BMMS June 95

The disturbances in Bradford have been extensively reported in the press but the precise details of the events on 9th/10th and 10th/11th June will not be known until enquiries currently underway have reported. The initial incident appears to have been a group of youths playing football in the street. The police were called and apparently a police car drove over the foot of one of the youths (Scottish Daily Mail 12.06.95). When the police tried to apprehend the youths, one of them took refuge in a neighbouring house and police entered the house to detain him. During the time when the police were in the house, it is alleged that a woman with a young child was manhandled by the police leading to her clothing being torn (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 10.06.95). This inflamed the incident and four youths were taken to the police station.

A crowd of people then went to the police station demanding the release of the youths. Later that night, 9th/10th June, some hundreds of people took to the streets erecting barricades, lighting fires and causing extensive damage to property, notably breaking several shop and pub windows and setting light to cars in a garage forecourt. Police in riot gear and community leaders were on the streets in an effort to ease the tension and prevent further trouble.

From the outset, one of the immediate causes of the night's disturbances was reckoned to be the insensitive way in which the police handled the original situation. The former Lord Mayor of Bradford and senior councillor, Mohammed Ajeeb, commented, "I absolutely condemn the behaviour of the Asian youths - that can't be excused irrespective of police behaviour. They can't justify what they have done to our city and the image of Bradford. But at the same time the police behaviour is absolutely inexcusable". A senior police spokesman noted that, "The police force is simply the anvil on which the youth is beating out its frustration and anger, and the youngsters seem to be alienated from every conceivable part of society from which they are drawn" (Scottish Daily Mail 12.06.95).

On the Saturday night, 10th/11th June, there was a repeat of the street violence with allegations of youths coming into Bradford from other towns to take part in the disturbances. Community leaders had held a four-hour meeting with the police on the Saturday in an effort to defuse the pent-up emotions. The secretary of the Bradford Council for Mosques reporting on this meeting commented that, "The police didn't listen [to demands that public order charges should be dropped after the first night's disturbances]... If they had agreed we could have gone outside and told the younger people and there would have been no trouble. They just said they couldn't do it. If they had co-operated all this could have been prevented" (Middlesborough Evening Gazette 12.06.95).

There was no shortage of immediate comment on the underlying causes of the disturbances. The 50% rate of unemployment was cited together with inadequate housing, poor standards of education and the increase in drugs-related activities in the area (The Independent 12.06.95). The youth of Bradford were generally perceived to have had a raw deal. The incident had been linked to community protests over the incidence of street prostitution in the area and the failure of the police to move decisively to prevent what was perceived to be a blight on the lives of local inhabitants (Sunday Times 11.06.95).

Mohammed Ajeeb commented on the apparent breakdown in control between the older generation of Muslim leaders and the younger generation, "Gradually the cultural and religious values and parental control are being eroded and being replaced by Western standards and values... That means the community no longer has the influence it once had over the actions of some of its youth." Max Madden, the Member of Parliament for Bradford West, added, "These are Thatcher's children who face a very difficult time getting jobs and training. Many feel angry and frustrated. They are finding conflicts within the conventional Asian family and are no longer accepting the traditional hierarchy. They are leaderless and have no longer the conventional community elders for the police to communicate with... There are all these new emotions and relationships boiling away that can - as we saw on Friday - be sparked off by the tiniest incident." Finally, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire commented, "Cultural and religious leaders have been worried for the past 10 years or so that the younger generation don't follow their teachings and feel that they have great difficulty in controlling them" (The Independent 12.06.95).

A group of women from Bradford, drawn from different faith and ethnic communities, staged a peace protest on the streets of Manningham on the night of the 10th/11th June which was generally held to have caused some of the youths to reflect on their past and proposed actions (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 12.06.95). The police came in for further criticism from local councillor Rangzeb who had said in a television interview that, "Basically what it turned out to be is a bashing of the Asian youths... That was what the police were prepared for and that was what they demonstrated". Defending his remarks, Rangzeb added, "I do not feel my comments are inflammatory, but they are from real people... I have to speak the truth and it is about time someone did. It was a genuine feeling of the local people and I am just representing their views" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 12.06.95). Rangzeb was further quoted as saying, "The police must be held responsible for what happened. We warned them what the youths in the community said they were going to do... We spent four hours in a meeting with the police and got nothing from them but contempt for black people and local people" (Coventry Evening Telegraph 12.06.95). Attention was frequently drawn to the new police station in Toller Lane, Manningham which was described as having the appearance of a fortress.

The police have announced an enquiry into their handling of the disturbances under the Police Complaints Authority which will be conducted by a senior officer from the West Midlands. Max Madden MP, together with other parliamentarians from the city, went to the Home Secretary to ask for a full public enquiry into the incidents (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 13.06.95). It was suggested by some that this should be under a senior barrister from the Asian community who would understand the concerns of local people. This request was later turned down as communicated by a parliamentary answer. The police moved two officers, who were involved in the initial incident, to other duties in the city pending the police enquiry.

The general opinion that lessons must be learnt from the way in which violence erupted in Bradford can be summarised by a paragraph from The Times editorial (13.06.95), "The police have blamed a widening generation gap for the riot, and for the inability of the traditional leaders of the Muslim community to intervene effectively and calm inflamed passions... There is some truth in this, of course: a new generation has now come of age, born in Bradford and without the atavistic moorings of the first immigrants, which is disaffected, sullen and relatively rootless. But to say that it has rejected entirely the older values of parents born in Pakistan, of industry and respect for law, would be as pessimistic as it is unfounded. Let the riots serve as warning, however, that all is not as placid in Bradford as we thought it was. There is need now for a period of reflection, which must involve leaders of the Asian community - religious and secular - local councillors, as well as representatives of the local police force. The next fires must be quietened before they rage beyond control."

A meeting was held in Bradford on 12th June to which were invited police, community leaders and representatives of the young people of Bradford. The police offered an unqualified apology if there had been any insensitivity in the way in which the original incident had been handled. A youth forum was established to improve relations with the police but no undertakings were given about dropping charges against those involved (The Guardian 13.06.95). One young man from Bradford provided a different analysis of the causes of the disturbances, "Let's get this straight... This whole thing is just about one thing. It's not about prostitution. Or unemployment, or about all that nonsense of the chief constable's about a gap between youth and age. It's about the way two police officers treated one of our women. That's all" (The Independent 13.06.95).

