nhorizons.org

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#BritishIslam2020

New Horizons in British IslamSalah al-Ansari

Soraya Farrag

Rabiha Hannan

Dilwar Hussain

Naved Siddiqi

Manish Verma

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Welcome!Welcome to the 5th British Islam Conference! Once again, we have worked really hard to create a wonderful Marketplace of Ideas for you to sample interesting thoughts, gems of wisdom, nuggets of information and plenty of inspiration. We do hope you enjoy it.

The British Islam Conference is designed to promote collaboration and thinking around the idea of a ‘British Islam’ - a practice of Islam that is rooted in Britain. We seek to encourage the development of British Muslim thought, identities and cultures as well as create a space for networks and partnerships.

We do this by creating an open, inclusive and forward-looking arena for debate, discus-sion and sharing of ideas that are relevant to British Muslim life. This is not an academic event; it is about using all avenues possible, including art and culture, to enhance Muslim voices and to build partnerships with people around us.

The conference allows for a number of parallel sessions where people (of any faith or no faith) can showcase their ideas and thoughts relevant to the theme – however con-troversial or safe. The sessions are designed to stimulate ideas and discussion. They are not lectures, so feel free to dip in and out, move around, listen to part of one and then join another session. Or just relax and catch up with people. Make it your own event!

About New HorizonsNew Horizons is a forward looking organisation that engages in critical discussions around Muslim identity, tradition and reform to provide a positive vision of what it means to be Muslim today.

We want to challenge narrow and closed attitudes and counter prejudice wherever it is found. Our vision is of a society where relations between Muslims and their fellow citi-zens are strong and healthy and where Islam feels at home, rooted in its British context.

We want people to understand and appreciate better the value of open, democratic and diverse societies; the value of free speech, individual liberty and human rights; the importance of our common humanity. And we want to argue that from within the Islamic tradition in a way that resonates with religiously conscious Muslims.

New Horizons is about living our faith in a British way, an inclusive way. We know what Islam looks like in India, China, Iran...what should it look like in Britain, Europe and the West?

Save the date for British Islam Conference 2021:

27-28 February 2021

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SessionsSATURDAY

Keynote: Challenges to contemporary Muslim thought: power, reform and faithEbrahim Moosa(Saturday 11:00, Auditorium A)

Muslim societies have for the past 200 years encountered modernity through science, technology and new modes of governance. New systems of knowledge challenged or upended older systems of thought or created new mixtures of thinking and practices. Many Muslim thinkers advocated that reforms (islah) ought to take place drawing on historical tradition. But reform is now subject to scrutiny and challenge for succumbing to imperial and colonial modes of thinking. Large communities of Muslims now reside in the West as part of Europe and North America. The challenges to Muslim thought remain and generations of Muslims living in the West continue to grapple with these is-sues. This presentation will identify some of these challenges and suggest ways in which Muslim communities might wish to grapple with some of these challenges from politics to ethics.

A discussion with Professor Ebrahim Moosa(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream B, Auditorium A)

This session will allow participants to continue the discussion from the Keynote and also learn more about the life, thought and experiences of Professor Ebrahim Moosa.

Post-Revolutionary Iranian styles of Islamic ReformismHossein Dabbagh(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Hossein will elaborate on two reform paradigms—namely “revivificationist” and “recon-structivist”—and examine each in post-Islamic revolution Iran.Following Ghazali, revivificationists believe that Islamic reformism should merely rely on the idea of revival (ihya). In this paradigm, Sharia should be revived, reinterpreted and refined incrementally with reference to sources of Islamic law. However, following Mu-hammad Iqbal, reconstructivists argue that our understanding of Sharia needs to be re-constructed. Modern philosophy is the resource upon which they draw to reconstruct Sharia. Through reconstructing the edifice of Sharia in the light of ethical principles, they believe, Sharia laws and ethical principles must reflectively come into equilibrium.

Travels in Indonesia: freedom, Islam, and takfirMoazzam Malik(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Over almost five years as the British Ambassador in Jakarta, Moazzam explored Indone-sia’s faith landscape, drew inspiration from Indonesia’s diversity and pluralism, challenged voices urging conservatism and a move towards ‘majoritarianism’, and was excited by the possibilities of Muslim communities around the world sharing lessons and new per-spectives. All the time, he asked himself why Indonesia felt special? He discovered the answer at an old madrassa in Central Java.

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The boundaries of Islam: reflection on the personal and the classroom experienceJames Holt(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream C, Conference Room)

The majority of RE teaching teaches to the Sunni interpretation of Islam; the Six Beliefs and the Five Pillars are more closely identified with Sunni, rather than other expressions but form the majority of teaching within the classroom. Alan Brine (2015) has suggested: “Do we need to actively question the idea that there is such a thing as ‘true’ or ‘reaI’ Is-lam? There are just lots of different Islams.” The establishment of boundaries of orthodoxy within Islam will be explored, and a discussion of the difference between a personal and professional view of boundaries including reference to Shi’a Islam and Ahmadiyya Islam.

Encouraging diversity in Islam through a critical thinking approach: my experience through teaching Religious StudiesShazia Gleadall(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream C, Conference Room)

Shazia will talk about the importance of accepting that there are different ways to be Muslim; both in that there are different interpretations of the Qur’an but also the idea of there being only ‘one’ correct way of being Muslim being dangerous (and ultimately lead-ing to extremism and rigidity in the religion). Shazia will use her experiences of teaching RS (comparing Islam to Christianity but more importantly, critical thinking being encour-aged) to show how this way of thinking can be challenged. She hopes to encourage more tolerance and open mindedness within the Muslim community as many Muslims are ulti-mately being pushed away from Islam due to it being so overly conservative.

No Outsiders: educating for community cohesion in 2020Andrew Moffat(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream C, Conference Room)

No Outsiders is a primary school resource that prepares children for life in modern Britain by teaching about the different, diverse communities we live in. The central mes-sage is that everyone is welcome in our school; using the protected characteristics in the Equality act 2010 as a base, children are taught that whoever you are, you belong. In the past year there has been tension from some groups about the inclusion of LGBT equality in the resource. No Outsiders remains a resource that is taught in hundreds of schools across the UK and continues to grow.

