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British Muslims Monthly Survey for July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7
Features Television and the Muslim family
Short Reports Al-Mas’ari not to be prosecuted Council supports centre application Scotsman younger generation feature Guidelines on redundant churches Interfaith Network appointment Parliamentary candidates listed Security concern for dissidents Anti-semitic poster investigation
Updates Education Campaign for college prayer facilities Concern over use of students’ unions funds Mosques
Burials
Features The Portsmouth News (09.07.96) has revealed extreme right-wing infiltration in the campaign opposing the building of a mosque in Chichester (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for April and June 1996). Specifically, the newspaper is concerned about the interest of Joy Page in the campaign. The Portsmouth News contacted Tony Robson, of the anti-racist publication, Searchlight, who claimed that Mrs Page and her friend Lady Birdwood, who stood in 1992 as a parliamentary candidate for the British National Party, have in the past claimed to support fictitious residents’ associations in order to oppose developments such as the Chichester mosque. Richard Griffiths, rector of St Pancras Church in Chichester, who spoke to Mrs Page before a meeting organised by Churches Together in Chichester, explained his suspicions about her interest: "She telephoned me twice to ask about the mosque. I became uneasy about what she was saying as she appeared to be racist. She warned me that the mosque would become a shelter for illegal immigrants and attract Muslims to the area. I felt that was unreasonable" (Portsmouth News, 09.07.96). The Rev Leslie Judd, minister of Christ Church, Chichester, which hosted the Christians Together meeting, said the meeting was only for Christians in the city and only members of Christians Together were invited to speak. When the Portsmouth News explained about the involvement of Joy Page in the campaign against the mosque, he said: "I am horrified that anyone should want to infiltrate a meeting like this. There are many people who have strong feelings about the mosque but none would agree with Joy Page within our church. She had no place or right to be at our meeting." An editorial in the Portsmouth News (09.07.96) argues that the Christian campaigners against the mosque are at worse intolerant, at best naive: "...these are the controversies which have so often caused racial tension. Chichester doesn’t want that. Nor does the rector who thought her [Mrs Page’s] views unreasonable but said the argument was about religion, not race. He may be reminded today how little difference there is between the two. Britain awoke to the news that Catholic families had been forced from their homes by Protestant mobs in Northern Ireland as the impasses over the Orange march created violence and disorder across the province...In Bosnia it was national tribalism which a year ago excused [sic] at Srebrenica what may turn out to be Europe’s worst atrocity since the Nazis." Margaret Brown, a Sunday school teacher and one of the Chichester diocese’s lay representatives on the General Synod of the Church of England, planned to move a formal resolution against the mosque at the Synod [see short report:Guidelines on redundant churches, in this issue of BMMS]. She said: "Services for different Christian traditions are a different matter, but as far as Muslims are concerned, we should be trying to convert them...What is being suggested is in complete contravention of our Lord’s teaching. Once this sort of thing [a mosque] is established, Muslims will be wanting to take part in events such as our Good Friday procession of witness, which would be utterly wrong" (Chichester Observer, 11.07.96, Portsmouth News, 11.07.96). The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Eric Kemp, who, according to the Portsmouth News (18.07.96) "rarely speaks to the press and by doing so on this occasion has demonstrated his strength of feeling", stated: "It is quite inappropriate for Christians to oppose a place of worship for those of other faiths." The Bishop of Portsmouth, Dr Kenneth Stevenson, also expressed his support for Muslims in his own and the neighbouring diocese of Chichester: "I am particularly anxious to make known my support, since those who wish to worship in Chichester are part of the community which worships in the mosque in Southsea" (Portsmouth News, 20.07.96). A few days later, the Portsmouth News (24.07.96) contrasted the intolerance of some Christians in Chichester towards Muslims with much more positive coexistence and understanding in neighbouring areas such as Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea and Fareham. The newspaper quotes Bashir Rahman, a religious teacher from the Shi’ite Wessex Jamaat who is very active in inter-faith relations: "Islam and Christianity are sister faiths. And that is why Muslims and Christians have been able to live side-by-side for hundreds of years in many countries in the world... To ensure harmony, efforts must be made to create a community of British Muslims rather than a community of Muslims in Britain." The owner of a taxi firm in Chichester, Peter Dunnaway, is offering the use of a disused office and radio control room as a temporary mosque. He would let the Muslim group use the premises free for the first three months, and then would be happy to negotiate a lease. He said, "Everybody should be allowed to pray where they wish" (Portsmouth News, 24.