The Muslim Council of Britain is the largest umbrella body of Muslim organisations including mosques, charities and schools across the UK. We're an independent, non-sectarian body which represents the interests of over 500 affiliates, with the aim of bringing everyone together to work for the common good. Over the course of 2018, the MCB is running a national listening exercise to explore the topic of terrorism, counter-terrorism and Muslim communities.

Though Muslims are often written about and researched with regards to terrorism, this is rarely done through an internal perspective with an appreciation of the nuances of the Muslim experience in the UK. We recognise the rich diversity of ethnic origin, opinion, tradition, sect and background of many of the Muslims that reside in the UK.
 
We also recognise that the national debate on terrorism and counter-terrorism is largely shaped by highly emotive polarisation, suspicion and a lack of understanding of Muslims exhibited by parts of British society. This exercise will be an opportunity to shape the narrative on a topic that has traditionally been set without us. We will be running listening events and focus groups throughout 2018; as well as releasing a survey and a public call for submissions.
 
The aims of the National Listening exercise are to:

• Provide a space for Muslims to share their views on terrorism and counter-terrorism in a UK context
• Understand how Muslims interact with the “counter-terrorism” space, and whether this is a priority
• Probe the scale of impact that terrorism and counter-terrorism has had on Muslim communities
• Discuss practical elements of policies that can effectively reduce violence
 
The Muslim Council of Britain is aware of the anxieties within many communities of government exercises on issues such as terrorism. We would like to make it clear that this is an independently funded exercise, with Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust as the core funder. Furthermore, the purpose of this national conversation is to inform the MCB's positioning and ideas as we move forward, taking a nuanced approach by speaking to a broad range of people. We are looking for a wide range of participants from all walks of life, so that we can accurately portray the views of a wide cross-section of British Muslims.

All contributions will be anonymous and focus groups will be conducted in accordance with ethical standards.

If you would like to participate in a focus group in your area, please fill in the form below, and we will be in touch. If you have any further questions about the National Listening Exercise, please email s.afzal@mcb.org.uk.