Challenges of communicating a historical-critical history of Muhammad in Muslim milieusMichael Privot(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream D, Annexe)

How, as European Muslims, can we engage our communities in adopting a more reflex-ive approach to some elements of traditional sira that amount to myths and support them in redefining and rebuilding a (more cogent?) faith in the process? Critical ap-proaches to the formative period of Islam raise as many questions as they bring enlight-ening perspectives on the deep embeddedness of Muhammad and the Qur’an in one of the most specific anthropologies and cultures in history. Following the publication of their book, Mais qui était vraiment Mahomet? Le prophète comme on ne vous l’a jamais raconté (2018), Michael Privot and Ismaël Saidi have spent one full year engaging with different audiences on their conclusions (with youngsters in prisons, in classrooms, with adults from all backgrounds including imams) and are now ready to share their learning.

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Fazlur Rahman: from the living Sunnah to formulated HadithChris Hewer(Saturday 13.30, Session 1, Stream D, Annexe)

Fazlur Rahman (1919-1988) of Karachi and Chicago examined the isnad formulae to validate Hadith and found the concept wanting. Why were many Hadith so validated not used in evidence in the earliest period? How can one iron out anomalies and anachro-nisms in the chains of transmission and in the contents? His re-examination led him to put forward a new concept of the Hadith being crystallised out from the living Sunnah.

Faith, youth activism and the climate crisisAasiya Daya, Erica Lees-Smith & Imran Mulla(Saturday 15.15, Session 2, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Aasiya, Erica, and Imran, three organisers of the school climate strikes in Leicester, will be speaking about an array of topics – from how their faith affects their activism and the ethics of protest to the broader issue of the climate crisis, and a discussion on how religious communities can lead the way in fighting for a more sustainable future.

Climate change, environmentalism and IslamLutfi Radwan(Saturday 15.15, Session 2, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Islam provides a framework for environmental stewardship based on the principle of khilafah. This will be introduced to highlight the roots of the current environmental crisis. Key topics will be discussed from animal welfare to sustainable building and waste recycling with examples from Willowbrook Farm. A call will be made to Muslims to wake up to this responsibility and engage with radical efforts to address the social and environmental crises we face.

Organ transplantation within the framework of ShariaAmjid Ali(Saturday 15.15, Session 2, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Aged 20, Amjid Ali was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and spent 23 years on dialysis. He now works to increase awareness of organ donation among Muslims. His talk will look into his experience of transplantation and consider the debates on organ donation within Islam.

Organ donation: presumed consent and bodily ownershipMahdiya Abdulhussain(Saturday 15.15, Session 2, Stream B, Auditorium B)

To tackle the chronic shortage of organ donors, England is currently transitioning to-wards a system of presumed consent, also known as the opt-out system, to be imple-mented by spring 2020. All adults in England, except for those who lack capacity, will be considered as having agreed to donate their own organs unless they record a decision not to donate. For Muslims, this raises a plethora of theological questions including the issue of bodily ownership. Who owns the human body and therefore, has the right to decide whether organs can be donated or not? Is God the true owner and people have been entrusted with their bodies in the same way that they have been entrusted with their lives or do people have autonomy over their own bodies?

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Workshop: Race and securitization in the Muslim Atlantic (I) – the Muslim Atlantic in the era of Trump/Johnson Dan DeHanas, Peter Mandaville & Muneera Williams(Saturday 15.15, Session 2, Stream C, Conference Room)

The American Countering Violent Extremism and British Prevent strategies, and the wider securitized environment in which they are operate, have contributed to a sense among American and British Muslims that they are embattled as ‘suspect communities’ at a time when Islamophobia is rife. This workshop will investigate our current politi-cal times including the position of Muslims under the Trump and Johnson governments, Muslim debates on the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and the intersections of racism, Islamophobia, and the postcolonial.

Please note: this is an interactive workshop where all participants will be expected to actively contribute to the discussion throughout. There is a maximum capacity of 20 participants per session, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Young, dumb, broke and dating? Muslims on how to get marriedIdris Alli(Saturday 17.00, Session 3, Stream A, Auditorium A)

How many young people are oblivious to what lies ahead when it comes to “getting married”, going into it like some ‘30 day rolling contract’? Idris will take on this social challenge and the need to revive the sacredness and responsibility of marriage (zawaj). He will address the social stigma that surrounds courtship.

No more bad halal dates: is it time to call out bad behaviour?Wajeeha Amin(Saturday 17.00, Session 3, Stream A, Auditorium A)

We are living in interesting times. The way we find a marriage partner has changed and with it this brings a whole new etiquette to master. If you are single you might have come across terms such as: catfishing, ghosting, submarining, breadcrumbing, zombieing, benching, ghostbusting, caspering. Perhaps something like this has been done to you or maybe you have done it yourself. Does this explain why so many singles are struggling to get married?

Celebrating shared journeys: mental healthRukhsana Hussain(Saturday 17.00, Session 3, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Rukhsana will share her journey and her recovery – from darkness to light – and reflect on her experience doing community work and giving a voice to those who are often silenced by fear, shame or honour.

Living with an open heart and mind to combat mental health issuesSaima Majid(Saturday 17.00, Session 3, Stream B, Auditorium B)

If mental health issues affect one in four people in the UK and depression is the leading cause of disability in the world, why is the Muslim community so afraid to come forward for treatment? This talk will discuss the importance of changing mindsets to eradicate stigmas and ending discrimination. And why we need to take a holistic approach to tackle this health crisis.

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Workshop: Race and Securitization in the Muslim Atlantic (II) – race and securiti-zation in history, from Malcolm X to presentAbdul Haqq Baker & Rasul Miller(Saturday 17.00, Session 3, Stream C, Conference Room)

Debates on securitization in Britain and America have almost entirely neglected the crucial issue of race. But how is securitization experienced differently by Black Muslims, as compared to other Muslims? What legacies remain from programs such as COINTELPRO or historical suspicions of radical Black Muslim politics? How does race shape securitization differently in post-colonial Britain as compared to post-slavery America?

