A landmark event takes place in Birmingham this weekend – the inaugural Husayn Summit.
The theme is Social Justice & Reshaping Society, and a roster of inspiring speakers will take the stage at The Great Hall at Aston University. It will also be shown live on Ahlulbayt TV.
The event runs from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 2 March, investigating the pressing topics of social justice and human rights.
Standing up against oppression
The Summit will reflect the ideals, the stance and the values of Imam Husayn – his life and his martyrdom. It will highlight how he stood up against oppression and tyranny in favour of social justice and freedom.
This could not be more topical at a time when governments are reducing their commitment to these causes, not only in the developing world but among western economic powerhouses.
The Summit hopes to chart a way forward in these troubled times through sessions such as Inspiring Leaders, Standing up to Injustice, and Social Justice in the UK: A Vision of Britain as a Beacon of Hope and Prosperity.
Making Britain a better place
A panel on Global Injustices will look at foreign conflicts, migration and aid support, while the panel on Domestic Injustices will cover areas including homelessness, the role of civil society, widening income inequality and how we can all contribute to making Britain a better place.
Renowned guests include Liam Byrne MP, Bollywood actor Javed Jaffrey, political activist Salma Yaqoob, writers and broadcasters Afua Hirsh and Dr Myriam Francois-Cerrah, assassination-attempt survivor Raza Rumi and motivational speaker Sheikh Nuru Muhammad.
Charitable impact
There will be interventions on charitable work from Muslim Aid CEO Jehangir Malik and Fadi Itani of the Muslim Charities Forum.
Panels will be led by award-winning journalist and commentator Mehdi Hasan, who will also speak on Social Justice in the Trump and Brexit Era.
Additionally, attendees will have the chance to see historical videos on the life of Imam Husayn.