2026 Finland Delegates
Professor of Sociology and Director, Program in the Study of Mysticism, Tampere University, Finland
Dr. Ali Qadir is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Program in the Study of Mysticism (PRISM) at Tampere University, Finland (www.studyingmysticism.com). His research and supervision center on sociology of religion, interfaith relations, the social scientific study of Islam, social theory, and mysticism. He has published widely on these topics as well as on heresy and ethics in Islam in South Asia and beyond. Prof. Qadir recently edited a special issue on "Mysticism Reloaded" for Religions (2025) and currently edits a Palgrave Pivot book series, The Mystic Edge, as well as convening a Substack blog, "Mystic Openings." His recent, co-authored book is Symbols and Mythmaking in Modernity: Deep Culture in Art & Action (Anthem Press, 2023).
Founding Director, South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Finland
Samuel Jayakumar has a master’s degree in social work and has worked with ecumenical movements for two decades. He was the General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India and the Executive Secretary for the Policy, Governance, and Public Witness Commission of the National Council of Churches in India. He is the founding director of the South Asian Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief (SAFFoRB), based in Geneva. He is a prominent advocate for religious freedom in South Asia, leading efforts to promote, protect, and defend the rights of religious minorities across countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
