What is the Future of Islam in the West? [Event Video]
Dr Timothy Winter, Iram Ramzan, Mustafa Akyol, Kenan Malik
On Tuesday 22nd April, at The Tabernacle in London, The Equiano Project hosted a bold and deeply engaging discussion on Islam, Muslims, and Liberal Democracies. This was a timely and urgent conversation that explored the cultural, political, and moral tensions between religious identity and secular society in modern Britain.
As Muslim communities across the West continue to grow and evolve, so do debates around integration, liberal values, and how pluralistic societies should handle deep difference. This event asked some of the most pressing and uncomfortable questions shaping public life today.
![[UNCUT WITH Q&A] Islam, Muslims and Liberal Democracies](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_Zaj!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-video.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fvideo_upload%2Fpost%2F162487031%2Fa7619253-4c24-401b-9d37-f7987999574c%2Ftranscoded-419049.png)
Key questions raised during the event included:
Can Islam thrive in liberal democratic societies—and how should it evolve?
Why are younger Muslims often more religious or conservative than their parents?
Do efforts to protect Muslim identity risk clashing with free speech?
What does meaningful integration actually look like?
Are Muslim communities becoming more integrated or more isolated?
Our expert panel brought theological insight, political analysis, and cultural critique:
Dr. Timothy Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad) – Islamic scholar, offered a grounded view of Muslim integration in Britain, highlighting everyday coexistence over media narratives of extremism.
Mustafa Akyol – Author and Cato Institute fellow, passionately defended liberal democracy as the best system for Muslims, while urging Islamic reform on issues like blasphemy laws and free speech.
Kenan Malik – Writer and commentator, provided historical context on identity politics, multiculturalism, and the way both Muslims and wider society have shifted toward more illiberal attitudes over recent decades.
Iram Ramzan – Journalist and founder of Sedaa, warned against allowing self-appointed “community leaders” and religious institutions to dominate public narratives, particularly when women’s rights and equality are at stake.
Chaired by Equiano Project director, Inaya Folarin Iman, the conversation didn’t shy away from difficult topics; whether it was Sharia councils, polygamy, blasphemy laws, or the rise of politicised Muslim voting blocs.
Watch the full debate on our YouTube channel.
Paid subscribers get access to the full, unedited discussion—including the moments that didn’t make the public cut such as audience Q&A. Click here to access the full event.
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Tickets available now:
www.theequianoproject.com/tickets