Myths and realities of Muslim life in Britain

The portrayal of Muslims on television, the realities of Muslim family life in Britain, and the myths about Muslims in prison are among the topics to be explored in a series of talks at Cardiff University.

The free public lecture series, organised and hosted by the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK, based in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion, takes place throughout February and March.

"Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and indeed in the UK," said Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray, director of the centre. "There is a huge amount of interest in the place of Islam in the UK, and here in Cardiff, where there is a long history of Muslim settlement.

"For our lecture series, we've managed to attract some of the leading experts to offer thought-provoking insights into various aspects of Muslim life in the UK."

The talks begin on Tuesday February 11, when Professor Mona Siddiqui, of the University of Edinburgh, will talk on Friendship and Hospitality – Challenge or Route to Integration?

The programme continues on subsequent Tuesdays with:

February 18: Plural Identities and the Islamisation of Public Space in Britain; Professor John Eade, of the University of Roehampton;

February 25: Muslim Family Life in Britain: Between Ideals and Reality; Ajmal Masmoor, Imam, broadcaster and relationship counsellor;

March 4: Muslims in Prison: Breaking the Myths; Mike Kavanagh, Head of Chaplaincy for the National Offender Management Service, and Ahtsham Ali, Muslim Adviser for HM Prison Service;

March 11: Casting Islam – UK Television and the Muslim Narrative; Navid Akhtar, Executive Director or Gazelle Media;

March 18: A Day in the Life of an Imam in Cardiff; Mufti Bilal Syed in conversation with Dr Mansur Ali, of Cardiff University;

March 25: The Role of a Mufti in Modern Society; Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam.

"We have arranged a particularly broad and fascinating range of topics," said Professor Gilliat-Ray. "The talks should be of interest to a wide audience, including members of the Muslim community, and others who are interested to learn more."

The talks begin at 7pm each Tuesday in the Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue.

Advance booking for the lectures is not essential and last minute attendees are welcome. However if you do plan to attend, you are asked to register online through the Centre's website.

The Centre is responsible for Cardiff University's first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), running on the FutureLearn platform. The free online course, starting on 10th March, will allow learners to develop their understanding of Muslims and their faith through an exploration of communities in Britain. Find out more about the course.