By the end of this century, almost one in three people in the world will be Muslims.
The Concordia Forum, the world’s premier network of western Muslim leaders, believes that without conversation, there cannot be collaboration, and hence our interconnected world cannot meet the challenges that confront us all.
Our commitment to a brighter, more inclusive, more prosperous tomorrow inspires this symposium at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.
Muslim Futures: New Directions for the World’s Fastest-Growing Faith will offer a select in-person and virtual audience an unparalleled opportunity to experience 21st century Muslim diversity.
Muslim Futures will convene a diverse group of senior Muslim leaders from Norway, Europe and the world to share their compelling visions for humanity’s future.
Join creative, thoughtful and open-ended conversations with brilliant minds from around the world.
The Concordia Forum, the world’s premier network of western Muslim leaders, believes that without conversation, there cannot be collaboration, and hence our interconnected world cannot meet the challenges that confront us all.
Our commitment to a brighter, more inclusive, more prosperous tomorrow inspires this symposium at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.
Muslim Futures: New Directions for the World’s Fastest-Growing Faith will offer a select in-person and virtual audience an unparalleled opportunity to experience 21st century Muslim diversity.
Muslim Futures will convene a diverse group of senior Muslim leaders from Norway, Europe and the world to share their compelling visions for humanity’s future.
Join creative, thoughtful and open-ended conversations with brilliant minds from around the world.
Location
The Nobel Peace Center: Oslo, Norway
Date & Time
Monday, 3rd of October, 2022, 8:00am - 5:00pm
The Concordia Forum
The Concordia Forum is a dynamic, influential and diverse network of transatlantic Muslim leaders.
Founded in 2009, The Concordia Forum connects diverse changemakers from across Europe, North America and beyond, creating safe spaces for thoughtful, creative, and invigorating conversations.
Our signature event is an annual retreat, alternating between North America and Europe–Austin, Texas, was chosen for 2022. We complement this annual retreat with select events in key global cities, bringing together senior leaders from government, culture, religion, business, science, and more.
Our over 2,500 alumni continue to promote trust, cooperation and progress across the world.
Our October 3, 2022 symposium: Muslim Futures reflects and continues that vision.
Founded in 2009, The Concordia Forum connects diverse changemakers from across Europe, North America and beyond, creating safe spaces for thoughtful, creative, and invigorating conversations.
Our signature event is an annual retreat, alternating between North America and Europe–Austin, Texas, was chosen for 2022. We complement this annual retreat with select events in key global cities, bringing together senior leaders from government, culture, religion, business, science, and more.
Our over 2,500 alumni continue to promote trust, cooperation and progress across the world.
Our October 3, 2022 symposium: Muslim Futures reflects and continues that vision.
Venue
Nobel Peace Center
Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway
The Nobel Peace Center is located at City Hall Square (Brynjulf Bulls Plass 1, 0250 Oslo). Please see here for more detailed information on the Center’s facilities, accessibility accommodations, and transportation options.
Partners
Muslim Futures: New Directions for the World’s Fastest-Growing Faith is made possible through the support of prominent Norwegian think tanks Wasila and Minotenk.
Wasila strengthens diversity and promotes social development in Norway through its founding commitment to traditional Islamic values, such as charity, justice, human dignity, freedom, equality, mercy, and peace.
Minotenk is a minority political think tank specialising in youth empowerment from a cross-cultural perspective. Their work aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive society through offering seminars, lectures and publications, while also participating in public debate and policymaking.
Wasila strengthens diversity and promotes social development in Norway through its founding commitment to traditional Islamic values, such as charity, justice, human dignity, freedom, equality, mercy, and peace.
Minotenk is a minority political think tank specialising in youth empowerment from a cross-cultural perspective. Their work aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive society through offering seminars, lectures and publications, while also participating in public debate and policymaking.
