Bringing together thousands from all around the world, Europe’s largest Muslim event opened in Britain on Saturday, October 25, with the focus of promoting multiculturalism.

“Global Peace and Unity conference is by far the largest event of its kind in Europe and may be in the West as a whole,” GUP Chairman Mohamed Ali told IslamOnline.net.

The two-day conference, held at Excel Conference and Exhibition Center, brings together luminaries and celebrity guests from around the world.

Leading among attendees are Danish Imam Abdul Wahid Pedersen, American Muslim scholar Yusuf Estes and British Muslim singer Yusuf Islam.

Also attending British Secretary of Justice Jack Straw, Muslim MP Shahid Malik and Lord Nazir Ahmed.

“We at the GPU do strive every year to have some addition, at spiritual level we are having one of the Imams of the holy mosque and the muezzin of prophet’s mosque, and of course the Kiswah (curtains) of the Ka`bah, and the two models of the two holy mosques,” said Ali.

“We are also expanding on awards especially friends of Islam awards and education awards.”

The conference is organized by the free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused Islam Channel for the fourth consecutive year.

Multiculturalism

Themed “Working Towards A Multi-cultural Society”, this year’s conference aims to promote peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.

“It has a yearly theme this year being towards a multicultural society,” Ali told IOL.

Organizers seek to make the conference a platform for an effective dialogue with non-Muslims.

A number of major interfaith groups have been invited to address the conference on promoting dialogue and building bridges across faiths, communities and societies.

“Our aim is always to build confidence among our Muslim Ummah and to be proud being Muslims,” he said.

“We also want to engage with the wider society in a positive way.”

The Muslim population in Britain is estimated at nearly two million.

“The Muslim community, so rich and diverse in itself, makes an enormously valuable contribution to our society,” Straw said in a statement ahead of GUP opening.

“Those of us who are not Muslims but have the privilege of knowing and working with Muslims can testify to that.

“This event is a great opportunity to demonstrate this contribution, whilst challenging stereotypes and reasserting shared values. It is through unity that we will achieve peace.”
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