Dr Philip Lewis, the author of the authoritative study on Muslims in Bradford called Islamic Britain, surveyed the situation for The Tablet (17.06.95). "The trigger... is almost incidental. The reality is that the Muslim communities in the city have borne the brunt of radical changes in the local economy, away from manufacturing to service industries... The city has made heroic attempts to meet the specific needs of its burgeoning young Muslim population... Increasingly, however, funds from central government have been squeezed, while the growing privatisation of local government has reduced the resources available to the local education authority for meeting the special needs of the inner-city schools. It is scandalous that in the area where trouble erupted, probably the most densely populated Muslim locality, there is no youth club... A hybrid Asian youth culture is developing, to the sounds of bhangra music and reggae, which is alien and inaccessible to the elders... This does not mean that the youngsters have turned their backs on Islam, but their religion often functions as part of a reactive identity, whereby they counter the wider society's racism and phobia about Islam... The Muslim community has a number of committed, bilingual and bicultural professionals active in community-building. The riot will draw attention to real grievances and may convince central government that it too has an important role."

Within hours of the Bradford disturbances, several incidents were being investigated by the police in Rotherham which involved groups of youths from the Asian community who had apparently been implicated in violence against a lone man, attacks on cars and verbal assaults on the police (The Sheffield Star 13.06.95). The Provost of Birmingham called for greater understanding to be generated between Christians and Muslims in the city so that they could together fight against racism and prevent any repercussions of the Bradford disturbances in Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail 15.06.95).

The Runnymede Trust announced an independent Commission of Inquiry to look into the situation of Muslims in Britain with special reference to the Bradford disturbances. Commission members include Zahida Manzoor, the chair of Bradford Health Authority; Prof Akbar Ahmed from Cambridge; Sir Nicholas Barrington, formerly British High Commissioner to Pakistan; Dr Zaki Badawi of the Muslim College; Rabbi Julia Neuberger and the Rt Revd Richard Chartes, Bishop of Stepney. The Trust's chairman commented, "The disturbances in Bradford demonstrate more vividly than ever before that British Muslims of all ages feel misunderstood and alienated from the rest of our society... Our Commission will be trying to understand just where the relationship is going wrong. Given that it is the fastest growing community of any kind in Britain, the task is more urgent than ever" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 17.06.95).

The brief will be wider than just Bradford and will include the lack of funding for Muslim schools, a rise in racist violence and hostile and negative media coverage in the light of the Rushdie affair and the wedding of Imran Khan. The Director of the Runnymede Trust further illuminated the concept of the Commission by saying, "We need to do more than sit around a table and talk. We will invite people to write lengthy papers and present their views in person, and ask people to give evidence... The Commission may look at existing research, and will make contacts in Bradford... It is likely to make recommendations to the Government, employers, religious groups, the media, and education leaders".

The Police Complaints Authority has nominated Chief Inspector Chris Grey of the West Midlands Police to be the investigating officer into complaints against the West Yorkshire Police emanating from the disturbances. To date, fifteen complaints from members of the Asian community have been received alleging assault, incivility, abuse of authority and damage to property. The deputy chairman (investigations) of the Police Complaints Authority said, "I can give this assurance to everybody in Bradford: the complaints will be investigated impartially and thoroughly under our independent control" (Huddersfield Daily Examiner 17.06.95).

The Socialist Workers Party distributed leaflets in Bradford calling for an anti-police campaign but "only a handful of local Asians" attended a meeting which they called (Yorkshire Post 19.06.95). Around 200 people attended a meeting in Bradford called by Hizb ut-Tahrir which was addressed by Farid Kassim and an American activist called Ibraheem Razak. "Both men called for the establishment of an Islamic state in the UK and blamed the Bradford riots on 'the capitalist mentality'... They compared the Bradford disturbances to the Los Angeles riots following the beating of black motorist Rodney King and urged young people to abandon Western ways and return to the strict teachings of Islam... But police, politicians and community leaders joined together to condemn what they saw as a deliberate attempt to stir up trouble". Farid Kassim was quoted as saying, "No one condones the riots but there's a terrible lack of understanding of what's going on in the minds of young Muslims... We want to channel that energy and not be browbeaten by the Islamic phobia [sic] that's going on in the national press". Amongst those who condemned such "extremist meetings" were the leader of Bradford Council and Councillor Altaf Hussein (Yorkshire Post 19.06.95). A similar condemnation was issued by Councillor Shaukat Ahmed who said, "The simplistic solutions offered by these neo-fascist groups are totally irrelevant to the issues and will only strengthen the hands of racists and fascists... I am calling on all community groups, mosques and the council to uphold a policy of 'no platform for fascists' and ban such meetings from public places" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 20.06.95).

In the light of the Home Secretary's refusal to convene a formal public enquiry into the disturbances, an appeal was sent to the Bradford Congress to set up its own enquiry. Mr Howard expressed a willingness to receive representations from such an enquiry were it to be established (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 20.06.95). Bradford Congress represents all organisations in the city including Bradford Council, Bradford and District Training and Enterprise Council, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Breakthrough Ltd., Bradford University, the Health Authority, West Yorkshire Police and the Bradford Trades Council. It was originally set up to provide a joint voice in local affairs especially in applying for grants. The Bradford Congress has agreed to set up a Commission of Enquiry (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 29.06.95).

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to drop charges against eight of the people arrested during the disturbances. Charges are to proceed against four who were arrested on 9th June. Further arrests are expected. The decision to drop charges against some of those arrested has been welcomed by politicians and community leaders as an indication that the matter is being seriously investigated especially as there have been reports that some of those arrested were trying to pacify the crowds (Bradford Telegraph & Argus 22.06.95).

