Festival Aims to Boost Respect for Muslims

By Katherine Danks, PA

A national festival aimed at increasing community respect and appreciation of Muslims will be launched tonight.

Islam Awareness Week (IAW) – organised by by the Islamic Society of Britain, an affiliate of the Muslim Council of Britain – will be launched at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

This year’s theme is Your Muslim Neighbour and emphasises the role played by Muslim neighbours, co-workers and citizens in society.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, Prince Turki Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia and Iqbal Sacranie from the Muslim Council of Britain will attend tonight’s launch.

IAW organisers said the annual event was first established in 1994 with the aim of tackling the growth of anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK.

“Islam and Muslims are often portrayed as unreasonable, fanatical, intolerant, violators of human rights and anti-women,” the group’s website said.

“We believe that these misconceptions must be removed if we are to see the development of a truly multi-faith Britain.”

“We believe that through awareness and understanding we can create better relations, develop tolerance, respect and harmony in our society.”

There will be events taking place in 12 different locations, including Manchester and Birmingham, throughout the country to celebrate the week.

In London, the exterior walls of the Globe will be illuminated with images of Islamic life and culture.

A stall designed by artists from The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts are also set to exhibit traditional Islamic art and the Khayaal Theatre Company will perform.

More than 20 speakers are to give lectures at the Globe on subjects ranging from Islamic gardens as paradise on earth, to the Three Faiths Forum, founded to promote understanding between Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

There are almost two million Muslims, most of whom were born here, living in Britain and between 10,000 and 20,000 of those have converted from another religion.