BMMS October 1994

The government issued a warning that an epidemic of measles is expected in the new year which calls for a mass vaccination programme to be launched through which all children in Britain between the ages of 5 and 16 should receive a booster injection. The vaccine to be used is a combined measles and rubella preparation. The latter being to guard against German Measles which can have seriously detrimental effects on the development of the foetus if contracted whilst a woman is pregnant.

On 28th October reservations about the vaccine were expressed by the headmaster of Ampleforth, the Catholic public school in Yorkshire. The reservations centred on the fact that the rubella vaccine had been developed from the lung tissue of a foetus which had been aborted in 1966. No material from the foetus is present in the current vaccine which essentially has been developed from the virus which infected the foetus at the time that it was aborted. The Ampleforth headmaster felt that he should recommend his students not to accept the vaccine due to its association with an abortion which, in principle, he believed to be wrong. The call for a boycott of the vaccine was taken up by the headmaster of Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. The objections to the vaccine were not widely shared by Catholic leaders with several bishops stating that one could accept the vaccine without supporting the abortion. Finally, some Muslim leaders began a nationwide scare by calling on Muslims to refuse the vaccine on the same grounds as the Catholic headmasters.

There was uncertainty within the Muslim community as to the acceptability of the vaccine. Sher Azam, the President of the Bradford Council for Mosques, said, "Muslims are generally not in favour of abortion, but we are not supporting abortion by having this vaccine. The foetus was not aborted for this purpose... If Muslims are not protected from measles with the vaccine, there is a great risk of catching the disease. There is nothing in Islam which is against this protection" (Yorkshire on Sunday 30.10.94). Dr Shueb Ashraff, consultant in communicable diseases at the West Yorkshire Health Authority, came out strongly in favour of the vaccine, "I would not hesitate to give it to my own children... It does not contain human or foetal tissue. There is no alternative and it poses a serious risk to children and their children if they are not vaccinated" (The Huddersfield Daily Examiner 31.10.94).

Finally, a series of authoritative voices from the Muslim community were raised in support of the vaccine. Dr Zaki Badawi, the Chairman of the Imams and Mosques Council (UK), said that there was "no objection in Moslem [sic] law to the use of the current vaccine" (Wigan Evening Post 01.11.94). Mr Iqbal Siddiqui, a spokesman for the Muslim Parliament, said, "Islam specifically allows for the over-riding of certain moral principles in circumstances where life may be threatened. In this case, the threat of a major epidemic compels the use of the only available precaution, and so on this occasion, Islamic law has no objection" (Western Mail 02.11.94). This line of argument was widely reported by both national and local press with a typical headline being "Muslim OK on vaccine" (Oldham Evening Chronicle 01.11.94).

There was further pleading with Muslims to have the vaccination from health authorities and SENSE, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association. A meeting was convened between the government's Chief Medical Officer and the leaders of various religions in the country. This set many minds at ease and one of the things to come from it was that the government is to press pharmaceutical companies to produce an alternative vaccine as soon as possible.

The delegation which met with the Chief Medical Officer contained four leading Muslims, namely, Dr Mughram Al-Ghamdi, Iqbal Sacranie, Masood Shadjareh and Sheikh Darsh. They later issued a statement which said, "Considering the need of our young Muslim generation to be protected from epidemics of MMR [Measles, Mumps and Rubella], the Delegation, although not fully satisfied with the use of the aborted foetus, accepted the assurances of the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] and therefore sees no objection for Muslim children to be vaccinated, especially since there are no other alternatives available at present" (Q News 04.11.94).

Notwithstanding the clarity of this statement, a group of experts from Huddersfield including doctors and muftis issued a fatwa saying that Muslims should avoid the vaccine (Huddersfield Daily Examiner 07.11.94). Khan Beig Malik, the chairman of British Muslim Solidarity in Huddersfield, was reported to have said "the fatwa urges people to avoid the immunisation where possible, but allows people to take medicine containing prohibited substances when it is essential in life-threatening situations". [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 1/2]

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Kashmiri politics in Britain

The 47th anniversary of the Indian invasion of Kashmir was marked by a several hundred strong demonstration in Lincoln's Inn Fields staged by the All Parties International Kashmir grouping which represents all those who are campaigning for the right of self-determination in Kashmir. The committee organising the demonstration had drawn up memoranda to the Prime Ministers of the UK and India calling for the UN resolutions dating back to 1948 to be honoured. These resolutions make it clear that a plebescite should be organised under UN supervision to accord to the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination which was promised to them by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India. A similarly worded Early Day Motion was tabled in the House of Commons by an all party group of MP's (Daily Jang 28.10.94).

The Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Abdul Qayyum, addressed members of both Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster on 2nd November. He spoke about the abuses of the Indian troops in occupied Kashmir and called for British governmental pressure to be brought to bear on the UN and Indian government. Later he was the guest of honour at a dinner at which many Pakistanis and Kashmiris joined some 15 MP's (Daily Jang 04.11.94).

The LSE student from Wanstead, Ahmed Omar Sheikh, who is being detained by police in India on suspicion of having lured three tourists in Delhi into a kidnap trap as part of a campaign to draw attention to the situation in Kashmir, has been named by the Indian government as being part of an Islamic militant group which is ultimately funded and controlled by the intelligence service in Pakistan (The Independent 08.11.94). This has been strongly denied as a "flight of wild imagination" by the Pakistan High Commissioner in London.

The Indian High Commissioner has further claimed that Islamic groups are turning to British universities to recruit people for kidnapping and terrorist acts around the world (The Guardian 08.11.94). Such allegations have been denied by a spokesperson from the LSE. The events surrounding Mr Sheikh's time in India and his arrest are questioned by his family who query exactly what hard evidence there is against him (Daily Jang 11.11.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 2/3]

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Q News editorial

The Muslim weekly Q News (07.10.94) carried an editorial which commented on some aspects of the moral state of Muslims in Britain. As a perceptive and candid exposition from within the community it is here quoted in full:

Rebels With A Cause

"When it come to barking up the wrong tree we Muslims are the experts. Just look around you. If anything we are masters in the art of fishing for red herrings. When it comes to events taking place thousands of miles away - and which we have neither control nor any tangible influence to change - we are vociferous. But when it comes to what is taking place right under our own beards and scarves our behaviour is similar to that of a toothless British bulldog who has lost his bark.

We yell at the top of our voices when compulsory sex education is introduced in schools but remain silent at the sexual revolution taking place in our homes. Influenced by western feminism, purveyed in magazines, films and on television, young Muslim women are rebelling at what they see as the injustice of Islam which deprives them of their basic human rights.

Instead of seeing forced marriages, lack of educational opportunities and sexual inequalities for what they are, cultural legacies of a non-Muslim past, Muslim women are blaming Islam and turning away from the faith in anger. And what do we do? We blame "the west", "the media" and anything else we can think of. Instead, we should be blaming ourselves.

For we are the people who refuse to believe that incest can possibly take place in Muslim families. It does, and it is increasing. In some cases which have been reported, senior members of the community are involved. The victims are told to keep quiet in order to save reputations built on trust. That trust is being betrayed.

We are the people who send out dangerously ambiguous messages to our young: we talk about "Islamic equality" but do the opposite. For instance, we turn a blind eye when our young men indulge in sexual experimentation and react violently when our young women try to do the same. Definitely, for us, what is good for the gander is not sauce for the goose.

We are the people who educate our children here, inculcate largely western values in their minds by the very act of living in a non-Muslim environment, and then complain when they rebel against a cultural imposition which denies them even the basic right of saying "Yes" or "No" to a marriage proposal. Why don't our Imams stress the importance of the bride's freely-given consent to a marriage?

Education is a duty for all, not a privilege reserved for men. And yet we continue to see higher education - even secondary education in some cases - as a male preserve, and then still call for more female Muslim teachers, nurses and doctors for our wives and daughters. Where are these professionals going to come from if we deny our daughters educational opportunities? Qualifications, you know, don't grow on trees.

