THE challenges facing British Muslim women in the face of rising Islamophobia will be among the issues explored at a conference in Bradford this month.

The Daughters of Eve National Residential Conference, organised by the Muslim Women's Council, will see women of all faiths from across the UK, and overseas, gathering to discuss contemporary issues of importance to women.

Items on the agenda include the 'challenges facing Muslim women in the 21st Century’ and 'women’s engagement in mainstream politics'.

The three-day event, at the Mercure Bradford Bankfield Hotel, Bingley, will include speakers, panel discussions and workshops, and informal events such as stand-up comedy, a "pub quiz without a pub", live music and a bazaar.

Guest speakers at the conference include Sherin Khankan, founder of Scandinavia's first women-led mosque which opened in Denmark in February.

Daughters of Eve follows the success of last year's conference, which looked at such issues as the effect of Islamic extremism on Muslim families and young people, and women's concerns about being stigmatised because of their dress code. The conference, which brought women together to share experiences and to network, saw the announcement of plans for the UK's first women-led mosque, in Bradford, which has since been under public consultation.

Other events included a Shariah Law roadshow, exploring issues surrounding marriage law equality and women's rights in marriage and divorce, and there was also a bazaar, beauty rooms, study workshops and entertainment from Poetic Pilgrimage, a hip hop duo of Muslim women who rap about feminism and Islam.

The first Daughters of Eve conference, held in Bradford in 2011, was the first national conference for Muslim women, attended by more than 300 women from across the UK.

Bana Gora, chief executive of the Muslim Women's Council, said the aim was to build on the success of previous events and "create a narrative for women and a platform for debate" in a safe, supportive environment.

"It is a national and international event, and the only UK festival of its kind," she said. "This year we have such a range of speakers - the issues under discussion are too wide ranging for one particular theme, so have left it more open."

This year's conference, which takes place on May 20-22, will explore such issues as Muslim women and religious authority, and inter-faith dialogue on shaping religious discourse around the status of women in Islam. Held in partnership with women's organisation the Al-Rawiyah Foundation, which promotes the empowerment of Muslim women, the conference also introduces Europe's first Shaykha Fest, aimed at honouring the legacy of female Islamic scholarship and drawing attention to contemporary female scholars.

Speakers include Dr Shuruq Naguib, co-chairman of the British Association of Islamic Studies; Salma Yaqoob, co-founder of the Respect party and regarded as one of the most influential Muslim women in the UK; and Sherin Khankan, founder of Mariam Mosque, an international group of female and male scholars, based in Copenhagen, who promote female Muslim leadership and advocate the need for female imams.

Other speakers are Yasmin Amin, a PhD student at the University of Exeter's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, who will talk about the notion of humour in Islam; Shaykha ReimaYosif, founder of the Al-Rawiya Foundation; leading UK-based scholar Safia Shahid; Sarah Joseph, editor of Muslim lifestyle magazine EMEL; and life coach Henrietta Szovati.

“We have a fantastic line-up of speakers coming to Bradford, from the USA, Denmark and from around the UK," said Bana. "The conference will provide an opportunity for women to come together from across the country in order to take ownership of the discourse surrounding Muslim women, which will inspire motivate and empower them."

The Muslim Women’s Council, based in Bradford, is a pro-active organisation, led by the needs of Muslim women. Its aims are:

  • To provide a local and regional platform for Muslim women to network and develop the confidence to engage in issues of concern affecting Muslims living in Britain.
  • To promote greater understanding and confidence between Muslims and the wider society.
  • To promote meaningful engagement between Muslims and the media, policy makers and leaders.
  • To engage with senior decision makers and leaders to hold them to account and influence policy.
  • The Daughters of Eve National Residential Conference is a women-only event, suitable for those aged 16 and above.

Daughters of Eve runs from May 20 - 22. For more information, or to book a place, visit daughtersofeve.co.uk or call 01274 223230.