Leaflets, alleged to emanate from the British National Party, were sent to selected residents from the Asian community in Bradford. They bore a London post mark. They claimed that the damage inflicted on police and property during the disturbances would be avenged and carried the message "Get out of this country or we will burn you out" (Q News 23.06.95). The police reported that they were aware of the leaflets and were investigating them.

A day conference was staged in Leeds Civic Hall on Friday, 30th June jointly convened by the West Yorkshire Area Criminal Justice Liaison Committee and the Leeds National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders' Race Advisory Committee. The conference, organised to look at the workings of criminal justice legislation, was addressed by the Lord Chief Justice. Judge Saville QC, the chairman of the West Yorkshire Area Criminal Justice Liaison Committee said, "I believe it [the conference] sends an important message about our commitment in West Yorkshire to ensure that our criminal justice system treats all members of the community with equal fairness, dignity and respect" (Yorkshire Evening Post 26.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 1-5]

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Ahmadi denied Muslim burial

Zahid Rashid, a member of the Ahmadiyya community, died in a car accident whilst on a visit to Germany on 14th May. His wife asked permission for him to be buried in the Folly Lane Muslim Cemetery, Walthamstow, which is ten minutes from her house. The request was made by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association to the Waltham Forest Muslim Burial Trust but it was refused. A letter from the Trust's secretary read, "The Muslim Kabrastan (cemetery) is exclusively for Muslims and Ahmadiyya faith does not fall within any sect of Muslim religion [sic]" (Walthamstow Guardian 25.05.95). Mr Rashid was finally buried in the cemetery at Woking where the Ahmadiyya have a plot.

The president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Mohammed Lone, is urging Waltham Forest Council to put pressure on the Burial Trust to allow Ahmadis to be buried there as the council "was told that Trust membership would be open to all Muslims when they sold the land to the Trust for £1 in 1991" (Walthamstow Guardian 25.05.95). However, thousands of local Muslims have supported the Burial Trust in its decision to deny burial to an Ahmadi. The decision of the Muslim World League (Mecca) in 1974 that Ahmadis are non-Muslims as they do not accept the finality of the Prophet Muhammad was repeated. It was also noted that "Ahmadiyyas have already applied to the council for a private cemetery, confirming themselves as a separate faith" (Walthamstow Guardian 01.06.95). The undertaker who arranged the funeral, who is based at the East London Mosque, told the same newspaper that the family had specified a Woking burial from the start and continued, "I think this row has been manufactured for propaganda reasons".

According to a report in Eastern Eye (13.06.95), Mrs Rashid will be contacting her MP on the matter. "Someone has to realise that it is wrong to separate me from my husband... They have denied him the fundamental right of every Muslim." According to Mr Lone, speaking on behalf of the British Ahmadiyya community, "We are Muslims and there is no legal or religious argument that could challenge this claim". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 6]

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Short Reports

Ashura Day celebrations

Parades in memory of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain were staged by Shi'a groups during the Muslim month of Muharram. One such parade took place in Peterborough where the President of the Husaini Islamic Centre said, "Imam Hussain stood up against Yazid, the oppressive and corrupt ruler who was intent not only on destroying the very fabric of Islam but basic moral values and human rights of freedom. Thus to remember Imam Hussain is to stand up for truth and human rights against all oppression" (Peterborough Evening Telegraph 08.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 6]

Sikhs and Muslims in Southall

Religious leaders from every major Sikh gurdwara and Muslim mosque in Southall have joined with the police to form a working group to combat inter-religious tensions in the area following the extensive clashes during the last few months (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for May 1995). The group will meet regularly, weekly at first, to demonstrate that there is co-operation between the relevant parties and to try to defuse some of the tensions which have led to recent unrest.

In a separate venture under the aegis of the Ealing Racial Equality Council, more than sixty community leaders met with police to discuss the causes of and solutions to the tensions. This group sent a message to troublemakers from outside the area to stay away and keep out of Southall's affairs. They further noted that young people must be consulted on the situation in Southall and it is important to talk to community leaders as well as those with a religious base (Southall Gazette 09.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 6/7]

Sunrise Radio fined

Sunrise Radio, based in Southall, has been fined £1,000 for advertising a bogus charity going under the name of "World Wide Muslim Aid" which was mistakenly identified by some with the registered charity Muslim Aid. Sunrise Radio was held to be in breach of the Radio Authority's code of conduct (Asian Times 17.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 7]

The "mosquing" of the council

For 800 years in Glasgow, there has been a "kirking of the council" when the elected representatives of the people formally attended a church service. In recent times, it has become customary for a similar civic service to take place in the Roman Catholic cathedral as well. This year, one of the four Muslim councillors, Bashir Maan, invited the council to attend Glasgow central mosque for a formal service which has been dubbed "the mosquing of the council". The Convenor of the City of Glasgow Council, the new unitary council for the area, has responded most favourably to the invitation which will take place on 30th June. Some representatives of Protestant Christians have commented that this opens the door for similar services to be held by all manner of minority faiths in the area but it was welcomed by the Catholic Cardinal of Glasgow who said, "Anything that helps towards establishing good relationships in our multicultural community should be welcomed" (The Glasgow Herald 13.06.95). A spokesman for the Jewish community commented, "If the council attends one minority service, it should really attend them all... Either that, or you have one service at a neutral venue like the council chambers for every faith" (Scottish Daily Express 14.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 7]

Islamic relief sports for women

The annual Islamic Relief sports day for women will be held at the Kelmscott leisure centre, Walthamstow on 23rd July this year. There will be sporting events such as badminton and volleyball as well as a crèche and special entertainments for children. In addition there will be a bazaar selling all manner of books, clothes, videos and food. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 7]

Bristol: one city, many faiths

Bristol was host to an exhibition staged at the Victoria Methodist Church under the title "Bristol - one city - many faiths". The exhibition builds on the Victoria Church's established partnership with the Ismaili Muslim community in nearby Redland. This partnership stems from the days of the Gulf War and has included an annual social event as well as meeting for discussion (Methodist Recorder 08.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 7/8]