Please note: this is an interactive workshop where all participants will be expected to actively contribute to the discussion throughout. There is a maximum capacity of 20 participants per session, on a first-come-first-served basis.

SUNDAY

The Zionist elephant in the roomStephen Hoffman(Sunday 09.45, Session 1, Stream A, Auditorium A)

What does Zionism actually mean, and, can we arrive at a better understanding, to-gether? There is an urgent need for both Jews and Muslims to prevent the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dividing them? Stephen will reflect on how some faith actors have used the conflict to divide Muslims and Jews. We need a better understanding of Zionism, Palestinian Nationalism and the narratives of Israelis and Palestinians.

Why allyship is easier said than done: forging effective interfaith solutionsElizabeth Arif-Fear & Laura Marks(Sunday 09.45, Session 1, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Jewish/Muslim relations in the real world are at best minimal and at worst fraught. In this session we explore some of the challenges including Muslim antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred in the Jewish community and the ‘elephant in the room’. We will go on to offer some ideas for ways forward including, how a woman’s touch can be transformative

Apostasy: what we know and what next?Aliyah Saleem(Sunday 09.45, Session 1, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Aliyah Saleem will offer insight into the experiences faced by apostates in the UK and abroad with some focus on apostasy from Islam. Apostates can face a range of abuses, social ostracism and in some parts of the world, legal consequences for abandoning or changing their faith. This talk will give an overview of what we know so far about the challenges that apostates are facing as well as providing some ideas on solutions to create greater understanding, harmony and cohesion between social communities that are affected by apostasy.

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Should there be any limits to freedom of thought and expression?Jeremy Rodell(Sunday 09.45, Session 1, Stream B, Auditorium B)

People have been arguing for decades about the limits to free speech, and there will always be difficult cases in a plural society like ours. But are there some underlying prin-ciples on which most people can agree? Are legal limits the only sort of limits we should consider? Do circumstances and motives matter? Do I have a right not to be offended? If not, do I just have to put up with it? Jeremy will give a personal perspective as a Human-ist on these tricky issues. [Warning: this session may contain images some people might find offensive.]

Workshop: Race and securitization in the Muslim Atlantic (III): Muslims & security in transatlantic perspective: policy, discourse and practiceAina J Khan & Aisha Phoenix(Sunday 09.45, Session 1, Stream C, Conference Room)

The two decades following September 11 2001, have seen a vast increase in security-related measures targeted towards Muslims in Britain and America. The community-oriented counter-terrorism strategies in each country—Countering Violent Extrem-ism (CVE) in the US and Prevent in the UK (the predecessor and partial model for CVE)—have been particularly controversial. This workshop will look into comparing Prevent in the UK and CVE in the US, considering their mutual influences, and consid-ering current controversies such as surveillance, ‘astroturfing’, and freedom of speech and opinion.

Please note: this is an interactive workshop where all participants will be expected to actively contribute to the discussion throughout. There is a maximum capacity of 20 participants per session, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Building resilient communities to challenge hate and extremismHadiya Massieh(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream A, Auditorium A)

In a time where negative stories of hate and extremism seem to dominate the news we find ourselves feeling hopeless and unable to make the situation better. However, what if it were possible to change this narrative? Is there a way to effectively push back against those who want to spread lies and divide our communities? Hadiya Mass-ieh will demonstrate how the methodology developed by Groundswell Project to FIND, CONNECT and AMPLIFY the voices of community peace keepers is the key to remedying this situation, how it has worked in the UK and has the potential to be used around the world.

Grassroots and Government – can we work together to counter different forms of extremism?Lisa-Raine Hunt(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Lisa-Raine Hunt introduces the Home Office Counter Extremism programme, lifts the lid on a surprising profile of extremisms in Hackney, East London, and explores why ‘stretch collaboration’ between local communities, local authorities and central govern-ment can be incredibly painful, but also incredibly effective – when it works.

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Quitting extremism: lessons from IndonesiaIhsan Ali-Fauzi(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream A, Auditorium A)

In the last two decades Indonesia has been exposed to the challenges of extremism which has its roots in the anti-Communist mass killings in the 1960’s and the inter-religious violent conflicts in the late 1990’s. This talk will briefly present short video documentaries on the people who have experienced “quitting extremism” in that con-tex. This presentation will also draw some lessons learned from these experiences.

Mapping the UK’s Hajj Sector: Moving towards communication and consensusSeán McLoughlin(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Seán will report on 4 key questions raised in Mapping the UK Hajj Sector: Moving To-wards Communication and Consensus (McLoughlin 2019): 1) Why is the Cost of UK Hajj Packages Rising? 2) What Factors Contribute to Hajj-Related Fraud in the UK? 3) How is the UK Hajj Sector Regulated & Governed? 4) How Professional is the UK Hajj Sector? Seán argues that British Muslim pilgrims lack a “360 degree” view of the way Hajj-going is organized & that public communications in this regard by the trade, the authorities & British Muslim organisations needs to be far more transparent & “pilgrim-centred”.

Inclusive and dynamic British mosques Qari Asim(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Mosques are a symbolic representation of British Muslims. How do we ensure that mosques are safe and well-governed, that services are provided by suitably qualified per-sonnel and that mosques are engaging with our youth, women and society at large?

Race and securitization in the Muslim Atlantic (IV): Practical steps forward Sughra Ahmed & Abdul-Rehman Malik(Sunday 11.30, Session 2, Stream C, Conference Room)

In this workshop, participants will consider practical ways forward including research data, funding sources, political advocacy, legal instruments, policy recommendations, and transatlantic networks of knowledge-sharing.

Please note: this is an interactive workshop where all participants will be expected to actively contribute to the discussion throughout. There is a maximum capacity of 20 participants per session, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Pre-International Women’s Month: the unknown legacy of black queens of IslamIsmael Lea South(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Celebrating Black Muslim women’s achievements and contributions, Ismael will be show-casing Black Muslim women from the time of the Prophet, from Africa, America, the Caribbean, the Sidi African community in India and the African / Afro Caribbean Mus-lim Community of the UK. Learn about scholars, scientists, academics, artists, activists, queens and military generals.