Complaints abound when Islam is portrayed in a negative light: "Woman flogged for adultery after falling pregnant as a result of rape" is the sort of news guaranteed to send us into paroxysms of rage against an "unsympathetic" western media. Tales of young women forced into marriages against their will in villages far removed from the Yorkshire mill towns or Midlands back streets of their birth cause hardly a ripple. Happily, such floggings are relatively rare (and un-Islamic to boot) but forced marriages are happening all the time. Why do we do it?

It is no wonder our young women are thinking that double standards are being applied to them and their male peers. We should not be amazed that they are tending towards suicide in increasing numbers. And running away from home. Quite a number have had abortions. Reports from the north of England indicate that it is non-Muslim neighbours who are trying to persuade Muslim women not to abort their children. This is a shameful state of affairs for a community claiming to be Khairul Ummah [the best of all communities].

Deal with sex education is schools, by all means. But the real facts of life must be tackled head-on. Failure to appreciate the gravity of the situation and take the necessary remedial actions now simply means that we will be non-starters in the game of life". [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 3/4]

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Unrest in London colleges

There has been further unrest in London University colleges centring on societies alleged to be associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for January, February, March, April, May, July, August and September 1994). It was reported that there were at least six meetings of such societies in the week ending 28th October (Jewish Chronicle 28.10.94). One such meeting is said to have taken place at King's College in spite of a ban by the authorities. This was a meeting of the Culture Society which eventually took place in the college cafeteria. Security guards from the college and police were called to disperse the meeting (Jewish Chronicle 28.10.94) and escort Jewish students away from a meeting of the Jewish Society which was taking place in a nearby room (Guardian 28.10.94).

The focus then shifted to the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) where the 1924 Committee has also been linked to Hizb ut-Tahrir (Guardian 28.10.94). Officials at SOAS said that members of the 1924 Committee had not broken any law or college regulation and therefore were free to continue holding their meetings. Jewish students organised a picket of the college on 27th October and again drew attention to the anti-semitic and homophobic allegations levelled against Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The meeting being picketed focused on the theme "Israel, the Apartheid State". It is reported that the chairman of the meeting, Faisal Muhammad, "a member of Hizb ut Tahrir" (The Independent 29.10.94), paid tribute to the suicide bomber from HAMAS who was responsible for the attack in Tel Aviv on 19th October which resulted in the death of 22 people with a further 40 injured. Police were again called in to escort the opposing factions away from the college after the meeting. This led to a meeting between SOAS academic and administrative staff with student leaders.

Tensions were further raised by a Hizb ut-Tahrir organised demonstration against the Israel-Jordan peace accord which picketed the Jordanian embassy on Friday, 28th October (Asian Age 29.10.94). At the demonstration, leaflets were distributed which referred to the Palestinian peace agreement as an "illegitimate peace signed by our illegitimate leaders".

The problems at London colleges were linked to claims in the French press that Britain is becoming a haven for "Islamic Fundamentalists" in an article in The Guardian (01.11.94). It was pointed out that Britain has a reputation for permitting refuge to Islamic leaders who had been forced to flee from Muslim countries where their views are considered to be radical. There is a general impression that Britain provides a better atmosphere of freedom of speech and activity than does France and this is reflected particularly in British universities which attract considerable numbers of overseas Muslim students. This may well be because of the better facilities provided for Muslims in these universities and their closer links with the Muslim community, according to Dr Suha Taji-Faruki of the Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Durham University. It is certainly the case that students at British universities are expected to express a degree of idealism and are free to dress as they please which includes wearing the hijab if that is their choice.

On 31st October, SOAS issued a statement saying that the 1924 Committee "had by its action shown itself to be closely aligned to an Islamic fundamentalist group, the Hizb-ut-Tahrir" (The Times Higher Education Supplement 04.11.94). The statement continued, "The views expressed at meetings and in distributed literature have generated deep and widespread concern among faculty and students at SOAS, a number of whom have felt threatened". SOAS has now banned speakers representing the views of Hizb ut-Tahrir from speaking at future meetings of the 1924 Committee.

The action by SOAS led to posters being put up in the college which read: "SOAS bans Islam. SOAS has finally exposed its long-standing, hidden agenda of deep hatred for Islam by banning speakers invited who present Islam as an ideological alternative. The west and universities such as SOAS espouse ideas such as freedom of speech, but these become redundant when Muslims want to express their views." (The Times Higher Education Supplement 04.11.94).

The SOAS statement was given a restrained welcome by Jewish leaders who saw it as a beginning in the struggle to restrain harassment. A spokesman for the Board of Deputies said, "The statement goes nowhere near far enough. There is evidence of intimidation of Jewish and Hindu students. If the administration fails to do what is required, we will go to the vice-chancellor and the Department for Education" (Jewish Chronicle 04.11.94). This position was reinforced by an editorial in the Jewish Chronicle (04.11.94) which called the statement belated and equivocal. It noted that the clampdown on Hizb ut-Tahrir was only prompted on the grounds that students "felt threatened" whereas it regarded such views as "an affront to the very fabric of university life" because they engendered a climate of fear which undermined any freedom of speech.

According to Q News (04.11.94), a further statement from the management of SOAS is to be produced on "freedom of speech and thought" which will apply to all students and staff. Further, Dr Kalim Siddiqui has written to SOAS asking for clarification of the grounds for the ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir speakers and stressing "that the SOAS management committee's action constitutes a serious and illegal breech of the rights of the HT, or any other group, to hold its views and to discuss them within an academic forum". [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 4-6]

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Reflection on Farrakhan exclusion

The decision of the management of the Wembley Conference Centre to withdraw the use of their facilities for a live satellite link-up to Ghana so that supporters of the Nation of Islam [the Black American splinter group] in Britain could hear an address by their leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan (see BMMS for September 1994), prompted Ronald Nathan, a regular contributor to the Weekly Journal (27.10.94) from the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, to comment that the use of an exclusion order against Farrakhan indicated certain double standards on the part of the government which allowed Jean-Marie Le Pen and spokespersons of the Ku Klux Klan to enter Britain.

One of the reasons for Farrakhan's exclusion is that he has apparently made anti-Jewish remarks in the USA. "Minister Farrakhan's outspokenness against Jews is born of a belief that they play an active role against the well-being of the black community in the United States." Nathan dissociates himself from this view and states that, "If ever there were two potential partners and fellow strugglers it should be the black and Jewish communities, due to their common experience of injustice and inhumanity". He noted that tensions were high between blacks and Jews in the US but that meetings were planned between Christian and Jewish leaders there to diffuse the tension and find ways of tackling social injustice. A similar interfaith partnership is needed here in Britain, according to Nathan, so that political and economic power can be used in the cause of justice.

Finally, the author drew attention to the work of the Nation of Islam in America to rehabilitate black male offenders, in the fight against drug-dominated inner city crime and in offering a perceptive analysis of the international economic order. He suggested that these positive points might feature strongly in Louis Farrakhan's contributions to British society if he were allowed to be heard here. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 6]

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Feversham College awaiting VA decision

Education leaders from Bradford City Council have asked the DfE to explain the delay in giving a ruling on the council's application to grant voluntary aided status to Feversham College, the former Bradford Muslim Girls' School. The college moved into its new premises at the start of the academic year and is now operating on two sites. The application was made at the start of 1994 and at a meeting between council representatives and the DfE in June they were told that there were still some minor concerns. It is believed that these points have now been answered and no further reasons have been given for the delay.