Minority housing associations

The place of specific minority housing associations was explored in an article in The Independent on Sunday (18.06.95). It was noted that there are now sixty such associations letting some 15,000 houses serving especially the African, Asian, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and Vietnamese communities. Special note was taken of two associations serving particularly but not exclusively Muslims in Bradford and Oldham. They held the importance of their work to be recognising the need amongst Muslim families for larger houses suitable for enabling elders to live with younger families and permitting separate rooms for men and women to congregate. Such houses were provided in areas where minority communities felt that they were safely amongst people who would understand and respect them. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 8]

Tape recorders at Speakers' Corner

Police are to patrol the famous Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park armed with hidden cameras and tape recorders in an effort to curb friction between rival religious and political groups. A police spokesman said that the decision had been taken reluctantly after an increase in the number of complaints about fanatical gatherings. "It is the Muslims and in some respects Christians who have become more vociferous in the way they are putting their dogma... At times their activities cause more than friction between factions, and also cause some offence to the public" (The Times 10.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 8]

Youth tensions, Oldham

Police were called to the Glodwick area of Oldham to break up fights between an estimated 50 teenagers from rival gangs of youths. Two crates of petrol bombs and an assortment of weapons were seized. There had been a series of incidents in the area around 6th June. A police spokesman said, "The outbreaks form part of a steady build-up of tension and street violence involving youths in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities... It is simple criminality with a hardcore of young hooligans seemingly out of control" (Manchester Evening News 07.06.95). Eight arrests were made with three teenagers being charged with public order offences. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 8]

BR guard loses claim

A Muslim British Rail guard with 23 years service lost a claim for racial discrimination over his refusal to wear the uniform hat and tie. The man claimed that he had not worn the uniform for the past 20 years "on religious grounds". However, a BR spokesman said, "Prior to 1993, British Rail were not as keen to instigate the standards of uniform... The whole issue of staff being suitably dressed was increasingly raised as we moved towards privatisation" (Manchester Evening News 09.06.95). Further, it was reported that "British Rail told the tribunal that out of 130,000 employees, the problem over ties had never arisen before in relation to religious beliefs". The industrial tribunal unanimously found in favour of BR and ordered the man to contribute £150 towards legal costs. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 8]

Lord Mayor's Parade, Manchester

The Lord Mayor's Parade in Manchester was held on 10th June with the general theme of "peace". The biggest floats in the parade were provided by the city's minority communities including the Manchester and Faisalabad Friendship Committee which has been set up to promote trade links between Manchester and that province of Pakistan. The float consisted of children dressed in the provincial dress of the five provinces of Pakistan who waved British and Pakistani flags to the accompaniment of the Pakistan national anthem (Manchester Evening News 09.06.95).[BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 9]

Harrow: Muslim cemetery recommended

The environment, transport and leisure committee of Harrow Council has been presented with a report on cemetery provision for Muslims in the area commissioned by the Harrow Council for Racial Equality. The report recommends that part of the Harrow Weald cemetery should be set aside exclusively for Muslim burials (Harrow & London Recorder 15.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 9]

SOAS: concern over gift

The gift of £1m from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to found a chair of Islamic Studies at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (see BMMS for May 1995) has been the subject of a protest by "thirty senior academic staff" at the school (Guardian 20.06.95). News of the petition was first broken by the London-based Arabic daily Al Quds al Arabi "which reported that senior staff were concerned over the implications the donation might have for intellectual freedom and objective research". The onus of the protest is that the gift was accepted by the University without reference to the SOAS staff. An unnamed signatory was quoted as saying, "We wanted to protest about the fact that such a large sum of money was accepted from such a source without consultation. Saudi Arabia is known to have a certain agenda on Islam and there could be implications about accepting money from such a source". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 9]

Halifax abattoir plans proceed

Plans are to go ahead to convert a former bakery in Adelaide Street, Halifax into a halal slaughterhouse processing 20,000 chickens per week. An earlier planning application had been the subject of considerable local protest but recent changes introduced by central government concerning change of use of commercial premises rendered formal planning permission unnecessary. This has not halted protests by local people but the abattoir owner has retained an environmental health consultant who has given assurances that everything will conform to environmental health regulations and will involve a minimum of inconvenience to neighbours (Halifax Evening Courier 20.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 9]

Rushdie fatwa remains in force

Salman Rushdie was due to give readings from his works at Waterstone's bookshop in Cambridge on the same day that it was announced that the fatwa concerning him would not be rescinded in spite of overtures which had been made by officials of the European Union (see BMMS for May 1995). It was reported that the Iranian news agency IRNA said, "Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Baezi had met EU officials in Paris and declared that the fatwa against Rushdie for blaspheming Islam should remain in force" (Cambridge Evening News 22.06.95). Muslims in Cambridge voiced their disapproval over the invitation to Mr Rushdie but decided that they would not stage a public protest. A spokesman said, "We are a peace-loving community in Cambridge, we respect the law of the land and we don't want to create bad publicity for ourselves while giving him more publicity". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 9/10]

AKF partnership walk

Building on the success of previous years, the Aga Khan Foundation (UK) is organising another Partnership Walk on 23rd July. The walk will consist of laps of selected parks in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leicester, London, Nottingham and Stockport. In each venue there will be entertainments, activities and food stops to add to the celebratory nature of the sponsored walk. All funds raised will be used for development projects in Asia and Africa which are organised by local people in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation. An information hotline has been set up on 0171-584 4990. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 10]

Bradford woman killed

The violent death of a 20 year-old woman in Bradford has been reported (Q News 30.06.95). It appears that she was knocked down by a car as she walked to work at a local supermarket. The car mounted the pavement, hit her and then drove over her twice before making a speedy getaway. She died of her injuries in hospital. According to a Sunday Times journalist, reported in Q News, "her killing was in reprisal for walking out on her husband". She was alleged to have been forced to marry a cousin in Pakistan in 1991 but left him to return to Bradford in 1993, since which time she has been under considerable pressure from her family to return to him. Police have arrested two men in connection with the incident and a third is wanted but is reported to have fled the country to Pakistan. It appears that a religious leader from a Bradford mosque has condoned the killing saying, "According to the Quran, killing this woman was correct, but in this day and age it is wrong". Such an opinion has been condemned by the President of the UK Shariah Council, Sheikh Darsh, who said, "This statement is absolute rubbish. In no way whatsoever can you kill a person for that flimsy reason. They themselves violated the Islamic point of view in marrying her against her will". Commenting on the religious leader, Sheikh Darsh continued, "He is absolutely ignorant, and such a man should not be allowed to come to this country. Tell this man he is ignorant and has no jurisdiction whatsoever, and ask what are your credentials to be an imam?" This opinion has been supported by Liaqat Hussein of the Bradford Council for Mosques who said, "The killing of Tasleem Sadiq is absolutely wrong". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 10]

