Every year, over three days and two nights, the Muslim Institute retreats to the auspicious surroundings of Sarum College situated in the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral, joined by a distinguished diverse panel of speakers for a programme of events. Fellows gather to debate and discuss the essential and pressing issues of our times, focusing on an annual theme, in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. Each year we pick a different theme to discuss through a series of lectures and panel sessions.
The theme of this year’s Winter Gathering is:
‘By Any Means Necessary’: Muslims, Politics and Power in the 21st Century’
On the 6oth anniversary of the death of Malcolm X, WG25 will ask how best to build and organise our communities? How to uphold justice and safeguard spaces for dissent? How to challenge anti-Muslim bigotry in society, politics and media? How to hold our own leaders to account? How to ally with others facing bigotry and fighting for justice? How to engage with those in power? How to generate our own power? WG25 brings together leading change makers and thinkers to explore how to transform the British Muslim landscape ‘by any means necessary’.
The sessions and speakers are chosen to allow the greatest level of learning, debate and discussion as possible. Confirmed speakers include:
Sessions:
Friday 28th November Evening keynote: ‘State power and the struggle for integrity — the Sultans and the Sheikhs in history’ (Professor Fozia Bora).
Saturday 29th November
Political Self-Empowerment: National models
Economic Empowerment: How to build self-reliance in our communities
Political Self-Empowerment: The view from the grassroots
Saturday keynote: The Organisation of Afro-American Unity and the legacy of Malcolm X. (Dr Kehinde Andrews)
Book launch: with Tharik Hussain.
Sunday 30th November
Creating New Narratives: Research, lobbying and the legacy & new media.
Final plenary session: Mapping Our Futures: What can we do now? (with Yahya Birt).
We will also be hearing from Humera Khan of the An-Nisa Society from whom the Muslim Institute has commissioned a new report: ‘Mapping Muslim Futures in Birmingham: A Study of Belonging, Identity, and Imagination across Diverse Muslim Communities’. Yahya Birt, community historian & Research Director at the Ayaan Institute, will be the rapporteur for the Winter Gathering. Every fellow in attendance will get a free signed copy of Nobody Can Give You Freedom and Muslim Europe: a Journey.
The Winter Gathering, including accommodation and all meals (halal), is subsidised and free for Fellows, who are warmly encouraged to attend the weekend and help to continue the classical tradition of Muslim learned societies.
Download updated timetable below
