Inspiring Muslims to share leadership stories during Islamophobia Awareness Month

Inspiring Brummies in positions of leadership across the city’s Muslim community are to share their journeys, struggles and achievements in a series of events to mark Islamophobia Awareness Month.

Organised by the Birmingham chapter of national community empowerment alliance Citizens UK, the ‘In conversation…’ discussions will be held at local venues to engage with diverse communities across the city.

Kicking off with an engaging talk at Saathi House in Aston with the organisation’s chair Mashkura Begum on Tuesday (November 16), the first session will explore and unpack issues affecting Muslim women including hate crime, misogyny, the living wage and entrepreneurship.

Civil society leader Mashkura told I Am Birmingham the Birmingham Leadership Stories highlight important strides made by Muslim women but also gaps that still need to be addressed.

“We are looking forward to Citizens UK leadership event. It’s very important to us to use all opportunities to share the amazing work women from all walks are doing and achieving.

“However, there still remains much to be done around misogyny and hate crime especially for Muslim women which goes unnoticed and not prioritised.

“We hope during this Islamophobia Awareness Month we can amplify our voices to this silent barrier and be the catalyst for change.”

Chaired by Saidul Haque Saeed, Citizens UK’s lead organiser in the West Midlands, the series of talks continues with a conversation with Sheikh Nuru Mohammed at the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre in Balsall Heath on Monday 22 November.

Sheikh Nuru Mohammed is a Ghanian Islamic Scholar, speaker and researcher, and the current Imam at KSIMC Birmingham.

An active member of Citizens UK’s Birmingham leadership team, Sheikh Nuru has also served as minister of religion at centres in South Africa and Kenya.

The series of free Islamophobia Awareness Month discussions are being organised in partnership with The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, based at Aston Business School at Aston University.

Citizens UK, who last month hosted several talks for Black History Month, will be announcing more Muslim role models as speakers delivering similar sessions around Islamophobia over the next few weeks.

To find out more about the events or to attend, please email: saidul.haque@citizensuk.org.