Jalsa Salana, the UK’s largest Muslim gathering, is taking place this weekend in Hampshire with increased security staffing and coordination with law enforcement, amid a documented rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes across the country. The event, now in its 60th year, is expected to attract approximately 50,000 attendees from over 100 countries to a 208-acre temporary site. The convention features religious observances, speeches from community leaders including the global head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and attendance from MPs, bishops, and other public officials.
Rafiq Hayat, leader of the UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which organizes the festival, stated that the decision to proceed was made without hesitation despite the current climate. The community has established a lengthy presence in Britain, with roots dating back over a century and the construction of one of London’s first purpose-built mosques in 1926. Hayat drew on historical experience facing hostility from various movements, including far-right groups that protested during the construction of the community’s Morden mosque in the 1990s.
In response to past opposition, the Ahmadiyya community developed engagement strategies focused on building relationships with local stakeholders, including churches, local authorities, and police. Hayat credited these sustained relationships as instrumental in creating mutual understanding and cooperation. Current statistics indicate that mosques in Britain face attacks at a rate of one every five days, while anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales increased by 19% in the 12 months to March 2025.
Hayat emphasized that the community’s response to rising hostility involves increased public visibility and engagement rather than withdrawal from society. He highlighted instances where initial skepticism from community members transformed into positive experiences through direct personal contact with the Ahmadiyya community. Beyond far-right threats, Hayat acknowledged that the Ahmadi community also faces persecution from extremist elements within the broader Muslim community, referencing a 2016 religiously motivated murder of an Ahmadi in Glasgow. Despite these multifaceted challenges, he advocated for continued dialogue and personal encounters as the most effective means of combating misconceptions and promoting peaceful coexistence.
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