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Women – prophets, rulers, activists – in classical and modern theological & reli-gio-ethical sourcesRashad Ali(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream A, Auditorium A)

Women are often viewed as marginal players in Islam and Islamic history. Whilst it is not the case that Islam and modern strands of feminism are on the same page on every issue, it is equally true that assumptions about uniform, essentialist and monolithic views about the role and rights of women within Islamic teachings – religious and ethical or theologi-cal beliefs are stereotyped assumptions of what is or isn’t ‘orthodox’. Rashad will discuss some the diverse views within the tradition and amongst living scholars today.

How should we make sense of U.S. foreign policy under Trump?Peter Mandaville(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream B, Auditorium B)

How can we explain the unpredictable and volatile nature of American conduct in the world today? Is it a reflection of Trump himself, or perhaps the extreme views found within his inner circle of advisors? Or is it best explained by the unorthodox nature of the policymaking process that dominates the current administration in Washington? In this presentation, a scholar with first-hand experience in government advising se-nior U.S. foreign policy officials will offer observations on the factors currently shaping America’s erratic engagement with the rest of the world.

Musings on post-Brexit Britain and identityDilwar Hussain(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream B, Auditorium B)

The politics of identity seem to have become a major pre-occupation today. Considering the British landscape in the ‘aftermath’ of Brexit, Dilwar will reflect on how narratives of ‘competitive victimhood’ have come to play a more significant role in our time and how Muslim communities, as well as those that may often rage against them, may have more in common than they think.

Memoirs of an Asian CasualRiaz Khan(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream C, Conference Room)

From violence to love, reflecting on past mistakes and how this can be used positively, Riaz will talk about his experience growing up a multicultural individual in multi-ethnic Britain. The son of traditional Pakistani parents in Leicester, Riaz found himself at odds with the strict Muslim values of his parents and found his own identity in the early 1980’s, when he adopted football’s ‘casual’ culture. Riaz will talk about why he wrote his book, KHAN – Reflections of an Asian Casual (2010), the play, TV appearances and his online activities.

Thank God for Islamophobia?Naved Siddiqi(Sunday 14.00, Session 3, Stream C, Conference Room)

The Messengers of God faced ‘Islamophobia’ of the harshest kind. Their examples in response should be reflected in ours. Yet, despite overwhelming sympathy and values in British people willing to stand against anti-Muslim prejudices, we have foisted ‘Islamo-

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phobia’ into an anti-establishment bandwagon. British Muslims wake up consuming and convinced by narratives of victimhood but what fruits will this produce? Having returned from listening closely to younger Muslims in 14 European countries, Naved asks wheth-er the way we see the problem IS the greater problem? What can we learn from Islam in responding to – and turning around – the challenge of Islamophobia?

An outsider’s view of issues facing British Muslim communitiesJulian Hargreaves(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream A, Auditorium A)

This presentation presents research work that has attempted to provide a different perspective on issues related to anti-Muslim prejudice and discrimination. The work has been completed by a non-Muslim and uses statistics to shed new light on familiar debates. The aim is not to downplay the many real problems faced by British Muslims but to encourage a more evidence-based approach to tackling them. The presentation will discuss crime, victimization, verbal abuse, police stop and search, Prevent, coun-ter-extremism and measuring sensitivity to Islamophobia.

Explaining China’s cultural genocide of Uyghur people: a personal reflectionRahima Mahmut(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream A, Auditorium A)

The discrimination and persecution of the Uyghur people has a long history. As a Uyghur, I experienced, from my childhood till when I left my homeland in 2000, fre-quent discrimination, and witnessed brutal crackdowns on any moderate dissenting voices, including the Ghulja Massacre in 1997. My work as an interpreter and transla-tor brings me first-hand information on those who have suffered in the notorious 21st century internment camps, as well as the heart wrenching accounts of mothers and fathers who have lost their children, young and old. Every Uyghur family has a similar story, one more horrible than the other, as a result of the brutal ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide that have been taking place since 2017, while the world closes its eyes to their suffering.

A fresh look at the Islamic penal code in the human rights ageSalah al-Ansari(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream B, Auditorium B)

A theological discussion on rethinking the Islamic penal code with particular focus on a branch of classical jurisprudence known as known as hudud (corporal punishment). How should Muslims scholars interpret these laws? In the modern context, how can a new Muslim generation reconcile their understating of their sacred text with the modern context of human rights? Are they reconcilable? If so how?

Islamic reformist thought in Western Europe: Zakat for non-Muslims as an illustrationBaptiste Brodard(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream B, Auditorium B)

Islamic reformism is an increasingly popular concept in Europe. However, it refers to distinct currents of thought. This talk will explore a particular current of Islamic re-formism that is distinct from historical-critical approaches. While acknowledging the sacredness of the Qur’an, which remains its preponderant reference, this reformist current proposes a critical re-reading of Islamic legal norms (fiqh) and ahadith. The

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question of Zakat given to non-Muslims in France, Germany and Switzerland will be explored to illustrate the potential applications of this reformist thought.

Democracy and Islam: the story of IndonesiaAlissa Wahid(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream B, Auditorium B)

This Session will explore the compatibility of democracy and Islam in Indonesia, and how the biggest community of Muslims in the world has become the champion of democracy.

Harmonising the worldly and the spiritual: reflections on the life of a Mughal princessHina Khalid(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream C, Conference Room)

What might a 17th century Mughal princess teach us today about feminine identity and piety in Islam? In this presentation, Hina will explore the remarkable public and spiritual contributions of Jahanara Begum (1614–1681), the daughter of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. Through her charitable imperial activities, her patronage of pub-lic mosques and her ardent pursuit of the spiritual path, Jahanara deeply interwove the public and the private realms as mutually complementary spheres of religious prac-tice. The life of Jahanara Begum grants us a profound insight into the intersections of worldly power, female identity, and religious devotion in Islam – inviting us to reflect on the complex and creative ways that Muslim women have embodied their religious identities within the confines of patriarchy.