The situation in Feversham College was part of the context for a major exposition of the state of Muslim education in The Times Educational Supplement (21.10.94). The absence of voluntary aided schools for the Muslim community was seen to be a continuing symbol of injustice within British society. Even though it was admitted that the majority of Muslim children would still be educated in County schools and that there are many Muslims who would not want to have their children educated separately, still the total absence of a right accorded to other religious traditions was seen to be a blatant injustice. If only one Muslim school was approved (Feversham is the only one with a current application but the case of the Islamia School, Brent, is well known) it would be a sign that Muslims are to be treated equally with other faiths under the law.

In an article as part of this exposition, Dr Marie Parker-Jenkins from the School of Education, Nottingham University, explained the rich variety which exists in the 27 or so Muslim independent schools which operate at present. She exemplified the difference between "Muslim schools", which tried to create a total Islamic experience based on an Islamic curriculum and theory of knowledge, and "schools for Muslim children" which aimed to offer the standard National Curriculum with "aspects of Islam and Islamic studies grafted on where appropriate and subject to funding". All Muslim schools make provision for prayer and an Islamic pattern of life. They attempt to affirm pupils' sense of Muslim identity and facilitate their development as both Muslim and British. Dr Parker-Jenkins has a new book due out in Spring 1995 called Children of Islam: a teacher's guide to meeting the needs of Muslim pupils, which will be published by Trentham Books. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 7]

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Short Reports

UMO anniversary

The Union of Muslim Organisations is about to enter its 25th year of existence. It was founded in 1970 when Dr Syed Aziz Pasha, whose name is synonymous with the organisation, was appointed general secretary. Critics have been known to refer to the UMO as being a "one man show" but Dr Pasha is optimistic that the organisation has been a major influence in Muslim affairs nationally since its foundation. Dr Pasha and the UMO were profiled in Q News (21.10.94). He hopes that the UMO will be able to reach out into Europe during the next phase of its existence and become a force for a united voice amongst European Muslims. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 7]

BCCI: Naqvi sentenced

The judge in a Washington (USA) federal court sentenced Swaleh Naqvi, the former chief executive of the collapsed Bank of Credit and Commerce International, to serve eight years in prison and to pay US$255.4m in restitution (see BMMS for May and June 1994). Mr Naqvi is reported to be destitute and so is unlikely to be able to make the restitution. He also faces further charges in New York. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

Urdu "soap opera"

Anglia Television screened the first Urdu-language "soap opera" in its young directors' series First Take on 17th October. The drama, called Dream Girl, featured a westernised young man who rejected his parents' intended arranged marriage in favour of a western girl of his choice. She in turn ridiculed him by appearing as his western ideal and then rejecting him. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

Qur'an recitation competition

More than 100 young people took part in the Qur'an recitation competition organised by Islamic Video and Audio Services in London. The competition was in three classes; 5 to 15 years, over 15 years and finally for hafiz who had memorised the entire Qur'an. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

Relief work for Bosnia

Muslims in Stoke on Trent collected £500 in the first hour after launching an appeal to bring a Bosnian woman from Mostar to receive treatment at the North Staffordshire Hospital Centre. She will be airlifted to the hospital where she will receive treatment from Prof Brian McGuiness who spent the summer in Mostar compiling a report for UNICEF.

Dr Sufia Suleiman, of the international Muslim charity Helping Hands, was the guest speaker at a meeting in Sheffield. She spoke about her work in Sarajevo. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

Muslim plot in Salford cemetery

Salford councillors are expected to approve plans to create a Muslim plot in a second local cemetery. There is already a designated plot in the Peel Green cemetery, which has existed since 1972, but the proposed plot, in the Langley Road cemetery, will be closer to centres of Muslim population. There was a request for a completely separate Muslim cemetery but a suitable site could not be found. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

National lottery considered

With the imminent launch of the British national lottery, Q News (21.10.94) assessed the history and contemporary growth of state lotteries. It gave the Qur'anic understanding of gambling as "the work of Shaytan" and exposed the way in which the gambling craze can destabilise families and society. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

"Carers' Open Day"

The Asian Family Resource Centre, Walthamstow, is to host a "Carers' Open Day" on 23rd November to raise the awareness of the community of Asian origin locally to the assistance which is available from various agencies for people who care for elderly, disabled or mentally ill people. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 8]

Islamic ethical unit trust

An investment fund based on Islamic ethical principles has been launched by the independent financial advisers Faldo Hassard & Co, London. The fund was launched at the London Central Mosque, Regent's Park, and will be monitored by a shariah committee headed by Sheikh Darsh from the UK Shariah Council. The fund, called Al Medinah Equity Fund, aims to attract investment from British and overseas subscribers who wish to make pension provision and savings in line with Islamic economics. A leading Birmingham firm of stockbrokers has been retained to seek appropriate shares to be included in the portfolio. It will be possible to invest in the fund through a lump sum (minimum £5,000) or in monthly instalments (minimum £50). Non-UK residents will also be able to make offshore investments. Annual management charges will be set at 2% and commissions at 4% which are towards the higher end of the usual spectrum. This reflects the additional workload involved in checking the details of every company in which investments are to be made to ensure that they conform to the ethical principles laid down by the shariah committee. Full details are available from Faldo Hassard on 071-724 9188. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 9]

Bishop visits Bradford school

The Bishop of Bradford made an informal visit to Belle Vue Girls' School, Bradford, to take part in an Islamic discussion group and sit in on humanities and RE lessons. The bishop's relations with the school were strengthened earlier in the year when he launched an initiative to promote equal opportunities amongst the district's employers. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 9]

Amnesty report on Britain

A report has been published by Amnesty International (British Section) entitled Prisoners without a voice (cost £7.99 incl p&p) which claims that "current Home Office procedures for the detention of asylum seekers violate international human rights laws and standards" (Daily Jang 21.10.94). The ways in which Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights is being breached include refugees being detained without knowing the reason or what their rights are, the absence of a review by a court in 60% of cases investigated, refugees being held with criminals and detained for excessive periods of time. Further, almost half of the detainees investigated were eventually released on bail or temporary admission after an average of 4.5 months in prison. This violates the government's claim that detention is only used as a last resort. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 9]

Muslim trainee rejected

An eighteen year-old Muslim woman who went for a trainee job with a Muslim firm of solicitors in east London was turned down for the position. There were conflicting reports as to why she was unsuccessful. Initially it was indicated that "the firm had rejected her application under health and safety regulations claiming that it would be dangerous for her to wear the full hijab and walk up and down the stairs" (Eastern Eye 18.10.94). She responded by saying that she would be prepared to wear a headscarf only. This elicited the response from an employee of the company that, "In court the judge will be too distracted by what you've got on your head to concentrate on the case".

A different insight into the case was given by a senior solicitor in the company who said that there were many instances of trainees and employees wearing "traditional clothing as required of devoted Muslims" (Daily Jang 21.10.94). She explained that she would certainly not advise any Muslim woman not to wear hijab because it might distract the judge. According to her understanding of the situation, the woman had been refused the post because of her lack of skills as the position was intended for someone who would go on to train as a legal secretary. The earlier responses had been given to the woman by a secretary who has now "been reprimanded" and an apology has been given to the woman. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 9/10]

Healthy diet and exercise

The high incidence of heart disease amongst women from the Asian community spurred Peterborough City Council to set up a dietary and exercise clinic aimed specifically at women most at risk. A young Muslim woman from the city joined the team initially as a translator and then went on to complete her training as an "exercise to music" instructress. She spoke about the cultural apprehension which she had overcome in gaining the agreement of her family to take on such a career (Peterborough Evening Telegraph 14.10.94) but she now enjoys their esteem and several family members take part in her classes. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 10]

Brent seminar on death

The Brent Islamic Circle staged a seminar on Death: facing the reality on 2nd October. Speakers included a Muslim doctor and an Islamic scholar as well as representatives from the coroner's court and the register office. The seminar explored the new circumstances which face Muslim families in this country who have been cut off from the traditions and experiences of dealing with death in their countries of origin. The whole issue of dealing with death will form the focus of the November issues of the Muslim weekly Q News. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 10]

Imam declared bankrupt

In February 1993, the High Court in Blackburn awarded damages of £100,000 against Mohammed Yusuf who was found to have libelled another local community leader, Mohammed Naeemi. Mr Yusuf had made unfavourable comments about Mr Naeemi's qualities as a religious teacher in leaflets which were distributed in Accrington following a dispute between the two men. In July 1993 Mr Naeemi obtained a County Court judgement against Mr Yusuf for over £10,000 to cover the legal costs which he had incurred. Now Mr Yusuf has been granted a bankruptcy petition in the Blackburn County Court and so it is doubtful whether Mr Naeemi will obtain any money in the case.

