Converts to Islam are, often, faced by a number of challenges, including rejection by own families, mistrust from other Muslims, a pressure to adopt a particular group’s religious or cultural practices, and even racism.

In this talk, Dr Leon Moosavi will share findings from his four year study into the experiences of the growing number of Britons who are choosing to convert to Islam. He will identify the main difficulties faced by Muslim converts and propose ideas for tackling these issues.

Dr. Leon Moosavi completed his PhD in the Sociology Department of Lancaster University in 2011. His thesis examined conversion to Islam in contemporary Britain, with the title: ‘Race’, Islamophobia and Belonging in the Experiences of Muslim Converts in Britain in which he engaged with debates about the place of religion in contemporary Britain, the post-conversion experience, the embodiment and performance of religious identity, definitions of Islamophobia, the racialisation of religious identities, the interface between religious and national belonging, and the dynamics of Muslim communities in Britain. He has published some of his research findings in journals and as book chapters. He is currently working on a European Union funded project which examines Muslim converts, extremism and counter-terrorism policy in Britain. He can be contacted on: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .