Jalsa Salana, the largest Muslim gathering in the UK, took place with additional security personnel and coordination with law enforcement authorities. The event, now in its 60th year, drew approximately 50,000 attendees from more than 100 countries to a temporary venue in Hampshire. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which organizes the convention, implemented heightened protective measures in response to an environment of increased anti-Muslim sentiment.
The decision to proceed came as another major Islamic gathering was forced to close early following arrests related to a suspected far-right threat. Rafiq Hayat, head of the UK’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated the organization remained fully committed to holding the event despite security concerns. The convention featured religious observances, speeches including remarks from the community’s international leader, and attendance from members of Parliament, religious leaders, and other public figures.
Hayat contextualized the current climate within the community’s longer history in Britain, which extends to 1913 and includes the construction of one of London’s first purpose-built mosques in 1926. He cited experiences with various forms of opposition over decades, including far-right political movements and neighborhood resistance during mosque construction. The community’s approach involved establishing dialogue mechanisms with local authorities, churches, and neighboring groups, which Hayat credited with building sustained cooperation.
Current data indicates one mosque faces attacks approximately every five days in Britain, with anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales rising 19% in the 12 months ending March 2025. Hayat emphasized that the Ahmadiyya community’s response involved increased public engagement rather than withdrawal from civic life. He noted the community also faces hostility from some Muslim extremist groups, referencing a 2016 murder of an Ahmadi Muslim man by another Muslim with religious motivations.
Hayat advocated personal interaction and visibility as primary tools for countering misconceptions and building peaceful coexistence, describing instances where initial skepticism transformed into genuine community connection through direct engagement with the mosque and its members.
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