On Thursday the 6^th and for four days, the biggest Islamic cultural event ever witnessed in Europe will open at Alexandra Palace in London.

Sponsored and supported by numerous organisations, associations and agencies and attended by speakers from 22 countries around the world, representing the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths and no faiths as well as an array of cultural, ethnic, professional and ideological trends, Islam Expo will provide a platform for a comprehensive discussion of matters that figure foremost in the minds and concerns of people today.

From 6^th to 9^th July 2006, London will be the scene of one of the largest Islamic cultural events in the World.

Alexandra Palace where this monumental event will take place will host a great congregation of thinkers, scholars and experts on Islamic affairs drawn from over twenty countries worldwide. Converging on the city from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States, these will discuss some of the hottest topics of concern to public opinion, Muslim and non-Muslim. The impressive programme of lectures, seminars, workshops, panels and debates covers a broad spectrum of subjects which include religion, art, culture, history, economics and politics.

The following are some of the topics to be debated at IslamExpo:

Thursday 6th of July:
-Democratic change in the Muslim world: Prospect and Obstacles
John Esposito,Abdelwahhab El-Afendi,Mahammad Ayoob at 13:30pm
-Islam and the West: Toward better Relations
Wadah Khanfar, JacquesWarrdenberg at 15:00 pm
-The origions of terrorism: Religious or Political?
Alastair Crooke,Jonathan Freedland,Azzam Tamimi,Bill Tupman at 17:30pm

From 6^th to 9^th July 2006, London will be the scene of one of the largest Islamic cultural events in the World.

Alexandra Palace where this monumental event will take place will host a great congregation of thinkers, scholars and experts on Islamic affairs drawn from over twenty countries worldwide. Converging on the city from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States, these will discuss some of the hottest topics of concern to international public opinion, Muslim and non-Muslim.

The intensive programme of lectures, seminars, workshops, panels and debates covers a broad spectrum of subjects which include religion, art, culture, history, economics and politics. The colourful array of titles ranges from ‘the roots of terrorism: religious or political?’, Muslim Youth between national identity and the ummah’, and ‘Jihad: holy war?’, to ‘Muslim contributions to physics & medicine’, ‘the art of the Islamic garden’, and ‘Al-Andalus: when East & West lived side by side’.

The impressive list of speakers features such world-renowned names as Prof. John Esposito (Georgetown University), Mr Wadah Khanfar (General Manager of Aljazeera Satellite network), Frank Gardner (BBC), Seumas Milne (The Guardian), Prof. Tariq Ramadan (Oxford University), Prof. Jacques Waardenburg (Lausanne University), Norman Kember (Christian Peacemaker Teams), Rageh Omaar (former BBC  correspondent),Prof. Merve Kavakci (George Washington University), Dr. Azzam Tamimi (Institute of Islamic Political Thought) and Alastair Crooke (Conflicts Forum).

IslamExpo will be opened on 6^th July 2006 by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

The event is hoped to promote better understanding of Islamic faith, history and society in the aim of strengthening the values of dialogue, openness and tolerance. In the words of the organisers “In this climate of tension full of talk of clashes of civilisations, the need to build bridges between cultures has never been greater. That, we hope, will be IslamExpo’s legacy”.

For interviews and for further information please call 0845 108 5101 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

More than 150 Exhibitors from Britain and across the globe, from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and America will be exhibiting their products and services at the inaugural IslamExpo at Alexandra Palace this July. Products on show  include books, DVD’s and other digital products, rugs, music, clothing, toys and educational materials for children, health products, properties, holiday packages, scarves, foodstuffs, and lots more.

Many overseas businesses will launch their new products at IslamExpo. An example is Ahiida Zanettie, a business woman based in Western Sydney (Australia) who has created a fashion range of active lifestyle gear for Muslim women that combines modesty with modernity. This innovative product, called ‘Hijood’ in reference to its hooded shape, will be first launched in Britain at IslamExpo. Ms Zanettie’s project and participation in IslamExpo were facilitated by an Australian government organisation.

IslamExpo is a ground-breaking event for London and the UK. This is the first expo in Europe devoted to exploring Islamic culture, history, innovation and civilisation through theatre, exhibitions, shopping, films, music, and family activities. It aims to give a more informed perspective of Islamic culture for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike and includes an impressive line-up of conferences, lectures and seminars with renowned speakers on topics as diverse as art, literature, science, architecture, technology, theology and politics.

The four-day event (6-9 July) will feature large exhibitions, and a packed programme of lectures, seminars, debates, music concerts, comedy, theatre, live shows and fun educational activities for children.

IslamExpo is a non-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam in Britain and building bridges between the Muslim world and the West.

For more info please contact 0845 108 5101 / 07779663508 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it