Reflection on Guru Nanak’s key teaching of gender equality and applicability in the Sikh communityJagbir Jhutti-Johal(Sunday 15.45, Session 4, Stream C, Conference Room)

Guru Nanak’s life and the teachings contained within them present a model for how to live one’s life. One of the most important teaching was gender equality. Dr Jhutti-Johal will focus on the religious teachings that advocated for gender equality and consider their relevance and application today. Dr Jhutti-Johal will use examples to highlight whether women have, in the traditional, social and religious world, achieved this equality or whether opportunities for women have been constrained.

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SpeakersMahdiya Abdulhussain, Al-Mahdi InstituteMahdiyah Abdul-Hussain has a background in both Islamic jurisprudence and an LLM in Medical Law and Bioethics from the University of Birmingham. She conducted her research on Organ Donation in Shi’i Jurisprudence gaining an MRes from Royal Holloway, University of London. She is currently working at Al-Mahdi Institute as a Research Associate, most recently organising an international multidisciplinary conference entitled, Islamic Perspectives on Organ Donation. She also teaches introductory modules on Islamic Theology and Legal Methodology on Al-Mahdi Institute’s four year Hawza Programme.

Sughra Ahmed, Stanford UniversitySughra Ahmed is Associate Dean for Religious Life at Stanford University. She is a Yale Green-berg World Fellow at Yale University, a Research Associate at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge and a Trustee of the Islamic Society of Britain; where she previously served as Chair, 2013-16. Previously, Sughra was at the Woolf Institute in the Centre for Policy and Public Education, where she had responsibility for the design and delivery of research and training on issues such as faith, belief, communities and integration. She specializes in interfaith relations, is a public speaker and regularly contributes to media discussions, particularly on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for The Day’ program. In 2014, she was awarded the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Award for Muslim Woman of the Year at the British Muslim Awards.

Salah Al-Ansari, New Horizons in British IslamDr Imam Salah al-Ansari is Lecturer of Islamic law at the Muslim College, London and Research Fellow at New Horizons in British Islam. Salah worked as a visiting Lecturer in Islamic Stud-ies at Heythrop College, University of London where he produced a PhD on Muhammad Abu Zahra and Islamic Modernism. He worked as senior researcher in Islamic studies at Quilliam international where he co-authored his book, Tackling Terror: a Response to Takfiri Theol-ogy. He is a graduate in Classical and Modern Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Sheikh Salah was an Imam and teacher at the Central London Mosque and then worked in a number of mosques in London, Margate, Woking and Basingstoke, where he has led extensive inter-faith activities on national and international levels.

Amjid Ali, ‘Transplantation in Islam’, NHS Blood and TransplantAmjid is an independent management consultant working across a range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations. One of his key partnership roles is that of Project Lead, ‘Trans-plantation in Islam’ for NHS Blood and Transplant. A pioneering initiative developed by Amjid to engage Muslim faith leaders and community influencers to increase awareness and engage-ment amongst the diverse Muslim communities in the UK. He has successfully secured the support of more than 250 key Muslim stakeholder groups across the UK including influential Islamic scholars & imams, Muslim charities, community organisations and clinical leads. His perseverance over 5 years has led to an updated religious edict (fatwa) on transplantation and organ donation in Islam.

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Rashad Ali, Institute for Strategic DialogueRashad Ali is interested in theology, philosophy, Islamic jurisprudence, social cohesion and extremism. He has written a jurisprudential analysis on issues of Islamic religio-legal debates on the social contract, laws of warfare and political participation and recently published on hadith and reason, The Role of Reason in Hadith Criticism in the Islamic Tradition (New Horizons, 2020). He comments widely in the media.

Ihsan Ali-Fauzi, Center for the Study of Religion and DemocracyIhsan Ali-Fauzi (or Moh. Ihsan Alief) is the founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Democracy (Pusat Studi Agama dan Demokrasi, PUSAD), Paramadina Foundation, and a lecturer at the Paramadina Graduate School, Jakarta. His articles have been published in several mass-circulation newspapers and magazines such as Kompas, Koran Tempo, Ma-jalah Tempo, and The Jakarta Post (mostly in Bahasa Indonesia), as well as in academic ones such as Studia Islamika, Asian Survey, and New Mandala (in English). Apart from supervising publications and research of the PUSAD Paramadina, he has also been involved in other publi-cations, including those that have been translated into English: Disputed Churches in Jakarta (2014), Policing Religious Conflicts in Indonesia (2015), and Basudara Stories of Peace from Maluku (2017).

Idris Alli, MA candidateHaving memorised the Qur’an, it inspired Idris Alli to further study classical Islamic texts in a traditional setting, within the UK. He felt the need to explore the texts more deeply with a criti-cal mind as opposed to a ‘cultural mind’. This led to completing a BA in Islamic Studies at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. Idris is currently pursuing an MA.

Wajeeha Amin, Psychotherapist and Relationship CoachWajeeha leads people on a deep and powerful journey to flourish in their relationships, studies, career, business, dreams, life and love. As a qualified psychotherapist, relationship coach, men-tor, lecturer & trainer, she provides creative, holistic therapeutic support, mentoring, training & coaching to individuals, groups and consultancy services to anyone needing to make a change in their lives, or wanting to help others do the same. She has been featured on the BBC. She was a finalist for Asian Women of Achievement Award for her work and is an Ambassador for Women of the Future. She is on a mission to create millions of happy ever after stories one person at a time.

Elizabeth Arif-Fear, Nisa-NashimElizabeth Arif-Fear is a writer and campaigner and is passionate about human rights and interfaith relations, in particular Jewish-Muslim relations. Founder of Voice of Salam, she has also worked with/written for a range of bodies including: Haaretz, Jewish News, Globe Post, Muslims Against Antisemitism, Faith and Belief Forum, She Speaks We Hear, Sister-hood maga-zine and Faith Matters. She is a member of Tell MAMA’s women’s advisory board, the Steering Committee for the UK Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum and Nisa-Nashim, where she is co-chair of their Marylebone group.