As a result of the original dispute, Mr Naeemi established his own religious school separate from the Higher Antley Street mosque where he had previously worked. He applied for planning permission but this was refused by the local council in April 1994 on the grounds that it would cause a disturbance in a residential area and could lead to traffic problems. At this stage Mr Naeemi appealed to the DOE. That appeal has now been turned down. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 10]

Bishop guest of Tablighi Jamaat

The Bishop of Wakefield paid a formal visit to the Markazi Mosque in Dewsbury as guests of the Tablighi Jamaat. The bishop met staff and students at the Dar ul-Uloom which is attached to the mosque and had a wide-ranging discussion with them. According to the diocesan newspaper, the Tablighi group were at pains to assure the bishop that their mission was aimed at reviving Islam amongst Muslims rather than being directed at making converts. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 10/11]

Wider representation in the law

Statistics from the Law Society and the Council for Legal Education show that 6% of barristers come from minority communities, which is in keeping with the proportion in the general population, but only 2% are solicitors even though they constitute 14% of students registered with the Law Society (Daily Jang 21.10.94). In an effort to redress this under-representation, the Society of Black Lawyers has persuaded the Bar Council and the Law Society to introduce equality codes. From now on, every barristers' chambers must take 5% of their intake from the minority communities and from next year large solicitors' practices will have to take 10% of their intake from minorities and smaller practices 5%. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 11]

Women's careers day

Milton Keynes Women and Work group, part of the local Training and Enterprise Council, hosted a careers day for girls and young women from the community of Asian heritage. It aimed to give the women an indication of potential career opportunities and to open a channel of communication between the women and their parents to reassure the latter that they might take up careers without loosing their identities within the community. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 11]

Praying in hospital

The Glasgow Victoria Infirmary had suffered a loss of confidence on the part of the local community after reports in the city's press. In an effort to rehabilitate the hospital, now run by a trust, extensive coverage of new services has been sought. Part of the confidence-building process was to establish a consultative group of religious leaders to ensure that patients' and visitors' spiritual needs were being met. This led to several measures to accommodate Muslim needs, in particular the furnishing of the coronary care unit with the impedimenta of worship which was featured in the Glasgow Evening Times (13.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 11]

No radio licence for Muslims

Muslim radio companies were again unsuccessful in the recent round of applications for vacant local radio frequencies. There was a mixed reaction to the grant of a licence to London Christian Radio which will begin broadcasting programmes aimed at promoting moral values in around nine months' time. Muslim commentators welcomed the concept of a religiously inspired radio station as a sign that "secularism" is not all-pervading but there were fears raised that it could become a "crusading" station in an overtly evangelical sense (Q News 14.10.94). Spectrum Radio has been fined a total of £4,533 by the Radio Authority after broadcasting "Iranian propaganda" inspired by an Iranian opposition group. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 11]

Islamic Art Week

The London art houses dedicated the third week of October as Islamic Week during which they staged their exhibitions and sales of works of Islamic art. Items in the sales included miniatures, furniture and carpets as well as manuscripts and works in metal. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 11/12]

Yusuf Islam launches album

The leading Muslim philanthropist, Yusuf Islam, was profiled in The Guardian (08.10.94) to coincide with the recording of a new album from EMI entitled The Life of the Last Prophet. It is the first album which Mr Islam has released since he embraced Islam in 1977. Prior to that he had been a leading pop singer under his stage name of Cat Stevens. Mr Islam was portrayed as "a man so obviously at ease with himself and his faith" and considerable attention was given to the educational concerns which have been so much part of his recent life with the Islamia Schools Trust. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 12]

Muslims escape fire

A Muslim family living in Kenton, north west London, had a narrow escape after their house was the subject of a petrol bomb attack. They were saved by a policeman and an off-duty fireman. The police are still investigating the motives for the attack. This must be viewed in the light of the growing number of racially-motivated incidents in London, particulary in the East End. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 12]

Muslim view of Cairo conference

The president of the Islamic Medical Association, Dr Abdul Majid el-Katme, who was part of the delegation which attended the UN Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, wrote an account of his experience which was circulated to supporters of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC). In the letter he claimed that the media had distorted the image of the conference by making it appear that the Vatican was the sole moral opponent of the conference document whilst in reality several Muslim voices were also raised in opposition. He called on all Muslims to expose the falsity of the document and protect the populations of developing countries. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 12]

Immigration law unfair

The introduction of new immigration rules on 1st October has been criticised in the Muslim press (Q News 14.10.94). The main points of concern are the impact on Muslim extended family life of the rules concerning admission to this country. In particular there are concerns over widowed mothers only being allowed to join their children in Britain once they have attained the age of 65 years and provided that it can be shown that they not only have financial support but also "exclusive" use of accommodation. This militates against the common practice of multi-generational occupancy of the same house. Similar problems are found with daughters aged 18 to 21, adopted children and potential marriage partners. All these restrictions are held to be particularly harsh on Muslim families from the subcontinent. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 12]

Help for growing businesses

Croydon Business School has launched a business growth initiative aimed at businesses run by people from the minority communities. The initiative provides an analysis of training needs and expert guidance on on-going business plans. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 12]

Food hygiene courses in Urdu

Calderdale Council Environmental Heath Department has been running courses in food hygiene throughout its district for some time. Analysis has shown that the poorest rate of take-up has been amongst people from the local Muslim community. In an effort to counter this, the council has arranged to run a course with Urdu tutors in the Islamic Cultural Community Association Centre in Halifax. In addition a culinary competition is to be run in curry-making under the title "The Spice of Life". There have been comments from leading Conservative councillors against "segregated" provision and in favour of such courses being open to everyone. Council officials have responded by saying that the course has deliberately been moved from council to Muslim premises and from English to Urdu to widen its catchment amongst a group who feel less comfortable about joining the existing courses (Halifax Evening Courier 08.10.94 and 13.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 13]

Fulham mosque vandalised

Vandals broke twenty windows in a mosque in Fulham on the evening of 25th September. The police believe that the attack was the work of school children (Fulham Gazette 30.09.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 13]

Farewell to police chief

Over 200 guests attended a farewell celebration in the Ilford Muslim Community Centre to mark the retirement of the Chief Superintendent responsible for the local police division. The farewell was organised by the British League of Muslims and local dignitaries were amongst the guests. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 13]

Bradford West selection

The question of the selection of a Labour Party candidate for Bradford West was raised again in New Statesman & Society (07.10.94). The Labour Party was seen to be in something of a quandary as, on the one hand, it wants to ensure that more women are elected to parliament by drawing up all-women shortlists for candidature, and, on the other hand, it wants to be seen to attract candidates from minority communities which, in the community of Asian heritage, is often seen to exclude women. There are three names declared as interested in the candidacy so far. Two are Muslim men and the other is a white woman. The article speculated on the possibility of an Asian woman candidate being selected and, if selected, being elected by Asian men. In a telling remark, the writer commented that, "Two elements are missing from the battle for Bradford West: politics and the needs of the community". This reinforces the perception that the antecedents and gender of the candidates appear to be of greater importance than their ability to ensure that the needs of a disadvantaged population are adequately represented by a sound political agenda. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 13]

