Belfast and the UK, more generally, were convulsed by shocking racist attacks this summer, which were orchestrated by the Far Right. We saw the targetting of various community groups, with attacks on property, racist verbal abuse, intimidation and physical violence. In response to the events of the summer, the School of HAPP and the Centre of Public History are inviting two Imams based on the island of Ireland who represent the Ahmadiyya Community, Imam Ibrahim Michael Noonan and Imam Mutaraf Ahmed. We are also inviting Mehrshad Esfandiari, who is a refugee who works in the homeless sector in Belfast. Our guest will deliver talks followed by a Q & A session. The event is aimed at creating understanding within the university of the concerns of the refugee and Ahmadiyya community groups based on the island of Ireland and within the UK. It is envisioned as the first in a series of events intended to build long-standing links and dialogue between the School of HAPP and various religious and refugee community groups within Northern Ireland, for the purposes of determining the means by which our department can be of assistance in promoting community relations and cross-cultural dialogue.
