About the Event

Join us for a panel discussion discussing safety & safeguarding in Mosques and Institutions. This event is a collaboration between Vibrant Scottish Mosques and SACRED body:mind:space and their research partner The Markfield Institute, Centre for the Study of Wellbeing. Our panel will be sharing their experiences and research and we will be asking participants to contribute to the discussion to draw out key ideas that will inform VSM’s response to recommendations set out in their report ‘Hear My Voice’.

Aim

To address the collective responsibility involved with raising awareness of safe spaces in mosques and institutions and improve institutional structures and responses to support victims & survivors of abuse.

Objectives

1. Participants are aware of the how unsafe spaces can be created and how that can create spaces in which abuse can occur.

2. Participants contribute to potential solutions towards better safeguarding and reporting of abuse.

Link to Join: One will be provided a couple of days before the event

Panel

Dr Sahir Dar: Chair, Vibrant Scottish Mosques

A GP and Holistic Therapist working in Pollokshields, Glasgow. Sahira has been involved in a variety of community initiatives with Islamic organisations in the last decade and continues her Islamic education, having recently completed the iSyllabus Advanced course.

Dr. Rahmanara Chowdhury, Director and Course Lead: The Markfield Institute Centre for the Study of Wellbeing

Dr Rahmanara Chowdhury is a Chartered Psychologist and Course Lead for Islam and Pastoral Care at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education. She completed her undergraduate studies in Ergonomics at Loughborough University. She has a Masters in Psychology from Nottingham Trent University and completed her PhD exploring Domestic Violence and Abuse in the UK Muslim population, at Brunel University London. She is the author of ‘Qawwamoon; Protectors and Maintainers’, and ‘Road to Recovery’, Ta Ha Publishers and is the Head of the newly formed MIHE Centre for the Study of Wellbeing. Her research interests focus on minorities and facilitating understanding of nuanced needs with sensitive topics such as domestic violence and abuse, spiritual abuse, forensic mental health and intersectionality. She is an associate fellow of the international association for Islamic Psychology.

Farooq Mulla, Imam and Chaplain

Farooq completed Islamic and Arabic Seminary Studies in the UK and abroad. He has an MSc in Education Management and Leadership. He has worked as an Imam in the USA, London and Lincolnshire and as a Chaplain for over 20 years in various prisons in the UK, including 10 years at HMP Whatton. He is currently working as a sessional Muslim Chaplain at Rampton high secure hospital, as an interpreter within the criminal justice system, and consultant for Strengthening Faith Institutes (SFI). He held the position of Senior Religious Consultant for the Islam and Citizen project, 2007-2010 commissioned by the DFE and Research Assistant with Liverpool Hope University and Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies on researching and training of Imams overseas and its UK impact.

Maariyah Adam, Founder & Managing Director: Sacred body:mind:space

Maariyah has worked in organisations who are working in the field of Violence Against Women and Girls. She has a background in research and development and has been working and volunteering in community organisations and providing independent consultant for over twenty years. She is the author of ‘Hear My Voice: A Report on the Experiences of the engagement of Muslim Women in Scottish Mosques’ and ‘Muslim Women Talk: Experiences of Muslim Women in Scotland Since the London Bombings’. She holds a BA in Social Sciences, MA in Islamic Studies and MSc in Public Policy.

Mahrukh Adnan-Shaukat, Director: Sacred body:mind:space

Mahrukh’s primary role is working in a women’s organisation. She is currently improving the levels of understanding around equalities in relation to gender, race, and religion, using feedback from minoritised communities to design and pilot programs in schools and training for organisations on holistic inclusive practice. She has experience developing research on a range of topics in collaboration with community members ensuring their protection and support. She holds a BA in International Relations, certificate in counselling skills and 6 years of helpline experience.

For more information:

info@sacredbms.org.uk or 07989 436 603

www.sacredbms.org.uk

Safety and Safeguarding in Scottish Mosques