Conference Brings Hope to Scotland Muslims
Attracting audience from around Scotland, Muslim leaders have organized a conference to correct misconceptions about their faith, inviting non-Muslims for a better understanding of Islam and challenges facing the Muslim community in the west.
“We wanted to provide a social space, a family-friendly venue, for people of all religions to meet and have free discussions,” Zahid Ali, a spokesman for the group organizing the event, Vision Islam, told The Scotsman on Monday, March 18.
“The problem we have is this – there are people who have a view of what Islam is, but most people don’t interact with Muslims, and if they do it is generally in a shop, so they don’t have a chance to interact on a social level and exchange views.”
The event, called “Hope Conference; Islam is not what you think”, was designed to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together to break down barriers.
Held at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange yesterday afternoon, it attracted more than 800 people to discuss all aspects of the religion.
Attendants were also invited to listen to a host of high-profile speakers including Yvonne Ridley (UK), Yusuf Estes and Kamal El Mekki (USA) and others.
“This particular event was designed to be a really positive day – to bring people from all faiths together to share their thoughts on Islam,” Ali said.
Attracting Muslims and non-Muslims from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, the conference was held to tie in with the end of Islam Awareness Week.
The conference included scores of exhibition boards and stalls about Islam.
It also hosted a series of lecture tackling topics such as “Islam a Religion of Peace & Hope”, “Islam misunderstood: media’s role” and “Are Women Oppressed in Islam”.
Scotland is home to more than 500,000 Muslims, making up less than one percent of the population.
Muslims are the second largest religious group in the country, which has thirty mosques.
Source: On Islam
“The problem we have is this – there are people who have a view of what Islam is, but most people don’t interact with Muslims, and if they do it is generally in a shop, so they don’t have a chance to interact on a social level and exchange views.”
The event, called “Hope Conference; Islam is not what you think”, was designed to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together to break down barriers.
Held at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange yesterday afternoon, it attracted more than 800 people to discuss all aspects of the religion.
Attendants were also invited to listen to a host of high-profile speakers including Yvonne Ridley (UK), Yusuf Estes and Kamal El Mekki (USA) and others.
“This particular event was designed to be a really positive day – to bring people from all faiths together to share their thoughts on Islam,” Ali said.
Attracting Muslims and non-Muslims from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, the conference was held to tie in with the end of Islam Awareness Week.
The conference included scores of exhibition boards and stalls about Islam.
It also hosted a series of lecture tackling topics such as “Islam a Religion of Peace & Hope”, “Islam misunderstood: media’s role” and “Are Women Oppressed in Islam”.
Scotland is home to more than 500,000 Muslims, making up less than one percent of the population.
Muslims are the second largest religious group in the country, which has thirty mosques.
Source: On Islam