Qari Asim, ImamQari Asim, MBE is senior Imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds, which has won the award of be-ing UK’s model mosque. He is a Legal Director at a global law firm, DLA Piper. He is Deputy Chair of the government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred / Islamophobia Working Group and he is Chair of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, and senior editor of ImamsOnline. Qari is a

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trustee of British Future, a think-tank which addresses identity, integration and migration. He is also a trustee of the charities Peace Matters and Hope not Hate, which seek to challenge and defeat the politics of hate and extremism. Qari is passionate about fostering relations between communities and is a trustee of Christian Muslim Forum, an executive board member of the National Council of Imams & Rabbis, a director of Forum for Promoting Peace (London) and one of the faith advisors to the Near Neighbours programme.

Baptiste Brodard, University of FribourgBaptiste Brodard is a PhD researcher in Social Sciences and Islamic Studies at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. His thesis focuses on Islamic social work, which refers to welfare social services provided by grassroots faith-based organizations in Western Europe. Based on his so-cial work experience and his numerous trips around the world, he has conducted research stud-ies on subjects related to religion, social issues and education. He has published several articles on Muslim communities and social challenges.

Hossein Dabbagh, University of CambridgeHossein Dabbagh completed his doctorate in moral philosophy at the University of Reading and the University of Oxford. He is a holder of UK Exceptional Talent Endorsement from the British Academy and is currently working as a philosophy tutor at the University of Oxford’s Depart-ment for Continuing Education and the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Educa-tion. He is also Adjunct Lecturer at the Institute for Cognitive Science Studies and Consultant Research Assistant at the Institute of Ismaili Studies on Muslim Biomedical Ethics.

Daniel DeHanas, King’s University LondonDaniel Nilsson DeHanas is Senior Lecturer of Political Science and Religion at King’s College London and serves as co-editor of the journal, Religion, State and Society. His research on religion and politics includes work on religious identity, political participation, and London as a global city of migration. His book London Youth, Religion, and Politics (Oxford Univer-sity Press 2016) brings these interests together in a comparative study of young Muslims and Christians. He also recently co-edited the book Religion and the Rise of Populism (Routledge 2019) including a global range of case studies of religious influences on populism in Britain, the US, Switzerland, Turkey, and elsewhere. His current research (with Peter Mandaville) is a British Council Bridging Voices project on the ‘Muslim Atlantic’ that explores the connections between American and British Muslims.

Shazia Gleadall, Religious Studies TeacherShazia has been teaching RS for over 12 years and is particularly interested in interfaith dia-logue and encouraging critical thinking in religion. She would class herself as a liberal Muslim. She was born and raised Muslim but married outside of her culture due to her experience of the Muslim community as overly conservative and narrow minded in their thinking.

Rabiha Hannan, New Horizons in British IslamRabiha is Trustee of New Horizons. She is currently reading for a PhD in Gender Equality and Islam at Leeds University. She trained as a Clinical Pharmacist and holds an MA in Muslim Community Studies. She has been involved in youth work, education and social cohesion proj-ects as well as undertaking a variety of policy level and academic research over the last 10 years including co-editing a book, Islam and the Veil (Continuum, 2011). Rabiha is a TEDx speaker and tweets @Rabiha_NH.

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Julian Hargreaves, Woolf Institute, University of CambridgeDr Julian Hargreaves is a Senior Research Fellow at the Woolf Institute and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge. He is a social scientist with an interest in various issues concerning British Muslim communities.

Chris Hewer, Understanding Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Chris Hewer has been engaged in the study of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations since 1986. He is a former Adviser on Inter-Faith Relations to the Bishop of Birmingham, a former Fellow of St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. He is the author of Under-standing Islam – the First Ten Steps and has trained extensively on the subject, specialising on Christian audiences.

Stephen Hoffman, Muslims Against AntisemitismStephen studied Politics and Parliamentary Studies at Leeds University. He believes politics can be a force for positive change when it is people not party led. Stephen has challenged bigotry throughout his career, with a focus on antisemitism and Islamophobia. Stephen is a consultant for Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS), which challenges antisemitism inside and outside of the Muslim community. At MAAS, he seeks to unite Muslims and Jews, who have much more in common than what divides them.

James Holt, University of ChesterJames D. Holt is Associate Professor of Religious Education at the University of Chester. James is the Chair of Examiners for Religious Studies with one of the major awarding organisations. He is the author of Beyond the Big Six Religions: Expanding the Boundaries in the Teaching of Religion and Worldviews (University of Chester Press, 2019) and Religious Education in the Secondary School: An Introduction to Teaching, Learning and the World Religions (Routledge, 2015).

Lisa-Raine Hunt, Counter Extremism Community CoordinatorLisa-Raine Hunt works in London with faith, race, disability, LGBT+ and gender focus groups, supporting the development of grassroots community activity that counters prejudice, hatred and extremism. She has been working in the public, voluntary and arts sectors in London for 15 years specialising in community dialogue, education and development. Her work has taken her to Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Community Centres, Schools, Local and Central Govern-ment and the occasional Art Gallery.

Dilwar Hussain, New Horizons in British IslamDilwar is Chair of New Horizons. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, University of Coventry and has published a number of articles and edited collections on British Muslims. Dilwar has worked in research, consultancy and training over the last 20 years, delivering contracts for the voluntary sector, private sector and various govern-ment departments around issues of religion, integration and identity. He is a Trustee of the Faith & Belief Forum (FBF) and was Trustee and Vice-Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust until 2018. He tweets @DilwarH.

Rukhsana Hussain, OutspokenIn 2015, Rukhsana gave up her job and started doing community work. She co-founded Hope 4 Humanity and supported refugees coming to Leicester, helping them to resettle in the UK after fleeing the war in Syria. Rukhsana set up an initiative called ‘Speak Out’ to raise aware-

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ness and challenge the silence around bullying. She is also the founder of Outspoken, giving a voice to those silenced through fear, shame or honour. Rukhsana was a finalist for the Leicester Mercury Awards 3 years running for the Community Impact Award and was also nominated for East Midlands Women’s Awards for Outstanding Women in 2017 and for Community BAME Leader Award 2018. She won the International Women’s Day Award – Wonderwoman 2017.

Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, University of BirminghamDr Jhutti-Johal is a senior lecturer in Sikh Studies in the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham. Dr Jagbir Jhutti-Johal has over 17 years’ experience in teaching and research and provides extensive knowledge and experience in Sikh theology, inter-faith dialogue and contemporary issues facing South Asian communities, particularly the Sikhs. Her research covers issues of gender inequality, Sikh identity in the diasporic community, mental health, racialization and mistaken identity and other contested issues that confront the Sikh community. Her work in the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion looks at public policy, social and political engagement issues as they affect and are effected by the British Sikh community.

