Comparative Family Law Summer School The Intersection of Legal Perspectives in Istanbul

The program is based on a comparative analysis of three fundamental legal systems. These systems were selected due to the fundamental philosophical differences in their approaches to the institution of family. The structure of Islamic law, based on divine revelation and jurisprudence (fiqh), positions the family as a sacred contract and the core of society. The Continental European (Civil Law/Roman-Germanic Law) tradition, as seen in the example of Turkish Civil Law, views the family as a socially regulated element and the foundation of the state. The Anglo-Saxon (Common Law) system, on the other hand, relies on jurisprudence and judicial discretion, treating the family as a private contract between individuals and emphasizing individual autonomy. These three different approaches produce different legal solutions in every area, from the establishment to the dissolution of marriage, from property regimes to children's rights.
This program offers a rich intellectual framework for analyzing the origins of these differences and similarities, their practical consequences, and their adaptation processes in the face of modern social changes. At the end of the program, participants will gain the ability to analyze local and/or global problems related to the universal institution of the family and produce original solutions using the approaches of different legal systems. They will also have the opportunity to meet lawyers working in the field of family law and produce joint publications and projects.

The table below provides a comprehensive schedule of academic and social activities for the seven-day summer school program. The program is balanced to offer participants an intensive academic experience while also providing the opportunity to discover Istanbul's historical and cultural riches and to establish social connections in an international environment.

1. Day Introduction: The Philosophical Foundations, Sources, and Methodology of Family Law

• Opening Ceremony and Introduction – Rektör / Rector.
• Session 1: Islamic Law Perspective – Prof. Dr. Bilal Aybakan (Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Islamic Studies).
• Session 2: The Continental European (Roman-Germanic Legal System) Approach – Prof. Dr. Faruk Acar (Marmara University Faculty of Law).
• Session 3: Anglo-Saxon Legal System (Common Law) Approach – Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi (DPhil University of Oxford, lecturer Royal Holloway University of London, Senior Editor ShariaSource Harvard Law School).
• Yuvarlak Masa Tartışmaları: Karşılaştırmalı Yaklaşımlar ve Örnek Ülke Mevzuatları Çerçevesinde Aile Hukukunun Felsefi Temelleri / Roundtable Discussions: Philosophical Foundations of Family Law within the Framework of Comparative Approaches and Sample Country Legislation – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.
• Hoş Geldin Yemeği / Welcome Dinner – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.

2. Day Rights and Obligations Arising from Marriage and the Marriage Contract 

• Session 1: Islamic Law Perspective – Dr. Tuba Erkoç Baydar (Associate Professor, Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Islamic Studies).
• Session 2: The Continental European (Roman-Germanic Legal System) Approach – Dr. Meryem Solmaz (Assistant Professor, Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law).
• Session 3: Anglo-Saxon Legal System (Common Law) Approach – Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi (DPhil University of Oxford, lecturer Royal Holloway University of London, Senior Editor ShariaSource Harvard Law School).
• Case Study Workshop: Disputes Arising Within Marriage in the Context of Sample Country Applications – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.

3. Day Property Regimes in Marriage, Dowry (Mahr), and Financial Consequences 

• Session 1: Financial Provisions of Marriage Under Islamic Law – Dr. Ahmed Rabie (Lecturer of Civil Law, Al-Azhar University; Chevening Fellow, Oxford University).
• Session 2: The Continental European (Roman-Germanic Legal System) Approach – Dr. Ali Demirbaş (Assistant Professor, Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law).
• Session 3: The Anglo-Saxon Legal System (Common Law) Approach – Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi (DPhil University of Oxford, lecturer Royal Holloway University of London, Senior Editor ShariaSource Harvard Law School).
• Case Study Workshop: Sample Country Applications.
• Roundtable Discussion: Distribution of Financial Obligations Arising from Marriage in the Grip of Capitalism: What is the Trend, What is the Ideal? – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.

4. Day Causes and Consequences of Divorce 

• Session 1: The Approach of Islamic Law – Dr. Samy Ayoub (Associate Professor, Texas University at Austin School of Law).
• Session 2: The Approach of Continental Europe (Roman-Germanic Legal System) – Dr. Ömer Faruk Petek (Assistant Professor, Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law).
• Session 3: The Anglo-Saxon Legal System (Common Law) Approach – Prof. Dr. Nor Asiah (Professor, International Islamic University of Malaysia Faculty of Law).
• Case Analysis Workshop: Comparative Divorce Disputes – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.
• Bosphorus Cruise and Dinner – Tüm Katılımcılar / All Participants.

5. Day Resolving Family Disputes and Family Mediation 

• Session 1: The Approach of Islamic Law – Dr. Hatice Kübra Kahya (Assistant Professor, Istanbul University Faculty of Islamic Studies).
• Session 2: The Approach of Continental Europe (Roman-Germanic Legal System) – Dr. Meryem Solmaz (Assistant Professor, Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law).
• Session 3: The Anglo-Saxon Legal System (Common Law) Approach – Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi (DPhil University of Oxford, lecturer Royal Holloway University of London, Senior Editor ShariaSource Harvard Law School).
• Roundtable Discussion: More peaceful resolution methods: obstacles and opportunities.

6. Day The Future of Family Law and Closing 

• Panel: The Future of Family Law: Searching for Solutions from Local to Global – All Academics.
• Kapanış Töreni ve Sertifika Takdimi / Closing Ceremony and Certificate Presentation – Program Director.

7. Day Cultural Event 
•    Historical Peninsula Tour (Guided) –  All Participants.

Those pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in the social sciences, particularly in law, Islamic studies, sociology, and psychology, as well as academics, experts, and practitioners interested in the field.

The training will be conducted in person at Ibn Haldun University’s Süleymaniye Campus. Participants who wish to do so may stay in Ibn Haldun University dormitories and receive meal services for a fee

An 80% attendance requirement applies to the training. Participants who fulfill this requirement will be awarded a Certificate of Participation.

Language of Instruction: English
Tuition Fee: 16,000 TL
Course Duration: 40 hours

Quota
The quota is limited to 25 participants, and the first 25 applicants who complete the payment will be admitted to the training. If the quota is filled, registrations will be transferred to the next program.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Meryem Solmaz, Assistant Professor
Instructors: Prof. Dr. Bilal Aybakan, Prof. Dr. Faruk Acar, Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abbasi, Dr. Tuba Erkoç Baydar, Dr. Meryem Solmaz, Dr. Ahmed Rabie, Dr. Ali Demirbaş, Dr. Samy Ayoub, Dr. Ömer Faruk Petek, Prof. Dr. Nor Asia, Dr. Hatice Kübra Kahya

Final registration will be completed after payment is made. Participants who do not complete the payment will not be considered officially enrolled in the training.

Return Policy
As our quota is limited, refund requests from participants who have completed their final registration by making the payment cannot be accommodated, except in emergency situations.