Jalsa Salana, described as the UK’s largest Muslim convention, is being held this weekend in Hampshire with security significantly enhanced through additional staff, police coordination, and cooperation with local authorities. The event, now in its 60th year, is anticipated to attract approximately 50,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. The convention is organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a religious group established in Britain over a century ago.
The increased security measures come in response to growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the country. According to recent data, one mosque experiences an attack in Britain approximately every five days, and anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months leading up to March 2025. The heightened precautions follow an incident earlier in the month when another Islamic gathering was shut down prematurely after 12 individuals were arrested, including three suspected of involvement in a far-right conspiracy to commit murder.
Rafiq Hayat, head of the UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated the organization proceeded with the event without hesitation despite the security concerns. He noted the community has confronted various forms of hostility throughout its presence in Britain, including opposition from far-right movements and political figures. Hayat described how the community responded to earlier challenges by establishing dialogue with neighbors, local authorities, and police, creating sustained engagement mechanisms that have improved relations over time.
Hayat emphasized that the community’s approach to current threats involves increased visibility and engagement with the broader public rather than withdrawal from civic life. He highlighted instances where personal interactions at community facilities have changed individuals’ perspectives about Islam and Muslims. However, Hayat acknowledged that hostility toward the Ahmadiyya community originates from multiple sources, including extremist actors within Muslim communities both internationally and domestically. He referenced the 2016 religiously motivated murder of an Ahmadi Muslim man in Glasgow as an example of internal community tensions.
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