Interpretations of Early Shia Islamic History in Digital Space

Dr Akif Tahiiev from the Institute for Studies in Culture and Religion of Islam (Institut für Studien der Kultur und Religion des Islam) at Goethe University Frankfurt spoke about Shia interpretations of early Islamic history. The lecture, ‘Interpretations of Early Shia Islamic History in Digital Space’, was part of the internal research colloquium and presented case studies of the dissemination of Shia historical interpretations in various media. Tahiiev paid particular attention to intra-Islamic sectarian differences, which some actors omit in form and content to favour pan-Islamic narratives, while others emphasise differences with missionary intent. Tahiiev identified the martyrdom of Muḥammad’s relatives as a recurring motif, used both as a historical confessional element and in modern political contexts. Recently, AI-generated image and video segments started appearing. They complement the already rich visual language of these Shiite online presences.