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 1/2] Television and the Muslim family A study by the Reverend Professor Leslie Francis of the University of Wales at Lampeter of the values of 21,000 teenagers, has found that over 30 per cent of Muslim teenagers watch over four hours of television per day, compared with 20.7 per cent of Anglicans, 27 per cent of Catholics, 16.1 per cent of Jews, 16 per cent of Hindus and 29.1 per cent of Sikhs (Q-News, 19.07.96). Q-News asked three Muslim male youth workers for their opinions on Professor Francis’ findings. They concurred with Professor Francis, and saw one cause as being a lack of appropriate youth leisure facilities for Muslims, especially girls. Khalida Khan, of the Al-Nisa women’s group in Brent, agreeing that TV watching could be greater amongst Muslim girls than boys, said: "There’s too much haram and not enough halal around. If people are going to stop girls going out because they value their izzat [honour], then the best way to do that is to provide a halal alternative. It’s no use cursing the darkness. Bring a candle to light the way. I don’t doubt that the secular programming affects children’s values in secular ways. Even programmes like Power Rangers encourage and tell them that it is alright to use violence to sort out problems" (Q-News, 19.06.96). Michele Messauodi, writing in the Scotsman (15.07.96), agreed with Q-News’ contributors that parents are abdicating their religious and social responsibilities by failing to control their children’s television viewing: "We rob our children of the proper care they need by letting ourselves be coaxed into believing in the adequacy of ‘quality time’, as if our children were robots whose needs could be met during slots convenient to us. Outside this ‘quality time’, we leave them to the care of childminders, au pairs and to the easiest and cheapest babysitter of all, the television set." Professor Hasan Askari, interviewed in Q-News (19.07.96) by Fozia Bora on inter faith dialogue, believes in using communications technology in a positive way. He said: "In previous times, the mode of communication was also very different. Young people were taught through stories and not through moralising lectures...In my view, Muslims should co-operate with those bodies in the West that are addressing themselves to this challenge. Also, we should address our children at home, since they are becoming children of the media rather than our own. There’s a growing silence at home, more engagement with computer games. How are we going to tackle this issue? The kind of Islam we introduce into our homes is so formal that a child’s imagination is not moved." The guest editorial in Q-News is an extract from a speech by Professor Syed Ali Ashraf, director general of the Islamic Academy, Cambridge, given at Cambridge on 13 July at a conference on The mass media, education and values. This editorial takes a more philosophical approach than the other contributors to the debate cited here. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 2] Short Reports There was tight security at a meeting in Bath on 2 July when Salman Rushdie read from his latest novel, The Moor’s Last Sigh. Because of the fatwah concerning him (see BMMS for March, April and May 1996), Mr Rushdie has been unable to visit India to gather material for the book, which he admitted had been slightly irksome: "I’m very pleased with the way that book worked out. I don’t want to waste energy being upset about what it might have been had things been different" (Bath Chronicle, 03.07.96). Mr Rushdie has also attended readings from his latest book in Oxford and Dillon’s central London bookstore. Regarding the fatwah and its daily effect on his life and work, Mr Rushdie told the India Mail (09.07.96): "I more or less do it [writing] now like an office job...I am hopeful of the fatwah being lifted in view of the matter being pursued actively by the European Union. But I think it is important to show that the business of literature is not derailed by this kind of threat and that writers will write, booksellers will sell and readers will read, and that goes on." Q-News (19.07.96) says that: "Salman Rushdie is rumoured to be receiving up to £1.3 million from an American publishing house for the US rights to his new novel." The same article in Q-News quoted Mustaqim Bleher of the Islamic Party on the subject: "Rushdie is proven material. Why look for new ways to antagonise the Muslim community when you already have someone who excels? It also demonstrates that literature is not apolitical. Popular culture is another way people can demonise Muslims and keep up the myth of a bogey." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 2/3] Al-Mas’ari not to be prosecuted On 12 July the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced its decision not to prosecute Muhammad Al-Mas’ari (see BMMS for June 1996) for incitement to racial hatred (Birmingham Evening Mail, 12.07.96, Q-News, 12.07.96 and 19.07.96, Walsall Express & Star, 13.07.96, Jewish Chronicle, 19.07.96). Dr Al-Mas’ari commented: "It was a big fuss over nothing. The whole thing was instigated by Zionist circles to discredit me" (Q-News, 19.07.96). A week before the CPS decision was announced, Dr Al-Mas’ari held a press conference, accompanied by the historian and member of the Muslim Parliament, Dr Yaqub Zaki, and Omar Bakri Mohammad, leader of the Muhajiroun group, at which he denounced the referral to the CPS as being the tactics of the "Zionist lobby" (Q-News, 12.07.96). When the decision not to prosecute Dr Al-Mas’ari was announced, at least two MPs, Labour’s Greville Jenner and Conservative David Hunt, chair of the Interparliamentary Council Against Anti-Semitism, requested a meeting with the Attorney General, Sir Nicholas Lyell (Jewish Chronicle, 19.07.96). The MP for Hendon South, John Marshall, said: "One is tempted to conclude that the CPS is determined to make a mockery of the law against incitement to racial hatred" (Jewish Chronicle, 19.07.96). Former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit commented: "I express no surprise. It seems this man can say anything without risk of prosecution or expulsion from this country" (Walsall Express & Star, 13.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 3] A leader of Derby’s Sikh community, Joginder Singh Johal, has expressed sympathy to the city’s Muslims about the arson attack on the Derby Islamic Centre in Wilmot Street. The attack is believed to be the work of racists. A group calling itself the Klu Klux Klan, who have threatened attacks on mosques, have been rumoured to have been recruiting in Derby. Mr Johal said: "The communities in the city live very harmoniously but this incident has upset relations between the various groups. We hope the culprits will be found and justice done so this sort of thing is stopped in Derby forever" (Derby Evening Telegraph, 09.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 3] Nottingham police believe that the alleged conman who specialises in preying on Muslims may now be operating in Luton. At the end of June police in Luton arrested a man they thought was Sammi Lofti (see BMMS for August, November and December 1995; February 1996), only to discover he was a lookalike. Luton residents are being warned to be on their guard. Detective Constable Mick Fretwell of the Nottingham police force said: "It looks like he has tried to con someone again, this time in Luton just days after officers there thought they had him. We cannot be certain, but the way this was done certainly looks like Lofti. I know that at one time he did live in Luton so he probably knows the area quite well" (Nottingham Evening Post, 04.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 3] Q-News, reporting on Muslim prisoners’ discontent with supposedly halal food at Strangeways Prison, Manchester (see BMMS for June 1996), interviewed the prison’s public relations officer, Cathy Willard. Her explanation was that: "Something did happen a couple of months ago. Someone cooked some spam fritters in oil and then the oil was used to fry chips which was on the halal menu. We hold our hands up to that and it won’t happen again. Spam has been taken off the menu and the friers have been re-designated. It was a one-off." She denied that there was a hunger strike but admitted there could be a meals boycott: "We have a shop and occasionally inmates won’t like the menu and will buy stuff from the shop. But it’s not a hunger strike if they don’t eat what we’re providing." The Q-News article contrasts relations between staff and Muslim prisoners in Pentonville with Strangeways. Muslims form the largest faith group after Anglicans in Pentonville. Pentonville has announced plans to convert a disused workshop into a mosque. Once the building is completed, Imam Muraduddin, a preacher and former member of the Nation of Islam, is likely to be appointed as Britain’s first full-time resident prison imam. Pentonville provides halal meat for all its prisoners. The governor, John Ship, said: "It’s just easier to give everyone halal meat. We also get food from the Cultural Centre on festivals" (Q-News, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 3/4] The Slough & Langley Observer (05.07.96) claims that witnesses reported seeing fights between 30 to 40 young Asian men in Chalvey High Street, Slough, on Sunday, 30 June. The police did not attend the incident. During the past year, there have been several confrontations between groups of young Muslim and Sikh men (see BMMS for July, August, September and December 1995; April and June 1996). Chief Inspector Geoff Chivers commented: "We have been monitoring the on-going situation for some time. I think it is one of those things that will occasionally rear its ugly head. It will probably never go away, but we are endeavouring to defuse the situation." