In early 2020, the rapid spread of Covid- 19-virus shook the world, posing immediate restrictions on human behavior and mobility. What was the role of religion in the responses? How did religious actors, scholars, and humanitarians, respond? Do religious actors carry special responsibilities, and what challenge did they face? How did they balance diverse interests – health related, social, and theological – and make difficult, sometimes unpopular, choices?
We will explore the role of religious authority and institutions, including as humanitarian actors, during the pandemic - in Indonesia, Pakistan, but also in Norway and elsewhere.
PRIO visiting researcher, Prof. Amelia Fauzia (UIN Jakarta/STF) and Kaja Borchgrevink (PRIO) will present insights from Indonesia and Pakistan respectively.