Schedule
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Food provided
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks & Opening Remarks
Welcome Remarks from Hege Østmo, Head of Brand and Sponsorships, Nobel Peace Center (Norway)
Opening Remarks from Muddassar Ahmed, President, The Concordia Forum (UK/USA)
Overall Moderator: Aizzah Fatima, Actress and Producer (USA)
Opening Remarks from Muddassar Ahmed, President, The Concordia Forum (UK/USA)
Overall Moderator: Aizzah Fatima, Actress and Producer (USA)
9:10 AM
Opening Dua & Remarks
Opening Duas & Remarks by Akhmed Tamim, Supreme Mufti of Ukraine (Ukraine)
Introduced by Taras Dzyubanskyy, Religious Issues Adviser to the Mayor of Lviv (Ukraine)
Introduced by Taras Dzyubanskyy, Religious Issues Adviser to the Mayor of Lviv (Ukraine)
9:30 AM
The Myth of Muslim Unity and the Path to Muslim Community
Speaker: Haroon Moghul, Author and Commentator (USA)
Moderator: Sead Zimeri, Lecturer, UiT (The Arctic University of Norway)
Moderator: Sead Zimeri, Lecturer, UiT (The Arctic University of Norway)
10:15 AM
ImamConnect: Reimagining Religious Services in the 21st Century
Speakers: Ustadh Zayn al-Haddad, Founding Team Member & Annie Khan, Head of Partnerships
10:45 AM
Intermission
11:00 AM
A House Divided: How Islamophobia Undermines Europe
Panellists:
- Fouad Ahidar, Member of Parliament (Belgium)
- Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament, Bolton South East (UK)
- Momodou Malcolm Jallow, Member of Parliament (Sweden)
- Maysoun Douas, Madrid's first Muslim Councilor (Spain)
Moderator: Muddassar Ahmed, President, The Concordia Forum (UK/USA)
- Fouad Ahidar, Member of Parliament (Belgium)
- Yasmin Qureshi, Member of Parliament, Bolton South East (UK)
- Momodou Malcolm Jallow, Member of Parliament (Sweden)
- Maysoun Douas, Madrid's first Muslim Councilor (Spain)
Moderator: Muddassar Ahmed, President, The Concordia Forum (UK/USA)
11:45 AM
Why All Muslims Should Condemn the Attack on Salman Rushdie
Speaker: H. E. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General, The Muslim World League (Saudi Arabia)
12:00 pm
Lunch
Food provided
1:30 pm
Norwegian Islam: The Way Forward in the Midst of Identity Politics and Secularism
Panellists:
- Sami Al-Daghistani, Postdoctoral Fellow, Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (Norway)
- Dr Bushra Ishaq, expert on Norwegian Muslims, and Author (Norway)
- Haroon Moghul, Author & Commentator (USA)
Moderator: Mohammad Usman Rana, Chair, Wasila Foundation (Norway)
- Sami Al-Daghistani, Postdoctoral Fellow, Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society (Norway)
- Dr Bushra Ishaq, expert on Norwegian Muslims, and Author (Norway)
- Haroon Moghul, Author & Commentator (USA)
Moderator: Mohammad Usman Rana, Chair, Wasila Foundation (Norway)
2:15 pm
The African Century: How the Continent Will Change Our World
Speaker: Amadou Thiam, Presidential Candidate, and former Speaker of Parliament (Mali)
Moderator: Linda Noor, Managing Director, Minotenk (Norway)
Moderator: Linda Noor, Managing Director, Minotenk (Norway)
3:00 pm
Intermission
3:15 pm
Better, Not Bitter: Faith and the Fight for Social Justice
Speaker: Dr Yusef Salaam, Member of the Exonerated Five, Prison Reform Activist and Motivational Speaker (USA)
Moderator: Faiza Kassim, CEO and Co-founder at DivInc (Norway)
Moderator: Faiza Kassim, CEO and Co-founder at DivInc (Norway)
4:15 pm
Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks from Huma Abedin, American political staffer, Chief of staff for Hillary Clinton (USA)
4:30 pm
Reflective Poetry Performance
Performance from Zohab Zee Khan, Poet, Motivational Speaker and Educator (Australia)
Speakers
Hege Østmo
Head of Brand and Partnerships at the Noble Peace Centre in Norway, Hege holds extensive experience in strategic marketing for various organisations, most prominent of all, the Santander Consumer Bank.
"Welcome Remarks"
Muddassar Ahmed
President of The Concordia Forum, Mudassar continues to enable ground-breaking initiatives at the intersection of politics, community, and interfaith work. He is also the president of John Adam’s society and sits on numerous boards as an advisor.
"Welcome Remarks"
Akhmed Tamim
Internationally renowned scholar, Akhmed is the supreme Mufti of Ukraine. Akhmed proactively engages in interfaith work in Ukraine and is a strong advocate of religious diplomacy.
"Opening Dua & Remarks"
Haroon Moghul
An acclaimed author of two books and a political commentator, Haroon’s work has been published by Washington Post and CNN, amongst many. His recent book, ‘Two Billion Caliphs: A Vision of a Muslim Future’ explores the challenges of contemporary Islam.
