The event grew from 1,500 attendees in 2001 to more than 25,000 by 2019. After a break in 2020, it resumed successfully and broke attendance records with 30,000 in 2022. This year the event attracted 45,000 attendees from across the United States and Canada.

This year, it was held under the theme, “Breaking Chains & Driving Change.”

Against the backdrop of global crises, including the atrocities in Gaza, this year’s convention promised to be a profound exploration of societal transformation, unity, and hope for American Muslims and the broader global Muslim community.

The devastating events in Gaza have left a deep imprint on Muslims worldwide, especially in the United States. The unimaginable suffering has ignited a collective resolve to confront challenges and advocate for justice.

This year’s theme reflected the complex process of dismantling societal constraints and fostering a movement for a more equitable and inclusive future.

Whether through steady, deliberate progress or bold, decisive action, the convention aimed to inspire attendees to unite and take tangible steps toward building a liberated society.

This family-oriented event for American Muslims focused on a variety of lectures and workshops for adults and youth featuring acclaimed speakers. It also included a huge bazaar with more than 500 booths, a carnival for children, and entertainment sessions.

Source: About Islam

Lineker emphasized his neutral perspective and condemned the silencing of criticism. He rejected accusations of anti-Semitism and urged awareness of the ongoing conflict’s complexities.

“Actually, this issue does not concern me directly. I am not a Muslim. I am not Jewish. I am not Israeli. I am not Palestinian,” Lineker spoke to journalist Mehdi Hasan, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“So, I see, I think purely from the outside as from a neutral perspective and I cannot think of anything that I have seen worse in my lifetime. The constant images of children losing their lives day in, day out,” he said.

Lineker expressed profound sadness at the loss of innocent lives, stating that the images from Gaza move him to tears.

“We all know that the Hamas incident happened on Oct. 7th. But right now, as soon as you raise your voice against what they (Israel) are doing there, you are accused of being a Hamas supporter or something like that. There is a lot of lobbying to keep people silent,” said the former footballer.

“I do not think it is anti-semitic to say that what Israel is doing is wrong. I do not understand how everyone does not see it that way at the moment. Whatever the reason, whatever started it, we all know that the history of this part of the world goes back much further than Oct. 7,” said Lineker.

Source: AboutIslam.net