Muslim lawyers on human rights

The newly-formed Association of Muslim Lawyers (see BMMS for May 1995) held a conference on Human Rights in Islam on 18th June. The two main speakers were Rachid Ghannouchi from Tunisia and Prof Mohammed Mass'ari from Saudi Arabia, both of whom are currently resident in the UK as political exiles. Domestic issues under consideration were religious discrimination, immigration and the law of inheritance (Q News 23.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 10]

Black people embrace Islam

The rise in the number of Black people in Britain embracing Islam was investigated in an article in The Voice (27.06.95). A major catalyst was held to be the release of the film Malcolm X in 1992 after which, "Youths who were unemployed and facing a bleak future saw in the religion an avenue to pacify their anger and frustration". "Some Muslims take only a passive role in the religion but many believe in working towards achieving meaningful change. They tend to work with the Nation of Islam organisation, targeting prisons, reforming drug addicts and prostitutes, and empowering the deprived to be self-employed... Many young Black reverts [people who become Muslims thus held to be "returning to their natural state"] are mainly attracted by the example of moral and material excellence set by Muslim individuals and families". Reports from many centres of Afro-Caribbean concentration indicate that the phenomenon is widespread across the country with several people commenting that they prefer to embrace Islam without joining any particular community or organisation so that they can be free of factional involvement. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 11]

Walthamstow centre open day

The Asian Family Resource Centre in Walthamstow held an open day on 6th July to promote the work of the centre and bring it to a wider audience. The centre offers help and advice on a wide range of subjects as well as organising leisure events, playgroups for children and a programme for the elderly (Daily Jang 30.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 11]

Birmingham/Kashmir solidarity

Members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri communities of Birmingham met in the Muslim Community Centre, Green Lane, Birmingham to protest their solidarity with a national campaign to call on the British government to press for self-determination and basic human rights in Kashmir. The meeting was addressed by George Galloway MP and Councillor Mohammed Sarwar (Birmingham Evening Post 24.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 11]

Anti-Semitism World Report 1995

The Institute of Jewish Affairs (London) and the American Jewish Committee have published the Anti-Semitism World Report 1995. The report listed some 327 anti-semitic attacks in the UK in 1994. Particular attention was drawn to Islamic groups and neo-Nazis. Amongst the Muslim groups, Hizb ut-Tahrir was singled out for particular mention (The Independent 21.06.95). Other Muslim groups mentioned by name included Young Muslims, Young Muslims Organisation, the Muslim Institute and Interpal. Muslim commentators drew attention to the report's confusion between anti-Zionism and anti-semitism. Azam Tamimi of Liberty for the Muslim World noted, "For Muslims there is certainly a distinction between Jews and Zionists. Jews have always constituted part of Muslim societies, coexisted with them and even enjoyed their protection from persecution. Zionists, on the other hand, are adherents to a political project" (Q News 30.06.95). Similar sentiments were expressed by representatives of Hizb ut-Tahrir and Young Muslims. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 11]

Imam not an employee

The former imam of the Medina Mosque and Islamic Centre, Coldhurst, Oldham brought a case before an industrial tribunal alleging that he had been dismissed unfairly for trade union activities and had not been provided with a written statement of the reasons for his dismissal. At the start of the hearing, the tribunal chairman raised the legal point that, in the light of other such cases, it must be considered whether or not the imam was actually an employee of the mosque. After consultation by both sides, it was decided to withdraw the application. The chairman noted that, "it was regrettable that it could not be decided on its merits" (Oldham Evening Chronicle 29.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 12]

Newcastle law centre racist?

A row has erupted around the Newcastle upon Tyne law centre where a group called Action for Racial Justice has alleged that the law centre is racist. This group is headed by Junad Uddin, a former employee of the centre. He said, "They claim they love black people but only if we accept their ways. They would not accept that I was a Muslim and objected to my refusal to campaign against Islamic groups" (The Observer 25.06.95). Two women workers at the centre, described by Mr Uddin as "communists and lesbians", have received death threats in the form of posters bearing their photographs with the caption "Wanted dead or alive". Mr Uddin denies issuing the death threats but he refuses to condemn those responsible. The centre specialises in cases of immigration, housing and employment. Several of its clients have been black women. A recently formed group, Women Against Racism, has voiced suspicions that the centre's work with black women is seen as a challenge by male community leaders.

A Newcastle city council representative, who served on the management committee for 11 years, said that allegations of an Islamic campaign against the centre was a "smokescreen created by the law centre to cover up its incompetence, inefficiency and political dinosaurism" (The Observer 02.07.95). He detailed several causes of concern over the centre which had resulted in a full external enquiry being ordered by the city council. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 12]

Internal divisions, Halifax

Attempts continue to bring about a solution to the long-running dispute over the management of the Islamic Cultural Community Centre in Raven Street, Halifax from which various sections of the community, particularly the Kashmiris, claim to have been excluded (see BMMS for December 1994; January, February, March, April and May 1995). A meeting of the Calderdale Council Policy and Resources Committee on 19th June decided to set up a new steering committee to examine the future of the centre. The committee will include representatives from the youth and women's sections of the community as well as Bangladeshi [sic, Kashmiri?] leaders and the existing management committee. The meeting was lobbied by around 50 people who protested outside the meeting for four hours. The protestors were not happy with the way in which the committee was constituted. At the same time protestors broke into the centre itself and had to be escorted out by police. The Fire Brigade was called out four times to deal with fires in a rubbish skip outside the building (Halifax Evening Courier 20.06.95).