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 4] Natasha and John Paul Goostrey, who were detained in Bahrain by Natasha’s family who claimed that her marriage to John Paul in the Manchester registry office was not legal (see BMMS for June 1996) have now been allowed to return to Britain. In the middle of July, a court in Bahrain granted Natasha’s application for her passport to be returned to her and allowing her to leave the country. The couple were immediately married again under Islamic law in the court (Manchester Evening News, 15.07.96, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 4] An animal welfare campaigner, Ian Senior, has appealed for donations for his campaign against the halal and kosher slaughter of animals in abattoirs in Wakefield (Wakefield Express, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 4] Council supports centre application Kirklees Council is supporting the Pakistan and Muslim Welfare Society in their application to use a former school as a community centre. The centre will be shared with Barnardo’s, Age Concern, Kirklees Early Years Service and Routeways to Success. Waseem Riaz of the Pakistan and Muslim Welfare Society said: "We are going to adopt a very strictly open door policy so any group in the town can use the centre. This is the first time the Muslim community has undertaken work with the council as we were previously ignored. Now they have to take notice of us. We are committed to community relations and will maintain good relations with the Heckmondwike Central Tenants’ and Residents’ Association" (Spenborough Guardian, 28.06.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 4] Public celebrations and commemorations by Muslims feature in the local press during this month. In High Wycombe on 23 June there was a meeting to commemorate the death of Hazarat Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed (Bucks Free Press, 28.06.96). Shi’ite Muslims in Bradford commemorated the martyrdom of Hussain with a procession through Manningham on 14 July (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 15.07.96). The Shi’ite community of Leicester held their procession on 21 July. A spokesperson said: "We are expecting people from as far away as Scotland to take part in this year’s event" (Leicester Mercury, 20.07.96). In Huddersfield, over 400 Muslims joined a procession to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed (Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 24.07.96). In Blackburn, the celebratory procession was scheduled for 4 August, starting at the Naqshabandiya Centre, Pringle Road and thousands were expected to participate (Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 24.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 4/5] The president of the Jamia Masjid Abu Bakr mosque in Brougham Street, Burnley, Haji Mohammad Bashir, claims that police burst into the mosque in riot gear and arrested a man while he was praying. He said: "We are very annoyed, upset and angry. The sanctity of the mosque was violated. Religious places should be protected." Councillor Mohammed Subhan, who pointed the man out to police, saw the matter differently: "I am a Muslim and I know how to respect the mosque.The police behaved correctly." Councillor Subhan claimed that it was necessary to arrest the man in the mosque so that he had no opportunity to dispose of alleged evidence. Haji Bashir has sent a letter of complaint to Burnley Police and they are formulating a response (Burnley Express, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 5] Scotsman younger generation feature The Scotsman (04.07.96) has a feature article on the younger generation of Scottish Asians, the majority of whom are of Pakistani Muslim origin. Shahed Quayum, a counsellor with Pollockshields Youth Counselling Services Agency, Glasgow, said: "People don’t come to us and say: ‘I’ve got a cultural identity crisis’, but when they come with another problem these come out. I think it’s more of a problem with today’s youth rather than the first generation...the younger generation tend to think of themselves as Scottish". Reena Ali, a 16 year-old student, commented: "It’s worse for girls. Parents keep them always in the house and when they go to college or university and get a bit of freedom they take advantage of it: they come home at three in the morning and say: ‘I was in the library studying.’ I think they just start getting really confused about things." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 5] Imam Siraj Wahaj, an Afro-American Muslim leader from New York, came to speak in Blackburn on 9 July (Blackburn Evening Telegraph, 09.07.96) and Birmingham on 13 July (Black Country Evening Mail, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 5]
