BB: The Transnational Use of Diyanet’s Online Religious Services in Southeast Europe

How do digital religious platforms shape faith, authority, and belonging across national borders?

This research project by Stavroula Koskina, PhD Candidate and Researcher at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, explores the transnational reach of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) through its online religious services among Muslim communities in Southeast Europe.

Focusing on Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Romania, the study examines how digital platforms influence religious practices, perceptions of authority, and transnational connections.

Through an exploratory online survey, the project aims to contribute to broader discussions on digital religion, transnational governance, and religious authority in contemporary Southeast Europe.

Stavroula Koskina (she/her) is a researcher, currently employed by the World Council of Churches (WCC), as well as serving as an external research fellow at the HEPP Hub, University of Helsinki. She is pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), where she also earned an MA in Political Theory and a BA in Psychology and Islamic Studies. She has held research positions at Kadir Has University, Istanbul, and the CEU Democracy Institute, Budapest. Her work has been published in journals like South European Society and Politics.