Nottingham Trent University's (NTU) School of Arts and Humanities, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, School of Social Sciences, NTU Faith and the NTSU has organized a series of events throughout November for Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM).

These events challenge stereotypes and help the NTU community understand the discrimination faced by Muslims, while also celebrating Islam and the contributions of the Muslim community.

Challenging stereotypes and celebrating contributions

IAM was co-founded in 2012 by Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) and further British organisations. IAM takes place each November in the UK and aims to:

• deconstruct and challenge the stereotypes about Islam and Muslims
• highlight and celebrate the positive contributions that British Muslims make to society.

A varied series of events for students and colleagues

NTU's varied series of events is aimed at students and colleagues. It includes external speakers as well as students and colleagues. The event series aims to:

• bring an awareness of Islamophobia and its impact on members of the Muslim community
• dispel the one-sided views that can emerge
• celebrate Islam and the contributions of Muslims in the UK

The events included:

• Causes and cures of Islamophobia 
• Islamophobia exhibition (developed by MEND)
• Gendered Islamophobia
• What does it mean to be a Muslim in the UK today?
• Islamophobia 'Rooted in Racism'
• Arabic calligraphy — a visual experience with Ismail Hussayn
• A conversation on the experience of Muslim students on campus

Inviting guest speakers to discuss important topics 

NTU also invited inspiring female speakers to open discussion of a variety important topics related to Islamaphobia Awareness Month.

Amirah Mulla, Deputy Head of Community Development and Engagement at MEND, discusses the causes and cures of Islamophobia. MEND works to increase awareness of Islamophobia in the UK through workshops, and through supporting changes to policies and practices that aim to bring about equality.

British Bangladeshi Muslim teacher and social activist Rubina Ruby Begum focused on Gendered Islamophobia. Ruby has dedicated her life to empowering individuals, communities and organisations to develop and implement authentic EDI practices, using evidence-based theory and educational methodology to demystify the nuances and fears around equality issues that we currently face.

Meanwhile, three women - Shazia, Zaynub, and Shoana - spoke about Islamophobia ‘Rooted in Racism’. 

Shazia Nazir is the Engagement and Membership Manager at Self Help UK, a charity that encourages, develops and provides peer support in the community. She has been a social activist for the past 15 years, and has worked with organisations to develop, review and embed their equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies. Shazia is a board member of a Birmingham-based charity developing interfaith relations, and is a committee member at Nottingham Stand Up To Racism.

Zaynub Asghar is the Coordinator at Nottingham Muslim Women's Network (NMWN). Zaynub is a community activist and an experienced part of the leadership team of NWMN. She brings an authentic voice of Muslim women from the community. Zaynub has a keen interest in spirituality and holistic wellbeing.

Shoana Qureshi-Khan is part of the student body at Nottingham Trent University, after receiving a scholarship for an MSc in psychology. She achieved this through her passion to introduce more preventive systems in addressing mental illness and risk-taking behaviour in young people, both locally and nationally, through talks and workshops. Her commitment and endeavour was to uplift marginalised communities, with particular interests in the effects of Islamophobia and racism on well-being.

Work for a university that takes inclusion seriously

Nottingham Trent University fosters an environment that is free from discrimination, where everyone, from staff to students, is able to participate and where everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

With a shared vision, NTU is a community of more than 4,000 colleagues, all committed to the goal of becoming the University of the Future.

Thrive in this inclusive environment - find your place working at NTU.

Find out more