Student magazine attacked

A Jewish family from Edgeware are putting their MP under considerable pressure to have action taken against the Islamic Society of Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, which produces a magazine called The Guidance. The family, which contains a student at the college, alleges that the magazine has printed anti-Semitic material. The college principal has cautioned the president of the Islamic Society that the material in question is "wholly unacceptable, manifestly racist and offensive" (Hendon and Finchley Times 06.10.94). The matter has been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service which decided that a prosecution could not be brought. This interpretation is challenged by the family concerned. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 13/14]

Jobs for young Muslims

Junior employment minister, Ann Widdecombe, visited the Muslim Community Centre in Huddersfield as part of a fact-finding tour of the area which focused on the needs of young people from Asian families. The shortage of job opportunities and the consequences of the proposed reduction in Section 11 funding were particularly discussed. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 14]

Tackling asthma in Bradford

The incidence of asthma is rising particularly amongst members of the Muslim community in Bradford. Local health authorities have launched a series of displays and talks throughout the district but are paying particular attention to the Manningham area of the city. Here a special clinic, "Manningham Airways", has been set up to enable local people to learn more about the management of their condition. Similarly, events are planned for several Muslim foyers during the current publicity drive. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 14]

Exorcism goes wrong

The trial in the court in Old Bailey of three Muslims who were charged with manslaughter whilst carrying out an exorcism received wide publicity from the national press (e.g. The Times 12.10.94). The facts of the case would appear to be that a 22 year-old Muslim woman was thought to be possessed by an evil jinn and so a female "holy woman" was brought in to advise on the best manner of expelling it. The exorcism took place in the woman's family house in Ilford and lasted two days. During this time the "holy woman" administered beatings with sticks and a vacuum cleaner hose. When she herself was exhausted she instructed the other accused to continue the beating. Finally the woman was held on the floor whilst the accused jumped on her stomach. The beatings were accompanied by prayers and recitation of the Qur'an. During the beatings on the second day, the woman died, after which the accused tried to pervert the course of justice by persuading the family to say that the woman had injured herself by throwing herself around the bedroom and eventually falling downstairs. The dead woman's sister has admitted manslaughter after taking part in the exorcism. The case continues. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 14]

Religious art creation

Sixteen Hindu women were invited to travel to Potters Bar from Mombassa, Kenya, to create a 35-feet wide picture on the floor of a community centre. The picture depicted symbols from the great religions of the world including the kaba in Mecca. The picture was executed in coloured powders in a room which had been especially draft-proofed and fumigated to kill any insects. It took twelve days to complete. After being the centrepiece of an exhibition for two weeks, the picture was swept up. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 14]

King's Cross family move

The family of the 15 year-old white boy who was stabbed to death by an Asian gang in the King's Cross area of London (see BMMS for August 1994) has decided to leave the district after living there for ten years. The place where the boy died was only 100 yards from his home and the trauma of constantly walking past the site was too upsetting for the family. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 14/15]

Leicester hospital exhibition

Aspects of Muslim religious and cultural life were the focus of an exhibition mounted at Leicester General Hospital from October 10th to 14th. As part of the exhibition, hospital staff received training in Islamic norms and practices with the hope that it would assist them to care for patients with greater sensitivity. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 15]

Elections for Slough PWA

The power struggle amongst Slough Muslims (see BMMS for April, August and September 1994) took a new turn with 1400 people casting their votes for new officers for the Slough Pakistan Welfare Association. The elections took place in a local school on 23rd October under the scrutiny of a team of independent observers led by a local Liberal councillor and recorded by video cameras to ensure that there would be no irregularities. Victory went to the party which supported recent attempts to elect trustees for the Slough Islamic Trust. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 15]

Shroud burial in Ealing

Permission has been given for Muslims to bury their dead in a shroud but without a coffin in the London Borough of Ealing. By so doing, Ealing joins Hillingdon as the first two London boroughs to make this provision. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 15]

Labour Party applications, Manchester

One of the unsuccessful candidates in the re-selection process for Labour Party candidate in the Manchester Gorton constituency, Ahmad Shahzad, has successfully appealed to the National Executive Council to have alleged irregularities in the process investigated. This follows a protracted dispute concerning delays of up to two years in approving applications from local members of the Asian community who wanted to join the party (see BMMS for July, August and September 1994). The enquiry will be conducted by the disputes committee of the NEC. It has been welcomed by the Gorton Black Socialist Society which feels confident that it will result in a re-run of the selection process. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 15]

Bucks abattoir queried

For the past eight years, a farmer in the village of Bovingdon, which is near to High Wycombe and Chesham in which there live significant Muslim populations, has been raising chickens to be slaughtered on the premises by a Muslim slaughterman. All the necessary equipment is available and everything meets hygiene regulations. Recently, the farmer has stopped rearing the chickens himself but has bought them in to be slaughtered on his farm. As he is no longer slaughtering the birds where they were reared, he needs planning permission for what is now technically solely an abattoir. There were initial objections to granting the permission as it was feared that this would open the door to a factory being built in the green belt but Dacorum Borough Council has agreed to grant temporary planning permission for three years subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for the Environment. There is a fear that rural lanes will be congested with heavy lorries and the abattoir will expand beyond its current capacity of 5,000 chickens per day. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 15/16]

Calamus Foundation Lecture

The Sixth Calamus Distinguished Lecture given at a dinner at the Inter-Continental Hotel, London, on 31st October (see BMMS for September 1994) was well received by the press. "It produced the sort of views and attitudes which would do Muslims proud anywhere and in any society." (Daily Jang 04.11.94) The main speaker was Abdullah Omar, the Justice Minister in South Africa, who spoke on "Religious, Cultural and Language Rights in the new South Africa". Supporting speeches came from Frances Jowell, a freelance art historian of South African birth, Paul Oestreicher, the Director of International Ministry at Coventry Cathedral, and Farid Esack, a Muslim activist from South Africa. All the speakers spoke positively about the future of the pluralist society which is being formed in South Africa. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 16]

Qur'anic verses in music

A popular musical group called Loop Guru incorporated part of the soundtrack of an Asian film which included the chanting of Qur'anic verses into one of the tracks on its latest album. There has been some protest from London Muslim organisations and individuals who have heard the music (New Musical Express 29.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 16]

Fire wrecks proposed school

Four Muslim men in Crewe bought a house in Walthall Street to use as a supplementary school. They had only just completed renovation and re-furbishment when it was devastated by fire. The police are treating the fire as suspicious and are awaiting a report from a fire investigation officer. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 16]

Uxbridge Muslims seek accommodation

Uxbridge College has given notice to the Islamic Education Society, which has held classes in the college for three or four years, that it will have to cease its use in the near future. The move comes after the building was transferred from the control of the local council to Uxbridge College by the Education Assets Board. Hillingdon Council is now seeking an alternative site for the Islamic society. One possible site in the Civic Hall in Hayes. Should this be given over for the use of the Muslim group it would effectively prohibit its use by the wider community who currently use it for an elderly dining club, sporting activities and for wedding receptions. Negotiations are continuing with a variety of sites in view. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 16]

Radicals in London

The diplomatic editor of The Times contributed an article under the headline "Islamic radicals find haven in London" (02.11.94). In this he claimed that, "Britain is now the main centre where radical opponents of moderate Muslim government[s] are plotting their overthrow... Members of many of the world's most notorious extremist groups have arrived in London recently to take advantage of the good communications and media concentration, knowing that the only restriction is that they must not break British law." Members of Saudi Arabian, Palestinian, Tunisian and Algerian resistance groups were named. The article asserted that the British government is coming under pressure from Muslim governments around the world to limit the activities of those who seek to overthrow them. "The Government is pondering an idea that goes against the entire tradition of political asylum: whether it should attempt to deport "undesirable" applicants even at the risk of subsequently having the order overturned in the courts." [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 16/17]