"The Myth of Muslim Unity and the Path to Muslim Community"
H.E. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
As the secretary general of the Muslim World League, Muhammad Issa remains a highly influential figure globally for his commendable work for interfaith harmony and dialogue.
"Why all Muslims should Condemn the Attack on Salman Rushdie"
Amadou Thiam
Mali’s youngest member of Parliament, Amadou is the minister for Institutional Reforms and Civil Society. He is also the founder and president of a new political party, ‘Democratic Forces for Prosperity’ in Mali.
"Why all Muslims should Condemn the Attack on Salman Rushdie"
Dr Yusef Salaam
At just 15, Dr Salaam and four other Black & Latinx young men were falsely convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case. The Exonerated Five spent 7 to 13 years behind bars before their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since his release, Yusef has advocated fiercely for criminal justice & prison reform. Yusef has shared his story on numerous prominent media outlets and recently released his memoir, Better, Not Bitter.
"Better, Not Bitter: Faith and the Fight for Social Justice"
Huma Abedin
American Political staffer, Huma was Hilary Clinton’s chief of Staff in the 2016 presidential campaign. Prior to that, Huma was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the US Department of State in 2009.
"Closing Remarks"
Zohab Zee Khan
Zohab is a poet, motivational speaker, and an educator. As a certified life coach Zohab uses his unique skill set to make a profound change in the overall wellness of leaders and educators around the world. He has conducted over a thousand poetry and self development workshops globally.
"Poetry Performance"
Panellists
Fouad Ahidar
Member of Parliament of the Brussels Capital Region, and President of the Council of the Flemish Community Commission of Brussels. As well as advocates for the protection of minorities' rights.
Yasmin Qureshi
Member of parliament in the UK since 2010, and former Shadow Minister of the UK. Yasmin led the criminal legal action team for the UN in Kosovo and remains a prominent politician, particularly for the south Asian Muslim community within the UK.
Momodou Malcolm Jallow
Swedish politician and a member of parliament since 2017, Momodou is the chairman of the Afro-Swedish forum for Justice and an active member of the National Confederation of Afro-Swedish people institute.
Maysoun Douas
Maysoun is Madrid's first ever Muslim Councilor. She has a doctorate in Physics, and began her career in politics with Más Madrid party. She is also a Muslim feminist, an entrepreneur, a social activist, and an innovation expert.
Sami Al-Daghistani
Sami is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, an Associate Faculty at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research in New York City, and a Research Scholar at the Middle East Institute, Columbia University.
Haroon Moghul
An acclaimed author of two books and a political commentator, Haroon’s work has been published by Washington Post and CNN, amongst many. His recent book, ‘Two Billion Caliphs: A Vision of a Muslim Future’ explores the challenges of contemporary Islam.
Dr Bushra Ishaq
Dr Ishaq is an expert on Norwegian Muslims and prize-winning author of the book “Who speaks for us? Muslims in Norway - who are they, and what are their opinions?"
Moderators
Aizzah Fatima
Aizzah is an award-winning actress and producer. She is the writer and one of the lead actresses of Americanish, a first of its kind Rom-Com written and directed by American Muslim women. She is also the co-founder of the South Asian International Performing Arts Festival in New York City.
Overall Moderator
Taras Dzyubanskyy
Taras holds a B.A. in Philosophy and studied at various papal institutes in the Vatican. He is also a Religious Liberty Fellow at Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage/Acton Institute.
"Opening Dua & Remarks"
Sead Zimeri
Sead is a scholar at the Institute of Philosophy and First Semester Studies at the prestigious The Arctic University of Norway (UiT). His research has focused on moral, legal, and political philosophy, alongside Kant and German Idealism.
"The Myth of Muslim Unity and the Path to Muslim Community"
Mohammad Usman Rana
Mohammad is a Norwegian commentator, columnist, and medical doctor. He has regularly written and participated in debates on issues pertaining to immigration, integration, Islamism, and internal strife in Norwegian Muslim groups.
"Norwegian Islam: The Way Forward in the Midst of Identity Politics and Secularism"
Linda Noor
Linda is the managing director of the Minotenk, a minority political think tank, which works to promote knowledge, dialogue and networks based on diversity and inclusion. She is an activist at heart and a prominent Muslim community leader in Norway.
"The African Century: How the Continent Will Change Our World"
Faiza Kassim
Faiza is the CEO and Co-founder of DivInc (Norway), an agency that helps businesses to turn diversity and inclusion into profit. She has also worked in different research institutions in Oslo, on topics as (national) identity and belonging, migration, transnationalism and integration.
"Better, Not Bitter: Faith and the Fight for Social Justice"
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