Representatives of the disgruntled community members met with the council chief executive on 20th June to call for fresh elections to the management committee (Halifax Evening Courier 21.06.95). On the evening of 21st June, a car containing four men from the Kashmiri community was forced to stop and the men were assaulted with baseball bats, knives and sticks. Two of the men were allegedly deliberately run over as they tried to escape. The men were taken to hospital but their injuries were not thought to be serious. Crowds of angry Kashmiris took to the streets to protest against the attacks but dispersed peacefully after discussions between police and community leaders (Halifax Evening Courier 22.06.95). A total of ten men from different elements within the community of Asian heritage were arrested by police following the disturbances (Halifax Evening Courier 23.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 12/13]

Muslim lottery winner

The now well-known Muslim winner of the National Lottery is reported to have settled disputes with his extended family regarding their receiving a share in his winnings (see BMMS for December 1994; April 1995). Following an "urgently arranged family summit", he agreed to hand over a sum in excess of £2.5m to various members of his family (Q News 23.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 13]

Conference on the UN

In the light of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the United Nations, the Muslim Parliament has announced that it will stage an international conference on the UN on 22nd October at the Logan Hall in London's Institute of Education. In the words of the Q News report (30.06.95), this will "commemorate and highlight the real non-achievements of this hapless organisation... Participants will be invited to present papers on the legacy and agenda of the 'world's policeman' on the Muslim and non-Muslim world". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 13]

Nation of Islam entertainment

Jewish representatives have rebuked Hammersmith and Fulham Council for allowing a controversial Nation of Islam entertainment at Hammersmith Town Hall. The show, called "Free the Hardway", was billed as "family entertainment" but it featured Leo X Chester, "a follower and preacher for the Nation of Islam" (The Gazette Hammersmith, Fulham & Shepherd's Bush 23.06.95). According to a spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, "The Nation of Islam is anti-semitic and this is very well documented throughout Britain and the US. We deplore their anti-Jewish message". However, according to a spokeswoman for POWER (People's Organisation of Working for Economic Rebirth) which organised the show, "This event is about black issues and the uplifting of black people. This is a comedy show and is not about religion". It is reported that, "at POWER's last event Chester, 37, held a one-man show in the Hammersmith Palais last month [sic] which featured strong anti-Jewish rhetoric, including praise for Hitler". [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 13]

Religions and health research

A team of researchers from the University of Derby is to visit churches, mosques, gurdwaras and temples in the Pear Tree and Normanton districts of Derby to investigate the ways in which each religious community promotes health concerns. The project, which will run for one month, has four main aims, viz., to find out what the places of worship are already doing with regard to health promotion, to discover the attitudes of religious leaders and worshippers to religious buildings being used to promote health, to work with religious and community leaders to identify the health needs of their congregations and to draft a plan for future activities. The £2,000 project is being jointly funded by the university, Derby Pride and the charity Community Health UK (Derby Evening Telegraph 16.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 13/14]

Compensation for unfair dismissal

The Transport and General Workers' Union took a case before an industrial tribunal alleging unfair dismissal in the cases of 87 workers from the Asian community in Keighley. On the second day of the hearing, the case was settled out of court with the offending firm agreeing to pay each of the workers between £1,000 and £2,000 compensation and to consider them favourably if any future vacancies arise (Daily Jang 30.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 14]

Leicester libraries "Ladies Only"

Leicestershire County Council Library Service set up the first "Ladies Only" sessions at their library in Highfields, Leicester in 1992. The scheme has proved to be so successful that it will now be extended to the Belgrave Library in Cossington, Leicester. Each library opens for women with their children for two hours once each week staffed by people who speak a variety of community languages. Every three weeks, a free bus service is provided to escort people to the libraries and return them direct to their homes. Substantial collections of books, tapes, periodicals and information leaflets are available in several languages. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 14]

Tower Hamlets concern over Dispatches

Tower Hamlets Council is continuing its policy of monitoring the speakers at Muslim meetings held on its property. A meeting of the Islamic Forum Europe was permitted on 17th June which went off without any problem but all meetings are still being vetted to ensure that "alleged war criminals" are not given a public platform. This policy follows on from allegations made in the Channel 4 TV programme Dispatches (see BMMS for April and May 1995). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 14]

Shari'ah in Sudan demo.

Around 100 protestors staged a demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy in London to show their rejection of a recent Amnesty International report on the on-going process of introducing the Shari'ah in that country. The report had referred to Islamic punishments [hudud: punishments for certain crimes mentioned in the Qur'an] as "cruel, inhuman and degrading" (Daily Jang 30.06.95). Several speakers denounced the report as part of "a war perpetuated by the west against the resurgence of Islam in Sudan". Members of Amnesty International staged a counter-demonstration from which leaflets explaining their perceptions of human rights abuses in the Sudan were distributed. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 14]

Sheffield youth stabbed

A 17 year-old youth, Sajid Liaqat, was stabbed in a racially motivated attack at a school in Sheffield. A 14 year-old boy has been remanded on police bail. The school is increasing patrols by senior staff in an effort to defuse any future tension (Doncaster Star 28.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 14]

Halifax community centre opens

A new Muslim educational and community centre has been opened in Halifax next to the Madni Mosque in Gibbet Street. The project, conceived in 1993, cost £350,000 which has been raised by local subscription. It will provide much-needed additional space for children's educational classes and facilities for community meetings. It will also act as an over-spill location when the mosque is crowed, especially during Ramadan. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 15]

Muslim chefs allege unfair dismissal

Two chefs of North African extraction took a case of unfair dismissal before an industrial tribunal in London alleging that they were dismissed for observing the times of Muslim prayer and for persisting with wearing beards in the company's kitchen. The plaintiffs were able to bring the case based on direct discrimination against the racial groups of Arabs/North Africans for whom Islam is an integral part of their ethnic status. Evidence was presented by the plaintiffs including independent witnesses. The case was postponed until January 1996 to allow for the submission of further evidence (Q News 30.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 15]

