The UK’s largest Muslim convention, Jalsa Salana, has commenced this weekend in Hampshire with increased security measures amid a rise in attacks on mosques and growing anti-Muslim sentiment across the country. Now in its 60th year, the event is expected to attract around 50,000 attendees from more than 100 countries to a temporary site, where prayers, speeches, and community gatherings are taking place.

Organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the convention opened with an address by the group’s global leader, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, as well as the raising of a union jack. The event is set to draw a broad spectrum of public figures, including MPs, bishops, and other community leaders.

The increased security includes the deployment of several hundred additional staff working closely with police, emergency services, and local authorities. This precaution comes after a recent incident at another Islamic gathering, where 12 people were arrested—including three on suspicion of conspiracy to murder—following a suspected far-right threat. Despite these concerns, the organisers of Jalsa Salana decided against cancelling the event. Rafiq Hayat, head of the UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, stated that cancellation was “not once. Not for a second” considered.

Hayat also highlighted the community’s long experience of facing hostility. Having lived in London since 1967, he has witnessed various right-wing movements and their protests, notably during the 1990s when hundreds of British National Party supporters demonstrated against the construction of the movement’s mosque in Morden, London. Rather than retreat, Hayat said the community chose to foster positive relations with its neighbours, inviting local church members, community groups, local authorities, and police to engage in regular monthly meetings at the mosque.

The heightened security measures reflect growing concerns in the UK regarding anti-Muslim violence and rhetoric. While the arrests linked to the far-right threat underline the severity of potential risks, community leaders maintain a message of resilience and outreach. The continued openness of Jalsa Salana and its emphasis on interfaith and community dialogue illustrate a commitment to countering hostility through connection rather than withdrawal.