Jalsa Salana, the UK’s largest Muslim gathering organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, took place this past weekend with significantly increased security staffing and coordination with police and emergency services. The 60th annual convention attracted roughly 50,000 participants from more than 100 countries to a temporary site in Hampshire, with the opening featuring prayers, speeches from community leaders including the global head Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, and attendance from MPs, bishops and other public figures.
The heightened security measures came in response to a documented rise in anti-Muslim sentiment across Britain. Recent statistics indicate that mosques face attacks at a rate of one incident every five days, and anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales increased by 19 percent in the 12 months to March 2025. Additionally, another major Islamic gathering was forced to close early last month after 12 arrests, including three individuals on suspicion of conspiracy to murder related to a suspected far-right threat.
Rafiq Hayat, head of the UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, expressed determination to proceed despite the security climate. The community, established in Britain over a century ago with one of London’s first purpose-built mosques constructed in 1926, has previously confronted various forms of opposition throughout its history. Hayat referenced past experiences with far-right movements, including protests during the construction of the community’s mosque in Morden during the 1990s.
Hayat described the community’s approach to addressing hostility through proactive engagement with neighbours and local institutions. He highlighted the establishment of monthly liaison meetings involving church representatives, local authorities, and police, noting that initial tensions eventually evolved into collaborative relationships. Hayat emphasised the importance of visibility and personal encounters in combating misconceptions, stating that community members should not withdraw from public life but rather increase their engagement with broader society.
The Ahmadiyya community faces opposition from multiple sources. Beyond far-right hostility, Ahmadi Muslims have experienced persecution from some extremist Muslim groups both internationally, particularly in Pakistan, and within Britain. A notable case occurred in 2016 when Asad Shah, an Ahmadi Muslim, was killed outside his shop in Glasgow in a religiously motivated murder by another Muslim. Despite these varied threats, Hayat maintained that the community’s response should centre on continued public participation and interpersonal dialogue.
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