The MCB congratulate our affiliates, the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group, on their 4th annual conference this year on the topic:’Why is Hate so Popular? The power of social media’.
The conference brought together a range of insightful speakers reflecting on the violence and riots over the summer which was said to be instigated on social media. Some of the keynote speakers included: Naz Shah MP, Member of Parliament, Nazir Afzal, Former Chief Crown Prosecutor, Hamda Mohamed, a Social Media Expert, and Shaykh Afdal Feroz, Islamic Scholar.
The panel highlighted how misinformation helped spread the riots and how Islamophobia was fueled by rhetoric and those seeking to create division in society.
The MCB Secretary-General participated in the panel discussion ‘Where do we go from here: Taking feedback from the workshops,’ alongside Clare Moody, Police & Crime Commissioner, Nimesh Joshi from ITV West, and Neil Bennett, former BBC journalist.
All shared key insights on the important of understanding fake news, misinformation and how social media works which can both be tool for progress and for problems.
The conference concluded with key takeaways emphasising the importance of collaboration and community strengthening, while addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
We thank the BMSLG team for a fantastic event and warm hospitality.