Dr. Asghar Seyed Gohrab

Biography

Asghar Seyed-Gohrab is a Professor of Iranian Persian Studies at Utrecht University and a fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research encompasses various fields including Persian poetry within its living tradition, Islamic mysticism (Sufism), and the history of Shiism. Central to his work is the examination of medieval Persian poetry, both secular and religious, and its reception in the modern world. Seyed-Gohrab investigates how medieval poetry and mystical ideas interlace with modern Iranian politics, culture, and aesthetics. He is the Principal Investigator of an ERC-Advanced Grant project, 'Sharia: The Role of Sufism in Shaping Islam,' which focuses on the evolution of non-conformist movements throughout Islamic intellectual history, from the tenth century to the present day. This project also studies Islamic antinomian movements and their role in promoting critical thought within Islam. His research, funded by the Dutch Research Council, explores the impact of classical Persian poetry during crucial historical events, including the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Iranian Revolution, highlighting poetry's role in disseminating political ideas and identity during periods of conflict and change.

Research Interests

Experience