Dundee election settled

An election was held in early June for officers of the Dundee Asian Action Group but it ended in disruption and the results were declared to be invalid. A second election was staged on 25th June under the scrutiny of two non-Muslim councillors and organised by respected trustees of local mosques. In all, 69% of registered members attended the meeting and took part in the election which was declared to be democratic by the scrutineers. Only four nominations were received, one each for the four offices, and these people were elected unopposed on a show on hands (Dundee Courier and Advertiser 26.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 15]

Birmingham fraudster gaoled

Shahid Butt of Ombersley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham was gaoled for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court on four charges of obtaining property by deception from the DSS. He had fraudulently received a total of £10,000 from the DSS by making bogus claims on Income Support in the names of people who had left the country, who did not exist or who were serving prison sentences. The money was used to finance mercy missions to Bosnia (Birmingham Post 24.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 15]

"Arranged marriage" leads to bigamy

A self-confessed bigamist from Dudley was found guilty of bigamy and perjury at Teeside Crown Court on 23rd June. Shoiab Amjal had agreed to an arranged marriage with a cousin whom he hardly knew in order to save his family distress. His cousin agreed to the arrangement for the same reasons although they agreed before the marriage that they would not consummate it and would seek a divorce. Amjal was also intent on marrying his girlfriend of five years standing. He married his girlfriend in an Islamic ceremony in Wolverhampton on 9 August 1992 and his cousin in a similar ceremony in Manchester on 23 August 1992. The marriage with his girlfriend was civilly registered in Salford on 1 September 1992 and he then went on to contract a civil marriage with his cousin in December 1992 in Hartlepool; this marriage was therefore bigamous under British law. The judge in the case found him guilty but said that no useful purpose would be served by sending him to prison; he was sentenced to 50 hours community service (The Newcastle upon Tyne Journal 24.06.95). The family of Amjal's cousin has subsequently challenged the version of events laid before the court and claim that Amjal had taken £15,000 from them as a dowry. The money has not been accounted for and they are considering further legal action (Hartlepool Mail 27.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 15/16]

Birmingham launch: "All Different, All Equal"

The Commission for Racial Equality in conjunction with Birmingham City Council launched its "All Different - All Equal" campaign in Birmingham on 4th July. It follows on from the campaign against all forms of discrimination and racism launched by the Council of Europe in Vienna last year (see BMMS for March 1995). The chairman of the Joint Race Relations subcommittee, Councillor Abdul Rashid, said, "People are not born racists and we must invest in youth as agents of change... This campaign recognises that though we are proud of being 'all different' we need to become 'all equal'" (Daily Jang 28.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 16]

Nelson youth disturbances

Three separate incidents of groups of youths from the community of Asian heritage in Nelson have been reported in which they appeared to congregate and cause alarm and disturbance to onlookers. The incidents included a group running through the shopping centre, a disturbance outside a nightclub and an assembly on some playing fields. Police monitored the incidents which all passed off with no arrests and without major mishap. Both police and the racial equality officer put them down to "midsummer madness" caused by the good weather and light evenings (Nelson Leader 23.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 16]

Kashmir hospital funded

Many people in Brent and well-known personalities contributed money to a fund established by former Brent councillor Ahmad Shahzad to relieve the sufferings of flood victims in Kashmir after the devastating flooding there two years ago. A total of £26,000 was collected. A hospital was built in Kashmir for the sum of £22,000 and the remainder was used to finance a 10-bed hospital for women and children in the Punjab which was opened in May 1995 (South Brent Observer 22.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 16]

Muslim headteacher profiled

Paul Barnes (Saleh Hassan), the headteacher of Cheetham Church of England Community School, Manchester, in which 95% of the children are Muslims, was profiled in an article in the Manchester Evening News (22.06.95). Mr Barnes became head of the school in 1985 and converted to Islam in 1987. He has made several trips to Saudi Arabia to collect funds for the Manchester Islamic Girls' School and has also visited Libya as a guest of the government in recognition of his work for Muslims in the city. He has also been involved in relief work for Bosnian Muslims including finding homes for refugees in Bolton and Preston. Mrs Barnes' wife and daughters have followed his example of embracing Islam. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 16]

Inter Faith Network AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Inter Faith Network UK was held in Birmingham on 27th June. The morning was given over to administration but the afternoon session concentrated on issues related to planning permission for places of worship. A presentation on mosque building was given by Abdul Hamid Qureshi, the Director of the Lancashire Council of Mosques. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 16/17]

Feminist poetry from Pakistan

The author and playwright Ruksana Ahmed has published a book of poetry in translation which was written by feminist women in Pakistan. The book, entitled We Sinful Women, is being performed by the Man Mela Theatre Company which is currently touring Britain. The poems tell of the struggles of Pakistani women against their condition in their native country. The author commented, "I wanted to chart and project the role of those poets in the women's movement gathering momentum in the country, so as to dispel the assumption that women in the developing world are passive and voiceless" (The Guardian 03.07.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 17]

Mosques list job vacancies

In an initiative pioneered by the Greater Peterborough Training and Enterprise Council, regular lists of job vacancies are to be distributed to mosques, temples and gurdwaras in the area to be displayed within the places of worship in an effort to recruit more people from these communities to the workforce (Peterborough Evening Telegraph 29.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 17]

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Updates

Education

Feversham delays VA re-application

The first application by Feversham College (the former Bradford Muslim Girls' School) for voluntary aided status was rejected by the Department for Education in February on the grounds that its buildings did not meet health and safety requirements and it did not sufficiently cover the technology curriculum (see BMMS for October 1993; January, February, March, May and September 1994; February 1995). At the time, the school's governors announced that they would be re-submitting an application within weeks but they have now announced that a new application will not be made until some time in 1996. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 17]

No DfE circular on Muslim pupils

The Secretary of State for Education has declined an appeal from some Muslim groups to issue specific advice on ways to raise standards amongst Muslim children in schools. Umar Hegedus, a spokesman for Amana, a Muslim educational group, said that such guidance was necessary so that schools could address "issues of multicultural awareness throughout the curriculum" (Education 30.06.95). According to DfE figures, just over 3% of pupils in maintained schools in England are Muslim. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 17]

