Young European Muslims were either born or brought up here. Their parents straddle ethnic and European cultures and often have an expectation that their children will be culturally more ethnic. However, many young Muslims are more comfortable with European culture, and Europe is ‘home’. This experience of young Muslims is not only limited to young European Muslims, but is experienced across the globe.
This programme defuses that tension and helps make young Muslims’ local and Islamic identities symbiotic. In the current environment of increasing hostility towards Islam, it is imperative that young Muslims form a confident identity to be at peace with themselves and others in an increasingly turbulent world.
Learning to be a Peacemaker (LPM) is a course on Islamic approaches to peacemaking for young Muslims and their non-Muslim peers aged 18-30. Designed and delivered by Imam and broadcaster, Ajmal Masroor, in association with Initiatives of Change, this 10 week course aims to offer:
The 90-minute sessions each week will be delivered by Zoom, and the training style is interactive, with introductions to the subject-matter by Imam Ajmal, followed by Q&A and small-group discussions. At the end of the course, participants will plan a practical project to undertake at home to demonstrate learning and commitment to peacemaking.
Keep an eye out on the Caux Forum page for upcoming dates of the course.
Ajmal Masroor is one of the Imams at four London mosques, leading Friday prayers (Jummah) on a monthly rota. Through the Barefoot Institute, he provides counselling for relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings and relatives. He is known nationally and internationally as a speaker and author on marriage and relationship issues, and is frequently invited by mainline media to comment on political, social and community affairs.
Omayma Soltani is a Pharmacy student, living in Paris and whose parents were originally from Tunisia. She took part in the LPM programme in 2018 and says: ‘I learnt a tremendous amount during the programme, which happened when I was starting to consider my role as a citizen, how my cultural background fits into that, and what strengths it gives me. To be a Muslim, hijabi, Tunisian woman in France is not easy…this programme does a brilliant job at helping us, individually as well as collectively, find out how we can all change to bring these positive changes in our countries.
Peter Riddell has spent many years with IofC organising trust-building programmes between people of different faiths based on shared moral and spiritual values. He is Convenor of IofC UK’s Agenda for Reconciliation programme and is currently delivering an online course Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers.
