First ever Muslim festival launched to challenge Islamophobia

The UK’s first ever festival dedicated to Muslim culture, literature and ideas it to take place later this year.

Billed as challenging Islamophobia through exploring diversity within Muslim cultures, the event will feature stand-up comedy, feminism within Islam and a discussion around the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

BBC journalist Razia Iqbal, novelist Kamila Shamsie and Labour MP Emma Dent Coad are among those names revealed as taking part in the MFest event.

Director of the festival, Tufyal Choudhury, said it would “challenge a fundamental feature of Islamophobia, which sees Islam and Muslims as a monolithic, static block”.

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“We are delighted to launch a festival of books and ideas that recognises the diversity, differences and dynamics of Muslim cultures and lives,” he added.

Sponsored by the Aziz Foundation, MFest takes place between April 27 and April 29 2018 at the British Library.