London festival to challenge Islamophobia

LONDON: The UK's first ever festival dedicated to Muslim culture, literature and ideas it to take place later this year.

Billed as challenging Islamophobia through exploring diversity within Muslim cultures, the event will feature stand-up comedy, feminism within Islam and a discussion around the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

BBC journalist Razia Iqbal, novelist Kamila Shamsie and Labour MP Emma Dent Coad are among those names revealed as taking part in the MFest event. Director of the festival, Tufyal Choudhury, said it would "challenge a fundamental feature of Islamophobia, which sees Islam and Muslims as a monolithic, static block".

"We are delighted to launch a festival of books and ideas that recognises the diversity, differences and dynamics of Muslim cultures and lives," he added.

The event will take place in the last week of March.

Tufyal Choudhury, Director of MFest, said: “We are delighted to launch a festival of books and ideas that recognises the diversity, differences and dynamics of Muslim cultures and lives. MFest challenges a fundamental feature of Islamophobia, which sees Islam and Muslims as a monolithic, static block.”