Julie Siddiqi MBE. Julie is a gender equality campaigner with a specific focus on Jewish-Muslim and other interfaith relations. She dedicates her work to inspiring Muslim women to participate at all levels of society, to challenge patriarchal attitudes in all communities, and to strive for better representation across print and TV media.
Among many national roles in the UK, Julie was the Executive Director of the Islamic Society of Britain from 2010-2014 and a member of the Government’s National Muslim Women’s Advisory Group. A community organiser with more than 25 years experience, Julie co-founded Nisa-Nashim, the Jewish and Muslim Women’s Network. She has also nationally coordinated The Big Iftar during Ramadan, a collective breaking of the fast that involves people of all faiths and none. The Big Iftar has since been celebrated in many spaces across the UK, including in Lambeth Palace where it was hosted by by Archbishop Justin Welby in 2014.
In October 2020, Julie was recognised for her service to interfaith understanding in the Queen’s Birthday Honour List and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
If you are interested in hands-on community organising, interfaith relationships, or women who challenge the status-quo, then I am sure you will really enjoy this lively conversation!
Resources and links mentioned in this episode
- The Big Iftar
- Nisa-Nashim Jewish Muslim Women’s Network
- Open My Mosque
- Julie’s Instagram | Together We Thrive website
- Julie’s article Women of faith must be seen and heard
- Windsor Express article: Community campaigner receives MBE for work bringing different faiths together
- Pew Research Centre Study Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues | Report summary
Angelika Love 