Muslim women from across the UK were visiting Bradford this weekend for a residential conference.

The Daughters of Eve event, believed to be the first of its kind in the Bradford district, includes interactive workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches.

High-profile guests included Lebanese music composer and opera singer Hiba Al Kawas, Riffat Hassan, Professor Emerita of the University of Louisville and Julie Siddiqi, executive director of the Islamic Society of Britain.

Other speakers included Farkhanda Chaudhry, Scotland’s first Muslim magistrate, Sarah Joseph, chief executive and editor of Muslim lifestyle brand Emel, Ustaad Ahtsham Ali, National Muslim Advisor to Her Majesty’s Prison Service and Selina Ullah, Bradford Council’s assistant director for safer and stronger communities.

The two-day event at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Bingley, has been organised by the Bradford Muslim Women’s Council and the Islamic Society of Britain.

Bana Gora, chairman of BMWC, said: “Muslims are the second largest faith-based community in the UK.

“In the current environment where the Muslim community is facing numerous challenges, we have a vision of a society where Muslim women have a strong and effective voice.

“Our aim is to listen and formulate ideas.”

Wahida Shaffi, director of BMWC, said: “While Muslim women have achieved positions of influence, there is still a way to go in recognising the importance of Muslim women in British society.

“The establishment of the BMWC is a pioneering Bradford initiative that seeks to create an inclusive basis for strengthening the voice and influence of Muslim women across the UK.”