Pakistani Community Centre, Manchester

The troubled Pakistani Community Centre, Longsight, Manchester, which ran into financial difficulties resulting in its being repossessed by the council for non-payment of rent (see BMMS for August and September 1994), has been saved for the community through the efforts of local Pakistani leaders including the Pakistan Consul in Manchester. A new association has been formed along non-religious, non-political lines to ensure that the centre provides facilities for the young, women and the disadvantaged in the community. The professional manner in which the rescue package has been assembled has won favour with the council which has agreed to give the new group the opportunity of running the centre. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 17]

Animal genes in plants

The first National Consensus Conference on Plant Biotechnology, which was convened by the Science Museum in Birmingham, expressed reservations about the use of animal genes in the modification of plants' composition. The technique is being developed to permit vegetables to remain fresh longer and taste "better". There are obvious religious objections from Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Muslims to the use of certain or all animal extracts in such a way. Concerns have likewise been raised by vegetarians. A strong call was issued for food to be labelled so that those who object can be certain of its antecedents. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 17]

Promoting Islamic economics

To coincide with the intensive course in Islamic economics which was run in the second week of November by the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, The Independent (09.11.94) carried an article extolling the potential for growth in this area. The fact that the Albaraka Bank has now been forced to give up taking deposits and trading as a bank means that it now functions solely as an investment company which is able to lend but not accept deposits. Money is lent on a profit sharing basis in which there is no interest but the lender takes a share of the profits or losses incurred in the project thus sharing the risks. Albaraka is able to offer house purchase mortgages on the same basis whereby the house is purchased by the company and then the mortgagee buys a percentage of it from the company each year depending on the prevailing property prices.

There is also an Islamic alternative to insurance companies called Al Takafol which is duly licensed by Lautro. The company operates an investment pool from which claims are met. The pooled money is managed according to Islamic principles and any surplus profits are dispersed to all investors. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 17]

UMO dinner

The Union of Muslim Organisations held its annual dinner at the Hilton Hotel on 26th October. Guests were drawn from political life and Muslim organisations nationwide. The General Secretary, Dr Syed Aziz Pasha, spoke about the successful links which had been established over the years between various Muslim groups and the government at local and national level. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Marriage breakdown

In the light of the breakdown in the marriage between the Prince and Princess of Wales, Q News (28.10.94) explored the issues of divorce in British society and the way in which it has an impact on Muslim marriages. "Britain's Muslim community, traditionally viewed as the epitome of family stability, is now unfortunately catching up in the divorce stakes largely due to forced and mismatched marriages." The lack of a fully Islamic attitude to finding suitable marriage partners, e.g. irrespective of material or familial antecedents and with the full consent of the couple, was indicated to be the source of this problem which was leaving more and more Muslim divorcees, especially women, stigmatised and without community support. "The parents who initially created the problem by choosing the wrong partners, or who have exerted undue pressure, usually feel no compulsion to try and make amends, thinking that they have done their Islamic duty." [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Ahmadiyya community centre

Birmingham City Council's economic development committee has offered a long lease on the grade II listed building which was formerly Tilton Road School, Small Heath, to the Ahmadiyya Moslem Association who intend to convert it into a community, sports and religious centre [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Pakistani play: Oldham

A play called The Gatekeeper's Wife which traces the marriage of an English woman to a Pakistani man in the 1960s is to be performed at the Pakistani Community Centre, Oliver Street, Oldham, under choreographer Nahid Siddiqui. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Bury TEC initiative

Bury College has entered into a partnership with the Bury Islamic Centre and the Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council to provide a four-month pilot project offering education and training guidance to the minorities population in the town. The scheme has been funded to a cost of £2,500 by the TEC and will involve a four-strong bi-lingual staff operating in the Islamic centre and the college's guidance offices. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Prepare to swear on Qur'an

A Muslim man in Oldham, who had been arrested for motoring offences and had passed a night in the cells, refused to take the oath on the Qur'an when he appeared before magistrates. He said that he needed to take a full bath to ensure that he was ritually clean to take an oath whilst holding the Qur'an. The magistrates released him on bail for eight days with instructions to re-appear in court in a condition to take the oath. (Manchester Evening News 20.10.94) [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 18]

Wembley community centre

Planning permission has been given to convert an empty shop in Harrow Road, Wembley, into an Islamic community and cultural centre. The building will be restricted to use between 0800 and 2000 Monday to Saturday and 1000 to 1600 on Sundays. It must not be used as a place of worship. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19]

Leicester moves on prostitution

The Leicestershire Muslim Federation has been in the forefront of plans to do something to remove prostitution from the streets in the Highfields area of Leicester. Representatives of the federation have been keen to avoid the street demonstrations which have taken place in Birmingham, Nottingham and Derby (see BMMS for July 1994) but at the same time are determined to remove the practice from streets in the area. Discussions have taken place and more are planned between the police, council officials and the prostitutes. One scheme being discussed is to designate an area of the city where prostitution can be practised without causing offence or being the focus for criminal activities. Such a solution would require a change in the law. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19]

FOSIS camp

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) and the International Islamic Federation of Student Organisations (IIFSO) jointly organised a "Management and Skills Training Camp" in Derbyshire as part of a new drive to re-invigorate FOSIS under its new president Fahad al-Awadi (Muslim News 28.10.94). The camp was aimed at animators of Student Islamic Societies to help them plan their activities in the most effective manner. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19]

Pope's book welcomed

The latest book by Pope John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, has received a generally warm welcome from Muslim readers according to a report in Q News (28.10.94). In particular, the pope's description of Islam as one of the "great monotheistic religions" was welcomed as a repetition of the decree of the Second Vatican Council Nostra Aetate which stressed the common belief between Christians and Muslims in the "worship of one God, living and subsistent, merciful and omnipotent, the Creator of heaven and earth". It was acknowledged that, as a world Christian leader, the pope was bound to point out the areas of disagreement between Christians and Muslims particularly over the divinity/humanity of Jesus. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19]

Hackney meals-on-wheels

Specially selected halal meals will be prepared at the North London Muslim Centre to be distributed to elderly and housebound people from Asian families by the Hackney Social Services meals-on-wheels service. The service is the product of extensive consultations with the local community over appropriate foodstuffs and menus to cater for the needs of every recipient in the borough. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19]

Marketing assistance

The Ealing Co-operative Development Agency has offered a free marketing review service to Asian and Afro-Caribbean businesses in its area with a view to helping them to expand their markets. The review will include an analysis of the current marketing procedures of the company, some customer research and a series of recommendations to improve performance in the future. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 19/20]

Discharged patients need help

The School of Sociology and Social Policy in the University of Leeds has published the report of an investigation into the support offered to minority community patients who were discharged from psychiatric hospitals in Bradford and Leeds called The Nature of Care in a Multi-Racial Community (£4.50). The investigation logged the experiences of 101 discharged patients and found that many of them and those who cared for them were inadequately catered for by the aftercare services. Areas highlighted for particular concern were inadequate housing provision, poor preparation for discharge, lack of knowledge about available services and cultural/linguistic barriers which hampered access to services. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 20]

"Imam" has no mandate

A dispute has broken out in Eccles over a former imam at the Eccles and Salford Islamic Centre who is the subject of a court order banning him from passing himself off as the serving imam. Sheikh Awadulla Youssef is apparently still using the mosque address and charity number in correspondence and "masquerading" as the imam to schools, police and churches. The local community backs their current imam and has dissociated itself from Sheikh Youssef (Salford City Reporter and Advertiser 27.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 20]

