Explore Muslim communities in Britain and Europe through author talks and discussions on Islamophobia, resistance to racism, and misconceptions about Muslim identity and belonging.
Muslim Europe: Then and Now
Thursday 5 November, 6.15-7.45pm, East Ham Library
Tharik Hussain will discuss his books Minarets in the Mountains, Muslim Europe: In Search of a Fourteen Hundred Year History and Muslim Britain and Ireland, exploring the often-overlooked history of Muslims in Europe. Challenging the misconception that Muslims are outsiders to the West, he will examine Islam’s long and rich presence across Europe.
Come What May: We're Here to Stay
Saturday 14 November, 2-3.30pm, Green Street Library
Join Taj Ali as we look at a vital and often overlooked chapter of British history.
As Britain continues to grapple with questions of racism, identity and belonging, journalist and author Taj Ali explores the remarkable history of South Asian resistance in Britain. Drawing on his acclaimed book Come What May, We're Here to Stay, Taj uncovers stories of political activism spanning generations, from anti-colonial campaigners and striking seafarers to the grassroots movements that challenged racism in the 1970s and 1980s. He reveals how South Asian communities have fought for rights, dignity and equality while helping to shape modern Britain.
The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women
Thursday 26 November, 6.15-7.45pm, Stratford Library
Growing up, journalist Shahed Ezaydi was often asked how she could call herself a feminist and still practise her faith. It’s a question that reveals a deeper issue that Muslim women often face: being ignored in feminist spaces entirely or cast as passive victims in need of being saved. The Othered Woman challenges the myths of how Muslim women are oppressed and who by, and shows that these myths translate into very real harm both in Britain and around the world.
