explore words discover worlds

Islamophobia isn’t just a slur or a spike in hate crime — it’s a system. From counterterrorism policy and surveillance to media narratives and foreign wars, Muslims are routinely positioned as threats. This panel examines how Islamophobia is being mobilised today in the UK and across the globe. Who gains from it, and how is it being challenged? What does it take to confront it at its roots — not just in rhetoric, but in power structures?  In an age of rising nationalism and global instability, is Islamophobia shaping the policies that divide us — and what do we risk if we don’t confront it?

Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad Al-Azhari joins us to launch Parables from the Qur’an, the much-anticipated follow-up to Contemplating the Qur’an. This talk offers a unique opportunity to delve into the thematic depth and metaphorical beauty of the Qur’an, drawing on classical scholarship and contemporary insight. While Contemplating the Qur’an provides a concise, accessible commentary across the thirty parts (juz’) of the Qur’an, Parables from the Qur’an explores its rich use of metaphor and allegory, uncovering timeless lessons through reflective analysis. Whether you’re a dedicated student or new to the Qur’an’s message, this session promises to deepen your understanding and connection to the divine word.

The war in Ukraine has reshaped Europe — and the ripple effects are still unfolding. With Russia on the offensive, the far right gaining ground, and Trump’s return to the global stage, Europe faces urgent questions about its identity, unity, and future. Will the continent stand firm as a force for democracy and stability, or splinter under pressure? What role can Europe play in a world increasingly shaped by nationalism and conflict? This timely event explores the power struggles, political shifts, and global forces that are redefining Europe — and asks who will shape what comes next.

What happens when myth and magic collide with history? In this spellbinding event, authors Shubnum Khan (The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years) and Genevieve Cogman (Damned) explore the power of fantasy to reshape the past and reimagine the present. From an ancient djinn stirring in a ruined South African mansion to a vampiric plot unravelling in revolutionary England, both writers use the supernatural to confront buried stories, collective memory, and untold grief. Join them for a rich conversation on folklore, fantasy, historical fiction — and why the past is never quite as distant as it seems.

Join historian and filmmaker Sam Dalrymple and Samia Rahman for an illuminating discussion on his debut book, Shattered Lands. Drawing from extensive archival research and multilingual oral histories, Dalrymple examines five pivotal partitions, including those of India, Burma, and Palestine, that dismantled the British Indian Empire and reshaped modern Asia. Through personal narratives and political analysis, he reveals how these divisions led to enduring conflicts, mass migrations, and the redrawing of borders. This event offers a compelling exploration of how historical partitions continue to influence contemporary geopolitics and identities across the region.

Across the West, far right movements are gaining ground — not just at the margins, but in the mainstream. From fiery rhetoric to policy influence, they’re reshaping the way we talk about identity, belonging, and power. What’s fuelling this rise, and why now?  Join us for a timely and urgent discussion as our experts explore the deeper forces at play — from economic anxiety and online radicalisation to political polarisation and cultural backlash.  In this discussion we consider what this could mean for the future of democracy, free speech and how can we respond before the tide turns further.

Join historian and author, Manu S. Pillai and Saeed Khan, for an illuminating talk on his latest book, Gods, Guns and Missionaries. Drawing on rich historical research, Pillai explores the complex interplay of religion, colonial power, and armed conflict in shaping the Indian subcontinent’s past. Through compelling narratives, he reveals how faith, force, and imperial ambition intertwined to influence culture, politics, and society.

For millennia, Syria has stood at the heart of global history — from the Bronze Age cities of Ebla and Ugarit to Roman Antioch and Umayyad Damascus. A land of prophets, poets, and empires, it was shaped by Persian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman rule. This talk explores Syria’s extraordinary past: a centre of faith, culture, and commerce where civilisations met and ideas flourished. As we trace its path through colonialism and independence to the early years of the Assad regime, we uncover the deep historical layers that continue to shape one of the world’s most complex nations.

Join writer and researcher Madeline Potter for a deeply personal and timely conversation about her acclaimed book The Roma, a powerful portrait of Europe’s Romani communities, past and present. Blending memoir, reportage, and historical investigation, Potter sheds new light on a people too often excluded from mainstream narratives. From artists and boxers to survivors of persecution and injustice, The Roma uncovers extraordinary lives, and challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that continue to shape public perception. Drawing on her own experiences as a Romani woman, Potter offers a moving exploration of identity, resilience, and the importance of visibility.

Long before it became a flashpoint in today’s geopolitics, Crimea was the site of one of the 19th century’s most consequential wars. This event revisits the Crimean War — a clash of empires, religion, and ambition that saw Britain and the Ottoman Empire allied against an expansionist Russia. While Florence Nightingale and the Charge of the Light Brigade remain in public memory, the war’s deeper geopolitical legacy is often forgotten. What does this earlier conflict reveal about imperial rivalry, the shaping of Europe, and the long shadow Crimea casts over today’s war in Ukraine?

Professor Abdullah Alkadi shares the remarkable story of Al-Qaswāʾ, the beloved she-camel of the Prophet Muhammad. ﷺ Faithfully accompanying the Prophet across the Hijaz, the western region of the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Qaswāʾ is mentioned numerous times in hadith literature, from the Hijrah to the Farewell Hajj. Joining Professor Alkadi for an engaging discussion is Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, President of Zaytuna College, California. Together, they will explore the Islamic emphasis on compassion, care, and the ethical treatment of animals, hallmarks of a faith grounded in mercy. Drawing on decades of research into the Hijrah Route, the Way of the Prophets, and the Farewell Hajj, Professor Alkadi observed a striking detail: alongside the Prophet and his Companions at key moments, Al-Qaswāʾ was also present. More than a means of transport, she was a silent witness to revelation, an emblem of loyalty and grace. This heartwarming account uncovers a story many have yet to hear, filled with well-sourced anecdotes that reflect the compassion and spiritual depth of Islam.

Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey share a passionate belief in a fairer, more equal Britain, encapsulated in Labour’s 2017 election slogan ‘For the many, not the few’. This slogan, inspired by Shelley’s famous poem The Masque of Anarchy, points to something else the two men have in common: a lifelong enthusiasm for poetry. Their selected poems travel over centuries and continents, with poets ranging from William Blake to Emily Dickinson, and Stevie Smith to Linton Kwesi Johnson. Featuring guest selections from the likes of Rob Delaney, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ken Loach, Maxine Peake, Michael Rosen, Alexei Sayle, and Gary Younge. Join Corbyn and McCluskey as they discuss the poems that continue to inspire them in their political careers.

Join us for a thought-provoking talk with Professor Saeed Khan as we mark 50 years since the fall of Saigon, the event that ended the Vietnam War on April 30th,1975. Known in Vietnam as Reunification Day, it reshaped the political and cultural landscape of Southeast Asia. Professor Khan will explore the global impact of the war’s conclusion, the legacy of U.S. involvement, and how its memory continues to influence contemporary geopolitics. A concise, insightful session that offers historical reflection and fresh perspective – perfect for your lunch hour.

Join us for a powerful conversation reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 miners’ strike, one of the most pivotal events in Britain’s industrial and political history. Featuring Emily P. Webber, author of Mining Men: Britain’s Last Kings of the Coalface, and Craig Oldham, author of In Loving Memory of Work, the event explores the strike’s lasting impact on working-class identity, community, and resistance.

Join WritersMosaic and The Royal Literary Fund’s John Siddique for a gripping exploration into the dark hearts of storytelling with three of today’s leading voices in global crime fiction. Sunday Times bestseller, Saima Mir, City University’s Crime Writing Award winner, Nadine Matheson, and critically acclaimed author, Kia Abdullah – whose work has been hailed as ‘thriller of the year’ by The Guardian and The Telegraph – come together to discuss the creative drive, personal journeys, and cultural forces that shape their narratives. From vengeance to justice, and trauma to empowerment, this conversation reveals what lies beneath the surface of every killer story.

Join Ustadh Feraidoon Mojadedi, one of the best-known and most respected community leaders and academics in the Bay Area, California, as he guides us on a journey of spiritual enlightenment through the profound contributions of two remarkable poets, Rumi and Iqbal.At the age of five, Mojadedi began to memorise poems by Rumi and other great poets. His love of poetry continued to grow and eventually developed into a passion and calling that would allow him to teach regular classes on Rumi throughout California, the US, UK, Canada,Australia, Malaysia, Germany and even as far as Konya, Turkey, where Mawlana Rumi is laid to rest.Despite emerging in vastly different historical contexts, both Rumi and Iqbal transcended their respective challenges by embracing the concept of Divine Love. Discover how their messages revolve around two central themes: self-discovery as a pathway to realising one’s true potential, and the importance of connecting with God through this journey of introspection.

Join us for our annual Free Word Lecture, which aims to uphold the ethos of free speech with a focus on the power and politics of words. Continuing the legacy of the Free Word Centre, an international centre for literature, literacy and free expression, this annual event creates a platform for writers to spark stimulating conversations and challenge our assumptions about the world. Following in the footsteps of previous speakers Ben Okri and Rana Ayyub, this year’s lecture promises to be another unmissable event exploring the transformative and democratising power of words and the importance of freedom of expression.

On the 175th anniversary of the death of Anne Brontë, we are joined by authors and Brontë experts, Adelle Hay and Nick Holland, to explore her life, legacy, and her debut novel, Agnes Grey. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century England, this poignant novel follows the experiences of Agnes, a governess, as she navigates the complexities of love, morality, and social class, which is argued to mirror Anne’s own life. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Brontës or new to their literary legacy, this event promises to be a captivating journey into the heart and mind of Anne Brontë and her timeless masterpiece, Agnes Grey.

What is fact when the leaders of your country deny it? Disinformation is the new weapon in the political warfare that dominates the headlines, and social media has enabled it to spread like wildfire. Are we heading towards a world of mass surveillance and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours within society? Are we unwittingly experiencing the end of liberal democracy, and what are the alternatives? Political scientist Anne Norton, in her new book Wild Democracy, questions the principles of liberalism and modern democracies and calls for a more anarchic, more courageous democracy to avoid the drift towards authoritarianism. But would this place too much power in the hands of the people?Join Anne Norton, Myriam François, and Saeed Khan for a fascinating discussion about the current state of democracy in the modern world, how we can navigate a world where the ‘truth’ is not all that it seems, and what future alternative systems could look like.

Discover the essential writings of the late scholar, Martin Lings, curated by Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi. This collection brings together some of the most remarkable chapters from Lings’ extensive body of work, including his insights into the perennial philosophy, and writings on Islam and Sufism. Delve into Lings’ reflections on the spiritual dimensions within Shakespeare’s mature plays, such as Hamlet, as well as his exploration of Qur’anic calligraphy and illumination, and celebrated translations of Sufi mystical poetry classics. Dr Shah-Kazemi, who was not only Lings’ neighbour but also his student and friend for over 16 years, will guide us through select passages from the book, focusing particularly on the mystical depths found within Hamlet.