Interfaith round-up

The next meeting of the Hull Inter-Faith Forum is to take place in the Hull Mosque and Islamic Centre in Berkeley Street on 21st November. Mustaqim Bleher will be the guest speaker at an interfaith meeting held in the University of Aberdeen on 8th December as part of the Aberdeen Interfaith Programme. Representatives of the many faiths present in Huddersfield gathered in the Town Hall to celebrate the One World Festival. A total of 350 people were present to take part in a tableau of dance, song and drama. As part of the People to People Programme in Newcastle upon Tyne, Sikhs, Muslims and Baha'is staged open evenings to promote interfaith dialogue and break down barriers of ignorance. The movement has spread to Sunderland where the Mayor of Sunderland was the guest of honour at a meeting in the Sunderland Mosque. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 20]

Halal chickens in supermarket

A Blackburn supermarket introduced halal chickens to its frozen foods range some two months ago. There has been some concern from local people that they did not know that they were halal and one customer brought her chicken back to the store when she made the discovery. The store spokesman said that every chicken was clearly labelled in compliance with EU regulations but that any customer who took one by mistake would be entitled to a refund. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 20]

Asian Network radio extended

BBC Radio WM, which serves the whole of the West Midlands, has announced a major extension to is award winning Asian Network. The service, which reaches 100,000 listeners, is a collaboration between Radio WM and the World Service. It carries programmes in English and five Asian languages including news from the subcontinent in Urdu provided by the World Service. Programmes are broadcast on the company's AM frequency between 1900 and midnight on weekdays and between 0600 and midnight at weekends. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 20/21]

Resignations from Conservatives

It is reported that 215 Conservative Party members of Asian heritage, mainly Muslims, have resigned from the party in the Small Heath constituency, Birmingham. The chairman of the constituency association, Abdul Qayyum Choudhary, said that "all the elected officials of the Association, all of whom are Muslim, resigned along with him. They have encountered racism and discrimination in the party" (Muslim News 28.10.94). The list of grievances includes a lack of interest in minority affairs, particularly over immigration issues, and discrimination in the selection process for prospective Conservative candidates. The lamentable progress made by Muslims in both mainstream and designated Islamic political parties was the subject of an editorial in the same newspaper where the Small Heath situation was linked to that in Manchester Gorton and the absence of Muslims selected for winnable parliamentary seats. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 21]

Birmingham cultural profile

Birmingham City Council Environmental Services Department has published a cultural profile on Communities of Asian origin in Birmingham. The book, which can be obtained from Montague Street, Birmingham B9 4BA priced £8.00, gives an historical background to the city's Asian communities; statistical breakdowns of their concentrations, gender and age; a guide to languages spoken and common words in general usage; a summary of main religious beliefs; naming patterns; dietary requisites and general guidance on etiquette to be observed. The books have been distributed free of charge to schools and other institutions. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 21]

Problems of European identity

The future of young people caught between fidelity to the traditional cultures of their parents and the European societies in which they live will be the subject matter for a conference planned to take place at the University of Reading from 6 to 8 January 1995. The conference, entitled "Black Youth in a Transitional European Community: A Focus on Citizenship and Nationality", will concentrate on developing strategies for dealing with the rise of right-wing political groups; education, training and employment; women's issues and developing a European perspective. Further details are available by telephoning 0734-318852. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 21]

Christians in the Muslim world

The International Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, Plaistow, London, convened a day conference on 5th November under the title of "The Suffering Church in the Muslim World". Speakers from the Middle East, Africa and Asia spoke about the situation of Christians in these regions. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 21]

New housing policy needed

Oldham housing committee has been discussing the overcrowded and poor housing stock inhabited by the communities of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage in the town. They found that 80% of these communities lived in four inner city areas. People who were applying for re-housing were naming the same areas as their first choices but fewer and fewer houses of the right size are becoming available. More suitable properties are available in outer lying estates but there is no inclination to move there by most families. According to the director of housing, "This is partly due to the existence of strong communities in the inner parts of the borough and also because of the fear of racial harassment... Many fear harassment on council estates and are showing a reluctance to move from unsatisfactory conditions to properties in areas where there appears to be little community support or facilities" (Manchester Evening News 08.11.94). He called for measures to reduce racial tension and for creative programmes to open up housing opportunities for people in the areas of their choice. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 21/22]

Refugees in Brent

Some 6% of the population of the London Borough of Brent is thought to be made up of refugees, around 16,000 people, nearly half of whom have come from Somalia (Wembley Observer 03.11.94). This places great strains on all the caring services in the borough especially as many of the refugees come without family support and are highly traumatised by their experiences. The refugee total includes an estimated 1800 children, many of whom do not speak English. The borough's travellers' and displaced persons' education service has only two part-time Somalian teachers to work with these children so they have to limit their activities to one secondary school and six primary schools. Even this modest provision is threatened by the government's plans to reduce Section 11 funding for language support teaching. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 22]

Art classes for the elderly

Pensioners from Asian families in Keighley are relishing art classes which are being run in the Muslim Community Centre. The classes are directed by Shanaz Gulzan, a final year student at Leeds University, who shows the students how to develop their drawing and calligraphic skills to execute framed pictures of verses from the Qur'an in Urdu and Arabic with decorative borders. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 22]

Muslim Parliament meeting

The Muslim Parliament is to hold its ninth session in the Logan Hall, University of London, on 27th November. There are four subjects scheduled for debate. The first will be on "Europe's Cultural Crusade against Islam", the second "Muslims and the British Political System", the third "Sex Education" and the fourth "Halal Meat". [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 22]

Jewish-Muslim dialogue

Jews and Muslims met in London at a meeting organised by the Institute of Jewish Affairs. One of the Muslim speakers, Dr Zaki Badawi, pointed out that it is fear and ignorance which are at the heart of poor relations between the two faiths. He said, "Prejudiced people do not see the variety in the other community... We need to learn about each other's faith and visit each other's homes" (Jewish Chronicle 28.10.94).

In an effort to foster better relations between Jews and Muslims in Manchester, the Jewish-Muslim Community Forum has been established. The initial moves came from the Muslim community who hosted the meeting which was attended by several Jewish community leaders. A joint statement was issued condemning terrorist activities and future regular meetings are planned to work for better understanding and a joint campaign against racism and anti-Semitism (Jewish Chronicle 21.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 22/23]

Advice centre to re-open

The Rhodes Street Advice Centre, Halifax, was gutted by fire last May. Since then the Centre has had to operate out of a local Islamic Cultural Centre whilst repairs were being carried out. Now the building is set to re-open on 16th November under its co-ordinator Councillor Mohammed Najib. Even though the building was saved and refurbished, the accumulated records, documents and information of fifteen years were irrevocably lost in the fire. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 23]

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Updates

Education

Timetable adjusted for winter prayers

The Edge End High School in Pendle has a tradition of daily acts of collective worship on Mondays to Thursdays which incorporate two minutes of silence for children to pray according to their own religious tradition. On Fridays there is a separate "faith worship" session when Muslims, Christians and students with no religious affiliation meet separately for worship or reflection. To accommodate the change in times for Jummah Prayers during the winter months, the school timetable has been adjusted so that the faith-worship period is scheduled earlier. This met with some opposition from local people but was strongly defended by the headteacher who pointed out that it does not affect the timetable allocation for other subjects. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 23]

Halifax education centre

A £250,000 project has been commissioned to build a two storey education centre attached to the Central Madni Mosque in Halifax. The centre will offer religious and language instruction for local Muslim children as well as providing additional space for prayer. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 1995. The centre has been financed by donations from the community. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 23]

Blackburn: Islamic Academy approved

Outline planning permission has been granted for a residential school to be built in Blackburn to cater for 150 children. The Islamic Academy will be a three storey building with teaching rooms on the ground floor and living accommodation for 150 students and eight staff on the first and second floors. Further plans are to be submitted to the council for approval [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 23]

Analysis of student achievement

Dr Pam Sammons of the International School Effectiveness & Improvement Centre, Institute of Education, London University, has published a study of achievement in school children taking into account a variety of factors including ethnicity. The study, called Gender, Ethnic and Socio-Economic Differences in Attainment and Progress: A longitudinal study of student achievement over nine years, followed a group of approximately 1200 children from year 3 to year 11. It concentrated on the factors which might be influencing changes in pupil achievement.

