'Muslim Glastonbury' challenges perceptions of Islam in Britain
Talks about extremism, religion and sex alongside music and food at four-day celebration of Eid in Lincolnshire

Dilwar Hussain, one of the organisers of the Islamic Society of Britain event, being run for the fifth time, said the range of topics being covered should not come as a surprise. "British Muslims are a broad range of people, they're not just interested in one thing. They have diverse interests and they shouldn't be stereotyped as extreme or non-extreme, passive or moderate."

The discussion programme ranges from sectarianism in the UK and tackling extremism to Saturday's opportunity to "have a frank and honest conversation about sex and relationships" and Sunday's segment on how to "spice up your marriage". Hussain said the topics reflect "Muslim table talk, what people ordinarily discuss in their homes".


But the festival is not just about earnest discussion. The entertainment tent, a Glastonbury-style big top, featured rapping, beatboxing and comedy on Thursday night and there are a huge range of activities, including supervised scout activities, bouncy castles and rock-climbing to distract the children while parents attend to more serious matters.

Mary MacIntyre, a 42-year-old teaching assistant from London, eating a seekh kebab in the smoky food tent on Friday – food being a key part of any Muslim festival – said her family had come with two other families, with 20 children between them, and were camping on site. "We thought it was a good thing for them [the children] to be in an Islamic environment so they can see their religion as something positive," she said. "You can still enjoy yourself as a Muslim. They can come here and be proud of their identity."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rowan-williams

There has been so much hateful discourse from time to time here, it is nice to see Muslims as just people for a change.