Islam Awareness Week
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The Islamic Society of Britain initiated Islam Awareness Week in 1994, to raise awareness and remove misconceptions surrounding Islam. In 1997 the Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia by the Runnymede Trust confirmed the existence of widespread prejudice (prejudice means that before you have analyzed or weighed the facts you make a judgment, in all likelihood most people were not prejudiced, rather simply judging the facts) and discrimination against Muslims in Britain. Their report, 'Islamophobia (this is not a real phobia, but rather an imagined fear) - a challenge for us all' (1997), launched by the Home Secretary at the House of Commons, proposed sixty recommendations, one of which was the desperate need for awareness and understanding of the true teachings of Islam. This was confirmed by the Commission’s second report on Islamophobia launched in 2004.
Since and before the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the bombings of various European cities, the view has spread (the view has always been that Islam was spread via violence and the threat of violence) that Islam is a purely violent religion.[citation needed] Attempting to counter this idea by portraying Islam as tolerant and peaceful, Islam Awareness Week promotes social interaction between the Muslim and Western cultures.
Themes
2006: One World
2005: Past and Present: 1000 years of Islam in Britain
2004: Your Muslim Neighbour
2003: Muslim Heritage
Also present at the launch in the House of Commons were:
Dominic Grieve (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs)
Phil Willis (Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Lib Dem)
Trevor Philips (Chair, Commission for Racial Equality)
Representative of HRH The Prince of Wales
Iqbal Sacranie (Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain)
2002: Fasting to Remember
Special guests at the launch event included:
Rt Hon Paul Boateng (Secretary to the Treasury)
Christina Dyke (Conservative Party)
Lord Conrad Russell (Liberal Democrat Peer)
Mike Waldron, on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari (Deputy Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain)
2001: Islam for Peace and Justice
Special Guests at the launch event included:
Rt Hon John Prescott (Deputy Prime Minister)
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin (Shadow Home Secretary)
Rt Hon Simon Hughes (London & Home Affairs Spokesperson)
Sarah Joseph (Islamic Society of Britain)
Yousuf Bhailok (Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain)
2000: Fight the Prejudice - Islamophobia
Guests at the launch event included:
Rt Hon William Hague (Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition)
Rt Hon Jack Straw (Home Secretary)
Rt Hon Simon Hughes (London & Home Affairs Spokesperson)
Yousuf Bhailok (Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain)
Other Islam Awareness Weeks
Islam Awareness Week (IAW) is also a week-long series of lectures, workshops, and seminars held all across University campuses in North America to increase awareness about Islam and issues related to Muslims. These activities specifically focus on dispelling stereotypes and prejudices surrounding Islam and Muslims. The actual week selected for holding IAW varies from one University campus to another.
Cornell University's Muslim Educational and Cultural Association, the predominant group for Muslims on campus, holds the most educational Islam Awareness Weeks across the North East of the US.
Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa - Canada, have been holding Islam Awareness Week for at least the past 5 years. It is a week long event by which more than 200 volunteers are recruited to raise awareness across campus and answer any questions students may have. The theme for the 2010 Islam Awareness Week at both universities was "You deserve to know more" - Both universities offered many different booths, set-up in the heart of the University Centre and included topics like Religion, Culture, Science, Contemporary Issues, Finance and Economics, Islamic Art, Women in Islam, Henna booth, Your name in Arabic, as well as free food.
External links
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