Leicester centre closure protests

Groups using the Moat Centre in Leicester have petitioned the county council in a bid to prevent them closing down the centre temporarily for alterations. Once alterations have been completed, a multicultural education centre will be housed in the building which protestors feel will drive them out. One of the groups leading the campaign is the Leicestershire Pakistani Association which uses the centre for Islamic education lessons (Leicester Mercury 29.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 17]

Newark school extension

Plans have been submitted to convert and extend a garage block to form a teaching area at the Al Jamia Al Islamia in Flintham, Newark. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Faith monitoring to end

For the past five years, the DfE has required schools to conduct an annual survey of pupils which asked parents to volunteer information on pupils' ethnic origin, mother tongue and religious affiliation. The DfE has now decided to replace the survey with ad hoc research and two additional questions on the schools census which would cover only ethnic origin and those for whom English is a second language. Defending the decision, a DfE spokesperson said, "The data on religious affiliations are generally considered to be less reliable than ethnic data, and of little practical use locally or nationally" (Church Times 30.06.95). Both Christian and Muslim groups have objected to the decision arguing that information on these issues is needed when discussing such questions as religious education, collective worship and the constitution of SACRE's. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Fruitful talks in High Wycombe

Representatives of the Muslim Parents' Group in High Wycombe met with headteachers from most of the town's secondary schools in the Area Education Office to discuss issues relating to accommodating Muslim children in these schools. Particular foci of discussions were the high rate of exclusions of boys from the community of Asian descent and the cuts in Section 11 funding. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Luton madrasah proposed

An application has been lodged by the Jamia Al-Akbaria Islamic Educational and Cultural Trust to use the premises at 241 Selbourne Road, Luton as a cultural and educational centre. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Information Technology awards

Eleven schools have been singled out for awards in the National Educational Multimedia Awards run by the National Council for Educational Technology. A prize was awarded to the Brookhouse County Primary School in Blackburn for A Guide to Islam which had been prepared by pupils. "Merging photographic images with their own hand-drawings, the software forms an interactive guide to Islamic religion and culture through which other children can browse" (The Observer 25.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Halifax school determination

A second primary school in Halifax has applied to the Calderdale SACRE for a determination to allow it to hold Islamic assemblies in addition to the mainly Christian ones required by law. The Parkinson Lane Junior and Infant School has 500 pupils on roll most of whom are from a Muslim background. The first school in the area to be granted a determination, Beech Hill Junior and Infant, has been holding Islamic assemblies since February 1995 (Halifax Evening Courier 09.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Schools' exhibition on Islam

An exhibition has been mounted by Ealing Council and the IQRA Trust under the title The Islamic Experience. The exhibition is expected to attract around 2,000 pupils in school groups at the Ealing Education Centre in Hanwell. The exhibition includes specially constructed models of a mosque, a mihrab [indication of the direction for prayer] and a minbar [three-step platform from which the khutba [Friday address] is given]. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 18]

Mosques

Camberley

Muslim leaders are involved in discussions with councillors and officials in an attempt to find a suitable temporary venue for prayers and a site on which a permanent mosque could be built. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Chesham

Chesham Town Council is petitioning Chiltern District Council to lift the zoning restriction on the site of the former Beechwood Brushes factory so that the land, which is currently designated for light industrial use only, could be used either as a location for a mosque or for affordable housing for local people. The local Muslim community has had applications to use the site for a mosque turned down in the past (see BMMS for June 1993; November and December 1994; May 1995). There is concern amongst local Muslims that the application might be a ploy to have the site released for housing in spite of it being the only available location in the town for a mosque (Bucks Free Press 23.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Crewe

A one-year temporary planning permission has been given for a terraced house in Walthall Street, Crewe to be used as a mosque and madrasah. The local Muslim community claim that the building is regularly used by only four people who all live in the area and thus there are no parking problems, nor will there be excessive noise. There was considerable local objection to the mosque on the grounds that it is in a residential area but the temporary planning permission will allow the council to monitor the situation and assess any potential difficulties. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Inverness

An application has been lodged for the erection of a mosque in a car park behind an Indian restaurant in Telford Street, Inverness. The site is currently occupied by a caravan which serves as a temporary mosque (see BMMS for September 1993). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Leyton

A two-storey terraced house on the corner of Beaconsfield Road and St Mary's Road, Leyton, which had received a series of temporary permissions for it to be used as a madrasah since 1986, has had its permission revoked following sustained complaints about up to 100 people using it as a mosque. When an application for a renewal of the permission was lodged last October, attention was drawn to the continual breaches of planning permission. These breaches have continued, which resulted in the council's decision to withdraw the temporary permission (Leytonstone and Leyton Guardian 25.05.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Middlesborough

The Muslim Federation in Middlesborough which controls the Park Road North mosque has been given retrospective planning permission for a fence which it has erected around the mosque on condition that it removes the spikes from the top of the fence, paints it black and plants trees and shrubs to shield it (Middlesborough Evening Gazette 12.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19]

Motherwell

Planning permission has been granted to convert an industrial unit on the Carfin Industrial Estate into a mosque and educational community centre. The permission was granted in spite of objections by Strathclyde Regional Council on the grounds of insufficient car parking provision (Bellshill Speaker 22.06.95). The development, which will cost around £100,000, will include parking for 66 cars (Wishaw Press 28.06.95). [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 19/20]

Newham

Muslim leaders are currently negotiating with Newham Council to erect a marquee in Beckton in which to hold daily prayers until such time as a permanent mosque can be built. The council has given the United Muslim Association time to come forward with a development plan. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 20]

Rochdale

Rochdale council applied to the Environment Secretary for permission to sell a parcel of land adjoining the Golden Mosque in Lower Sheriff Street at 10% of its market value (see BMMS for October 1994). Permission has now been granted. The land will be used to build an extension to the mosque. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 20]

Sandwell

Local opposition is gathering to plans to convert a disused factory in Plant Street, Cradley Heath into a mosque and community centre. Concerns are focusing on the additional traffic congestion which the new use for the site would cause. [BMMS June 1995 Vol. III, No. 6, p. 20]

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