One significant finding was that children from minority communities attained less highly during the junior school years but this pattern was reversed in secondary education when they were seen to make significant gains in achievement. One reason for this might be that GCSE coursework demands suited children from minority communities better than the norm and thus they were seen to score better than with standard testing in the lower years. Another factor might be that there were higher parental aspirations and a clearer realisation of the difficulties of finding employment which had an effect on students' attitudes and increased their motivation to obtain better qualifications. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 23/24]

School assemblies, Birmingham

The situation regarding school assemblies at the Birchfield and Canterbury Cross primary schools in Birmingham, which were the subject of considerable debate earlier in the year (see BMMS for January, March, May and June 1994), was re-assessed in an article in The Independent (27.10.94). Canterbury Cross has now applied for and been granted a determination from the Birmingham SACRE which will release it from the obligation to provide broadly and mainly Christian worship and instead run a programme of multi-faith assemblies for the whole school. The governors at Birchfield school have decided with the headteacher that they should lodge a similar application which is currently under consideration. In addition, specifically Islamic assemblies are being provided at Birchfield for those children whose parents have exercised their right to withdraw their children from the standard provision. The multi-faith solution has met with a mixed reception, being welcomed as a productive exercise of consensual parent power by some whilst others regard such multi-faith assemblies as a recipe for confusion in children's minds. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 24]

Muslim school provision, Cardiff

Negotiations have continued between the Cardiff City planning department and the organisers of the irregular Muslim school in the Canton district of the city (see BMMS for September 1994). There has been no "traffic chaos" to date with 30 children being dropped off by two minibuses and the school has undertaken to create four parking spaces at the rear of the property. An amended planning application will be submitted to the council for consideration over the next two months. Muslim leaders in the city are already talking about the need to establish a Muslim girls' school ready for when the children move on from the primary school. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 24]

Birmingham/Kashmir agreement

The East Birmingham College and the Raees Ul Ahrar Colleges in Kashmir have signed a friendship agreement which will mean that staff, students, resources and expertise will be shared between the two establishments. The agreement grew out of a study tour of Kashmir organised by the college for staff and students in December 1993. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 24]

New venture in Milton Keynes

Muslim teachers in Milton Keynes have established a supplementary school run on Saturdays in a local state school building where students are able to take part in classes right up to GCSE level in Islamic Studies. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25]

Dorset Achievement in RE

The Dorset LEA has introduced the Dorset Achievement in Religious Education (DARE) scheme to re-invigorate the approach to RE in the county. The scheme draws together elements from sex education, health education, careers and RE in such a way that the result can be seen to comply with the county's agreed syllabus. The course covers pupils in the 14 to 16 age-range and will operate in 75% of the county's schools this term. The course proceeds thematically by looking at Christianity and one other religion's attitudes to a variety of life issues. By working in this way, it enables schools to focus their sex education programmes within a wider moral framework. By combining these elements into a social education package it increases the amount of time available to two lessons per week. On completion of the programme, pupils are given a certificate. The scheme has already been adopted by three other LEAs (Times Educational Supplement 07.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25]

Imam in church school "unwise"

The headteacher at the St Andrew's (CE) Primary School, Eccles, together with the local vicar, planned to invite an imam to come into the school to teach all the children about Islam but diocesan leaders have deemed the move to be "unwise". There is a history of tension in the school, which has a significant number on Muslim pupils on roll, following a decision by a previous vicar not to allow Islamic assemblies. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25]

Mosques

Bermondsey

The Muslim Association of Nigeria UK bought a derelict former public house in Bermondsey two years ago and began to convert it for use as a mosque and community centre. It has been in use for these purposes for about one year but the group has yet to apply for planning permission. The planning authorities are currently in negotiation with them to rectify this situation. Meanwhile, there are considerable local complaints about parking problems and allegations of "racist behaviour" when residents "nicely" ask them to move their cars. The local council and MP are to meet with residents and the Muslim group with a view to finding a solution (South London Press 01.11.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25]

Bolton

Plans have been submitted for a new mosque and community centre at the junction of Peace Street and Derby Street, Deane. The £1m project will consist of a suite of meeting/classrooms and two minarets which will rise to some 30 metres. It is reported that local Muslims have already raised hundreds of thousands of pounds towards the costs. Currently, the community meets at the Zakaria Mosque in Peace Street which will eventually be refurbished. Included in the application is the faculty to broadcast the call to prayer using a loudspeaker system. The local council says that this is the first such application with which it has had to deal and it will judge the issue according to the usual rules for noise abatement. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25]

Ilford

Temporary planning permission for one year has been granted to the Ilford Islamic Centre to erect a 12 feet high marquee to accommodate worshippers for Jummah Prayers whilst the current site is being re-developed to demolish the former building and build a new mosque. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 25/26]

Loughborough

In spite of the fact that planning permission has been given for the conversion of a former furniture warehouse in Rendell Street into a community centre (see BMMS for July and September 1994), protesters, who earlier submitted a petition to the council, have now taken their appeal to Stephen Dorrell, the National Heritage Secretary. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 26]

Oldham

A one-year planning permission has been given for the use as a mosque of two terraced houses in Stuart Street. This will allow council officials to monitor the effect on near-by residents. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 26]

Reading

Following the announcement that negotiations are under way to find a suitable site for a new mosque in the town (see BMMS for September 1994), the current provisions were featured in a report on Muslims attending Friday prayers. It was reported that up to 350 people attended Friday prayers when the reporter was there. They had to line up in eight rooms in the house to which the Imam's voice was transmitted by loudspeakers. Additional provision had to be made for worshippers to assemble in the car park. It was noted that the mosque is so small that it could only accommodate men. Women have to be discouraged from attending (Reading Chronicle 07.10.94). [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 26]

Rochdale

Planning permission has been granted to the UK Islamic Mission to demolish two terraced houses in Hare Street, Deeplish, and replace them with a purpose-built mosque (see BMMS for September 1994) in spite of some local opposition and an adverse recommendation from planning officers who held that the development was too big to fit in with the local townscape. The applicants have agreed to "scale down" the plans but the exact nature of this change is not yet clear. Permission was also given for a car park for 31 cars to be laid on the site of a near-by terrace which is to be demolished by the council. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 26]

Rochdale

The Rochdale council is being asked to petition the Secretary of State for the Environment for permission to sell a piece of land adjacent to the Golden Mosque in Lower Sheriff Street at a reduced price. The mosque was the first to be built in Rochdale and now needs the land to build an extension. According to a 1950 circular from the government, councils were empowered to sell land at reduced prices for the building of places of worship on new housing estates. The local council has used this proviso in the past and Muslims hoped that it could apply again. Unfortunately, this circular was replaced by one in 1993 which said that councils must not sell land at less than "reasonable" prices. The council is considering a proposal that it should sell the land for 10% of its market value with covenants attached which would restrict its use and future sale. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 26]

Skipton

The forty Muslim families in the area do not have sufficient room in the current mosque which was converted in stages from two terraced houses. Plans have been submitted to remove the internal walls in the houses and create one large prayer hall. There will be no changes in the exterior of the building. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 27]

Stockton

Negotiations are taking place between the Muslim Welfare Trust and local residents who oppose plans for a mosque in Northcote Street. The opposition focuses on additional parking and traffic congestion. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 27]

Telford

The mosque in Regent Street, Wellington, Telford, is in need of an extension to house the number of children who attend classes in the evenings. The current mosque contains only one large room and an application has been lodged with Wrekin Council to build another to serve as a classroom. [BMMS October 1994 Vol. II, No. 10, p. 27]

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