International Law’ in Bakut et al, (eds.), Development in Africa for the 21st Century (Macmillan) 2000, pp. 270–284
  • ‘Autonomy and the Rights of Minorities in Europe’ in Wheatley & Cumper, (eds.) Minority Rights in the ‘New’ Europe (Kluwer) 1999, pp. 217–231
  • ‘Indigenous Peoples at Risk’ in Burman and Verghese (eds.) Aspiring to be: The Tribal, indigenous Condition (Konark Publishers) 1998, pp. 72–121
  • Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minorities of Pakistan (World Bank) 1997, pp. 235. (Co-authored)
  • ‘South-Asia’ in Thornberry et al (eds.), World Directory of Minorities (MRG) 1997, pp. 535–587. (Co-authored)
  • ‘Women’s Rights’ in Mehdi and Shahid (eds.) Women’s Law in Legal Education and Practice (NSS Monographs) 1997, pp. 106–128
  • ‘International Community: Accomplice to Genocide or Globo-Cop of Human Rights’ in Cullen et al (eds.), Politics and the Law of the Former Yugoslavia (EC Research Institute) 1993, pp. 36–47

Editorships and memberships of editorial and advisory boards

Editor-in-Chief:

(2015–): Asian Yearbook of Human Rights & Humanitarian Law (Nijhoff-Brill)

(2004– 2016): Journal of Islamic State Practices in International Law

(2010–2013): Asian Yearbook of International Law (Nijhoff-Brill)

(2014–): Islamic Law Series (Routledge)

(2016 –): Muslim Constitutionalism Series (Routledge)

Member Editorial/Advisory Boards:

Religion and Human Rights (Netherlands)

International Review of Law (Qatar University, Sultanate of Qatar)

International Human Rights Law (Netherlands)

Asian Journal of International Law (India)

IIUM Law Journal (Malaysia)

Damghan Journal of International Law (Iran)

Journal of Law and Social Research (Pakistan)

Journal of Law and Social Policy (Pakistan)

Central European Journal of International & Security Studies (Chez Republic)

Law & Justice Review & Human Rights Review (Turkey)

 

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