A Suffolk town is expecting up to 100,000 Muslim pilgrims to descend on it for a festival planned by a fundamentalist mosque.
Worshippers from across the world are anticipated to attend the three-day ‘Ijtema’, or gathering, which is being organised by the Markazi Mosque in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
Locals in Barham village, Ipswich, have called for the July event – set to take place at the Grade II listed Georgian manor, Shrubland Hall – to be cancelled.
They argue the village, with a population of around 1,600, will struggle to accommodate the thousands of people – which will also cause traffic jams.
The organiser of the event, named ‘London to Nizamuddin’, is a UK registered charity known as Anuman-e-Islahul Muslimeen. The ‘running of a mosque’ is included in the charity’s listed activities.
A video promoting the event has described finding a ‘sanctuary’ in the ‘300 acre Shrubland Palace’ – and called on Muslims across the world to attend.
Switching between views of the speaker and of Shrubland Hall, it said: ‘As we prepare for this Ijtema, due to be held on the tenth, eleventh and twelfth of this year, July 2026.
‘We are honoured and we anticipate the arrival of our respected World Amir Sheikh Saad Hafidhahullah whose arrival will be a beacon of guidance for the entire humanity.
Locals of the village Barham, Ipswich, have called for the July event – set to take place at the Grade II listed Georgian manor, Shrubland Hall (pictured) – to be cancelled
‘This historic venue is more than just a location. It is an Amanah, a blessed vessel for dhikr and the concern and the fikr of humanity and a revival of our Iman in this age of distraction.
‘This Itjtema is a profound opportunity to step away from the distractions of this Dunla and immerse ourselves in reconnecting the primary purpose of our life, which is to connect the humanity to this blessed Deen in the Sunnah shown by our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam.
‘My brothers and my elders and saatis from all over the world, please treat this message as an Amanah.
‘Share it far and wide. May Allah Subhanahu Ta’la make this Ijtema inshallah a means of our islah and a means of the entire world’s Islah. Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.’
In the message attached to the video, the religious group wrote: ‘We are pleased to announce that Shrubland Palace, Barham (IP6 0PW), will host the UK Ijtima on July 10th-12thm 2026.’
It added: ‘This venue is perfectly suited for the gathering, offering vast space and unlimited parking.’
Organisers of the event previously said more than 100,000 people are expected to attend, however this number has since been dropped to 10,000.
The venue was reportedly favoured over the event venues ExCel London and the NEC in Birmingham.
Worshippers attended noon prayers at the Biswa Ijtema on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, in February 2024
Residents allegedly found out about the event from young men in the local Co-op, who said they were putting up marquees in preparation of the event.
One critic of the event described the impact it may have as ‘absolutely horrendous’.
She said: ‘I’ve been to Shrubland Hall when it was still a health spa and I cannot imagine 100k people on the grounds, let alone the sheer volume of traffic on the roads towards Barham. It’s insane.’
Another said: ‘100,000 people, that is two-thirds of the population of Ipswich. Four people per car equals 25,000 cars. Wow.’
The event would include prayer, communal meals and religious lectures. It’s host, Markazi Mosque, is a Sunni place of worship – and is the headquarters in Europe of the Tablighi Jamaat sect.
An estimated 80 million worshippers are part of the sect, which is an ultra-conservative group.
Two of the 7/7 suicide bombers, Mohammed Siddique Khan and Shezad Tanweer, reportedly visited Markazi Mosque for prayers. The mosque has previously denied their regular worship or that it influenced any form of radicalisation.
An Ijtema is a large religious gathering held by the Tablighi Jamaat sect. Its other gatherings include the Bishwa Itjema in Bangladesh and the Raiwind Ijtema in Pakistan.
Shrubland was built in the 1770s and a private residence for noblemen. It was sold in 2006 by Baron de Saumarez, who needed funds to pay off an inheritance bill.
The property was bought in 2009 for £6million by Dr Muhammad Farmer, who still owns the estate.