Hina Khalid, University of CambridgeHina Khalid has just completed an MPhil in Theology at the University of Cambridge. Her work has previously examined the theological discourse of the Muslim mystic and philosopher ‘Ibn Arabi, in dialogue with selected aspects of the Buddhist philosophical tradition. Her cur-rent research centres on Sufism in the Indian subcontinent, and the distinctive and multi-facet-ed patterns of Islamic practices as they have been shaped by indigenous cultural and religious forces therein.

Aina J Khan, Journalist Aina is a British-Pakistani journalist, writer and playwright whose work has been published in The Guardian, Al Jazeera English, VOGUE Arabia, VICE, The Good Journal, and The Inde-pendent. In 2018, her play ‘Pashto Thriller’ about a young British-Pakistani teenager’s love for Michael Jackson’s dancing, debuted at Bradford Literature Festival, returning to Bradford for a city-wide tour the following year. Last year, she was also a fellow at the Muslim Women in Media Institute at the University of California, Davis.

Riaz Khan, Teacher and AuthorRiaz was born and raised in Leicester. He is a teacher at College and University, as well as an author. Khan is also involved in making documentaries around football and racism.

Erica Lees-Smith, Climate Strike LeicesterErica is a Christian and head steward for Climate Strike Leicester.

Seán McLoughlin, University of LeedsProfessor McLoughlin is current Secretary of the British Association for Islamic Studies (2017-20) and was Chair of the Muslims in Britain Research Network (2011-14). His research has been funded by awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, the Economic and Social Research Council and Research England. In 2012 he contributed to the British Museum’s exhibition, Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam (2012). He is the author of Mapping the UK Hajj Sector: Moving Towards Communication and Consensus (2019, https://hajj.leeds.ac.uk/industry/).

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Rahima Mahmut, World Uyghur CongressRahima is an Uyghur singer, human rights activist, and award-winning translator of the poignant prison memoir The Land Drenched in Tears by Soyungul Chanisheff. Her latest work includes working as a consultant and translator for the ITV documentary Undercover: Inside China’s Digital Gulag shown July 2019; and translator for the latest BBC documentary China: A New World Order. Currently, she is the UK representative for the World Uyghur Congress.

Saima Majid, Wellbeing and Transformational Life CoachSaima Majid is a Wellbeing and Transformational Life Coach, Speaker and Mental Health Advocate. She is on a mission ‘to empower individuals to cultivate inner confidence, overcome self-doubt and live in alignment with their true authentic selves’. Following Saima’s battle with mental illness in 2014, she realised that she had spent her life dimming down her truth in order to survive in the world around her. She spent the next few years investing heavily in her devel-opment and growth and now educates and shares the knowledge that she has learnt to trans-form the lives of others.

Abdul-Rehman Malik, Journalist and educatorAbdul-Rehman Malik is an award winning London-based journalist, educator and cultural or-ganizer. He is programs manager for the Radical Middle Way, which offers powerful, faith-in-spired guidance and tools to enable change, combat exclusion and violence and promote social justice for all. His work has spanned the UK, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Mali, Morocco, Singa-pore, Canada and Malaysia. In January 2015, he became director of the Insight Film Festival, a unique year-round festival that celebrates the intersection between faith and film. A trustee of the Sandford St Martins Trust, which promotes excellence in broadcasting about religion in the UK, Malik has a keen interest in harnessing cultural production for social change. He has recently trained over 150 young civil society leaders in Indonesia to use the power of storytelling to bridge interfaith and intercultural divides against the backdrop of violence and discrimination.

Moazzam Malik, Department for International DevelopmentMoazzam Malik CMG is Director General at the UK Department for International Develop-ment, overseeing country teams around the world. He was previously the British Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN. He began his career as an economist and has also worked in academia, business and the NGO sector. He grew up in London, but is a passionate Liverpool FC and Pakistani cricket fan. Moazzam is speaking at the conference in a personal capacity.

Peter Mandaville, George Mason UniversityPeter Mandaville is Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University in Washington DC. He is also a Se-nior Research Fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs and a Non-resident Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution. Dur-ing the Obama Administration, he served as a member of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s policy planning staff. His most recent book is Islam and Politics (3rd edition forth-coming 2020).

Laura Marks, Mitzvah Day / Nisa-NashimLaura Marks is a serial social entrepreneur focussed on the common good. She founded Mitz-vah Day, an international and interfaith day of social action, co-founded Nisa-Nashim, a Jewish/Muslim women’s network, and just launched the Alliance of Jewish Women. She chairs the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and is a Jewish Leadership Council trustee. Her work centres on

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gender and faith aiming to make the world better and safer starting with grass roots. Laura’s OBE was awarded for interfaith relations and in 2019 she was honoured by the Archbishop of Canterbury. She broadcasts and is a regular on Pause for Thought. Laura’s family think she has a view on everything…

Hadiya Massieh, Groundswell ProjectHadiya Masieh is founder and director of Groundswell Project. An organization dedicated to finding, connecting and amplifying peacekeeping initiatives in communities that need help to come together. For 10 years she belonged to an Islamist political organization and for the past 14 years, she has been working in community cohesion, interfaith relations, and counter-extremism, with a special interest in women’s involvement in extremism. In conjunction with academics, former extremists, and tech/media companies, Hadiya has devised a unique meth-odology and toolkit to facilitate the work of community activists and help to build resilient com-munities which challenge hatred and division.

Rasul Miller, Yale UniversityRasul Miller is a William Fontaine fellow of Africana Studies and History at the University of Pennsylvania. Rasul received his BA in Economics and African and African American Studies from Duke University. His research interests include Muslim movements in 20th century Ameri-ca and their relationship to Black internationalist thought and West African intellectual history.

Andrew Moffat, Excelsior TrustAndrew Moffat has been a teacher for 24 years and currently leads on Personal Develop-ment for Excelsior Trust. He is the author of No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools and a new resource released in March 2020, No Out-siders: Everyone Different, Everyone Equal. Andrew was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to equality and diversity in education and in 2019 he was listed as a top 10 final-ist in the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize. In January 2019 as protests emerged at Andrew’s school about the inclusion of LGBT equality in No Outsiders, his work became a focus for the debate around the teaching of relationships and different families in primary schools. In May 2019 Andrew led Birmingham Pride with LGBT Muslims. Andrew received several awards for his work including “Role model of the year” from Pink News and “Hero of the year” from the European Equality and Diversity Awards. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Worcester.

Ebrahim Moosa, University of Notre DameMoosa is currently Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Notre Dame. In 2005, he was named a Carnegie Scholar to pursue research on Islamic seminaries of South Asia. Pro-fessor Moosa’s interests span both classical and modern Islamic thought with a special focus on Islamic law, history, ethics and theology. His book What Is a Madrasa? was published in 2015. He is also the author of Ghazali and the Poetics of Imagination, winner of the Ameri-can Academy of Religion’s Best First Book in the History of Religions (2006). Moosa co-directs, Contending Modernities, the global research and education initiative examining the interaction among Catholic, Muslim, and other religious and secular forces in the world.

Imran Mulla, Climate Strike LeicesterImran is a college student currently completing his second year of A Levels. Since February last year he has been one of the organisers of the monthly climate strikes in Leicester and is cur-rently one of the group’s spokespeople and speech-writers.

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Aisha Phoenix, SOAS, University of LondonAisha Phoenix is the Post-Doctoral Researcher on the AHRC-funded ‘Re/presenting Islam on Campus Project’, which is led by the Principal Investigator Professor Alison Scott-Baumann. Aisha has an ESRC-funded PhD in Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, Masters in Social Research (Goldsmiths) and Social Anthropology of Development (SOAS), a Postgraduate Di-ploma in Newspaper Journalism (City) and a BA in Arabic and Modern Middle Eastern Studies (Oxford). Her PhD research was on how Palestinian university students narrate their lives under occupation. Before returning to academia, Aisha worked as a media and advertising reporter at Bloomberg News in London.

Michael Privot, European Institute for the Studies of IslamMichael Privot has a doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Liège (BE). He stud-ied Arabic as a major as well as comparative history of religions. His fields of research range from classical Islamic philosophy to religious-based radicalization. He is increasingly profiled as a liberal theologian reflecting on how to articulate Islam in the specific European episteme of the 21st century. He is the founder of the European Institute for the Studies of Islam, currently collaborating on the development of a European Master’s degree programme to train ulama for contemporary Europe. Michael is Scientific Collaborator at the University of Liège and is also the executive director of a key European antiracist network. His upcoming book explores a methodology for generating contemporary forms of Islamic theology.

Lutfi Radwan, Willowbrook FarmDr Lutfi Radwan spent the first half of his career as a lecturer and consultant at Oxford, work-ing on soil and water management in arid zones. Subsequently, along with his wife, Ruby, they turned their focus to home and in 2003 established Willowbrook Farm, in Oxfordshire, to put their values of responsible stewardship into practice.

Jeremy Rodell, Humanists UKJeremy Rodell is Dialogue Officer for Humanists UK, as well as a Trustee, and the leader of the local humanist group in south-west London. He has a particular interest in the major changes taking place in the British religion and belief landscape, and the role of open and constructive interactions between people with Humanist and religious worldviews.

Aliyah Saleem, Faith to FaithlessAliyah was raised as a Sunni Muslim and she studied Islam in Pakistan and the UK for several years. At nineteen she left Islam and she experienced some challenges for it including a break-down of important relationships and abuse, which led to a serious impact on her mental health. To help others who have gone through similar experiences, she co-founded Faith to Faithless which is the leading organisation in the UK that supports apostates from all religious back-grounds. She is the Chair of Faith to Faithless and the co-author and co-editor of Leaving Faith Behind: the Journeys and Perspectives of People who Have Left Islam.

Naved Siddiqi, New Horizons in British IslamNaved Siddiqi is a Trustee of New Horizons in British Islam and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. He is a social scientist with a special interest in faith communities and palliative care. He served as a School Governor and trains teachers on GCSE Islam at the London School of Jewish Studies. Naved tweets @ThisIsNaved.

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Ismael Lea South, The Salam ProjectIsmael Lea South is Director of The Salam Project, a BME youth and community initiative. He goes into schools, prisons and youth clubs to facilitate workshops on identity plus Black History. Through The Salam Project he works in partnership with various groups against gangs, knife crime, offending/re-offending and extremism/radicalisation. In partnership with Faiths Forum he works with African and Afro Caribbean faith hubs (churches and mosques) to promote inter-faith, partnerships and dialogue. Ismael writes for the e-magazine Urban Muslimz.

Mb Alissa Wahid, Family Welfare Agency, GUSDURian Network Indonesia, Gerakan Suluh KebangsaanAlissa Wahid is a trained family psychologist with extensive experience in community develop-ment and social movements. As the General Secretary of Family Welfare Agency in Nahdlatul Ulama (Indonesia’s biggest Muslim Organization), Alissa led the organization to develop the Family Resilience Program within Islamic Perspectives. The program aims to promote just, strong, and moderate Muslim families. She is also actively involved in maintaining NU’s move-ment to promote moderate Muslim practices. Alissa is also the founder and national Director of the GUSDURian Network Indonesia (GNI) in 2010, a national community of social activists working to promote active citizenship, to strengthen democracy and human rights, to enhance interfaith dialogue and understanding. For its work, GNI received the 2018 Asian Democracy and Human Rights Award by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and 2019 Indonesian Mental Revolution Award.

Muneera Williams, Artist and MusicianTanya Muneera Williams is one half of hip–hop, reggae and spoken word duo, Poetic Pilgrim-age. She is an artist, a poet and an activist and regularly appears on BBC Radio 2 to deliver ‘Pause For Thought’. Tanya is of Jamaican heritage and converted to Islam in 2005.

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Save the date for British Islam Conference

2021

27-28 February 2021

26info@nhorizons.org | 0300 36 56 100 | Charity no: 1151923 | nhorizons.org