Britain’s largest Muslim festival in Hampshire is an ‘example of unity in divided country’
Britain’s largest Muslim festival will go ahead this weekend and will display a “magnificent example of unity” after a similar event was forced to end early over an alleged extreme right-wing terror threat.
More than 50,000 Muslims from across the UK and around the world are set to attend the Jalsa Salana UK convention in Alton, Hampshire this weekend.
The event comes as new polling suggests that 77% of Britons believe the country is more divided than five years ago.
Jalsa Salana will begin on Friday, less than two weeks after thousands of people attending the UK Ijtima gathering at Shrubland Hall near Ipswich, were forced to leave early on Sunday July 12.
Police have made 13 arrests and are continuing to investigate after they became aware of “a potential serious threat towards the Islamic event” in Suffolk.
Jalsa Salana organisers said they have “extensive measures in place” to keep people safe at the convention this weekend, which has been held for around six decades.
They are expecting members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from over 100 countries to attend and have a staff of nearly 5,000 volunteers.The keynote speaker at the convention is the global leader and caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
Ahead of the weekend, he said: “At a time when misunderstanding of Islam and hostility towards Muslims are rapidly increasing in many parts of the world, the Jalsa Salana provides an outstanding opportunity to present the true teachings of Islam, which are of peace, security and goodwill for all.
“It is this message of peace that I shall deliver to the participants, and it is the message that will resonate throughout the Convention.
“Indeed, the Jalsa Salana is a magnificent example of unity, in which people from every corner of the world, including many non-Muslims, come together in peace and harmony, not only to worship God, but also to inspire one another to show compassion, love and respect for all people.”
A YouGov poll commissioned by the Ahmadiyya community suggests that more than three quarters of British people believe the country is more divided now, than it was five years ago.
The polling also found that 56% of Britons believe the positive contributions of British Muslims “are not widely known or recognised” by wider British society.
The results were collated by YouGov from over 2,000 UK adults in July 2026.A spokesperson for the community, Khalil Yousuf, called the findings “eye opening” and insisted that “dialogue is the antidote to division”.
Mr Yousuf said: “Once you meet a Muslim, I’m sure you’ll find we have a lot more in common than you may have previously believed.”
Caliph Ahmed said it was a cause of “great grief for all sincere Muslims” that people seek to blame Islam for “conflict and disorder” in the world.
The Jalsa Salana UK security team said volunteers are trained to “remain vigilant” and have been working closely with the local police.
Hampshire Police have been approached for comment on their preparations ahead of the three-day event from July 24-26.
