Jalsa Salana, the largest Muslim gathering in the United Kingdom, proceeded as planned this weekend with significantly increased security staffing and coordinated support from police and local authorities. The event, organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, attracted roughly 50,000 participants from more than 100 countries to a temporary site in Hampshire. The enhanced security measures were implemented against a backdrop of elevated anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes in the country.
The decision to proceed with the conference came weeks after another major Islamic gathering was forced to close early following the arrest of 12 individuals, including three suspected of involvement in a far-right conspiracy. Despite these circumstances, Rafiq Hayat, leader of the UK’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated the organization had no hesitation in moving forward with the event. Now in its 60th year, the convention featured prayers, speeches including remarks from the global leader of the faith community, and attendance from members of Parliament, religious leaders, and other public officials.
Hayat emphasized that the Ahmadiyya community has maintained a presence in Britain for over a century, having established itself in 1913 and constructed one of London’s first purpose-built mosques in 1926. He noted the community has encountered various forms of hostility throughout its history and responded by building strong relationships with neighbors and local institutions rather than withdrawing from public engagement. Recent statistics indicated that mosques in Britain face attacks at a rate of one every five days, while anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months leading to March 2025.
Hayat attributed the community’s approach to teachings within the Ahmadiyya faith emphasizing loyalty to one’s country as integral to religious practice. He noted that threats to the community originate from multiple sources, including both far-right extremists and individuals from other Muslim communities who hold differing theological views. The Ahmadiyya community has experienced attacks on its facilities and encountered increased hostility on digital platforms. Hayat advocated for increased visibility and personal engagement between Muslim communities and the broader public as an effective response to misconceptions about Islam.
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