Specialization:
Religious violence in the Global South, Spectacular Acts of Violence, Global Far Right Terrorism, Social Movements, Political Terrorism
Education:
Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan – Bachelors of Arts in International Relations minor in Western Philosophy.
Bio:
Coming from a country with a deep-rooted history in religious fanaticism and violence from far right groups intertwined with terrorism, Faryal took to studying history and global politics to put into context the global nature of rising religious violence across the globe. Her academic career focused on regional studies, defense and strategic studies, diplomacy and peace and conflict studies. She completed her thesis on the Russian Federation’s political inclination towards authoritarian statehood. Faryal has also authored two papers exploring the dynamics of authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe and Middle East. Faryal has worked as an Educational Trainer. Working in remote areas of Punjab in lower income schools and has engaged with several social welfare organizations to promote education for all. She has worked as a Content Strategist for a major publication house in Pakistan. Her engagement with policy institutions have shaped her perspective on practical life. Prior to joining UCSB’s Global Studies program, Faryal has been working as an Investigative Journalist with an independent media organization based in Lahore, Lok Sujag. Her in-depth reporting on the COVID-19 crisis in Pakistan has won her the Humanitarian Reporting Award by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Center for Excellence in Journalism, IBA, Karachi.
Research:
Faryal's research pivots around the range, and perpetuation of violence birthing from blasphemy charges in Central Punjab, Pakistan. The focus rests on violence directed towards a ‘safe’ victim, one who would not retaliate, belonging to the religious minorities of the state. In so doing, her work also explores the arrested adolescence of the people instigating vigilante violence whose lives revolve around various grievances, insecurities, heroic fantasies, and a quest for power, declaring themselves custodians of the morality of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.