The Independent (23.07.96) carries a feature article on young people from ex-Yugoslavia in London. The article is prefaced with these words about the uncertain future faced by the majority: "Although the numbers of young immigrants from the former Yugoslavia have increased dramatically, Britain has granted refugee status to remarkably few. Our refugee regulations were tightened in 1992, the year that ‘safe havens’ were created for displaced people within their own country, and visa restrictions were imposed on former Yugoslav nationals. Those who have been accorded temporary protection have none of the rights conferred by refugee status, and they face an uncertain future." The article describes clubs and community centres frequented by the different, separate communities, and one, Le Scandale, in Berwick Street, Soho, which has a mixed clientele and where politics is not discussed. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 5] The Scotsman (15.07.96) carries what it describes as "a rare interview" with Yusuf Islam, formerly the singer, Cat Stevens, and now chair of the Islamia Schools Trust. He said of life as a professional musician: "You’ve got to be competitive, you’ve got to be egoistic, you’ve got to be full of yourself...There’s all sorts of things - drugs, drink, sex - I mean, the whole lot, you find, is somehow closely connected to the music business. That doesn’t mean it’s all bad, but to be able to exist or survive in that atmosphere with real, sincere intentions, is, I think, difficult. You’ve got to be extremely strong. I wasn’t that strong, so I had to withdraw myself." Tom Morton, the interviewer, asked Yusuf Islam why he had not followed the path of Richard Thompson, formerly of Fairport Convention, who now writes and performs Sufi music, or Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who has popularised devotional Islamic song in both West and East. Yusuf Islam responded: "Sincerity to God does not mean you have to stand on a stage and get everybody to applaud your religion. Applause is really for God and therefore there’s an absence of putting yourself up as a kind of ‘Hey! I’m here! Don’t you think I’m great! I’m religious!’" The interview also mentions The Last Prophet, a life of the Prophet Mohammed mainly spoken but with singing by Yusuf Islam and a children’s choir, which came out on CD at the beginning of this year. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 5/6] Opening a debate on morality in education in the House of Lords at the beginning of July, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, condemned moral relativism. Q-News (12.07.96) approvingly quotes him as saying: "One of my most consistent concerns has been to highlight the dangers of moral relativism and privatised morality...God is banished to the realm of private hobby and religion becomes a private activity for those who happen to have a taste for it." In the same article, Mohammad Usama of the Muslim Educational Trust agreed with the sentiments of the Archbishop’s speech: "It says nothing new but it does reinforce our view that Muslim schools are good places to inculcate a moral outlook." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 6] Thirty women fell ill with suspected food poisoning after a meal at the Pakistan Muslim Centre’s restaurant in Darnall, Sheffield. The city council’s food services manager, Steve Webster, said: "We understand around thirty women are ill. There are allegations of sabotage although we are unable to say whether this is the case. We have to keep an open mind." Around 150 people attended a conference organised by Roshni, an Asian women’s group based in Sheffield. Symptoms of those who have fallen ill include stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, headaches and diarrhoea. The head of the centre, Shahid Malik, said: "The Centre has a reputation for high quality food and we had groups of customers from Sheffield University, the TEC, the council as well as twenty voluntary sector organisations and a building society. If the quality and taste of our food were nothing short of excellent, then we would not get this type of clientele. Importantly, we have never ever in the past had any complaints about our food, only compliments, and expect to continue in this vein" (Barnsley Star, 10.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 6] Guidelines on redundant churches The General Synod of the Church of England, meeting at York university in the middle of July, has agreed on clearer guidelines for the disposal of redundant churches. A list of priorities has been drawn up. Bishop Butler, in introducing the criteria, said: "Our calling is to be generous with our possessions because God has been generous with us" (Yorkshire Post, 15.07.96). According to the Bishop, "When it comes to disposal, the report recommends that priority should be given first to ecumenical Christian partners, then to educational or social welfare use for the whole community - and then to another faith community". Margaret Brown, lay member of the Synod from Chichester and a vociferous opponent of the plans to build a mosque in that city [see Feature article in this issue of BMMS], attacked the report: "Our forebears would be absolutely appalled to think that our churches, built to the glory of God, were being handed over to people who were not Christians" (Yorkshire Post, 15.07.96). Her views were reported in more detail in the Church Times (19.07.96) as follows: "She was all for being friendly with people of other faiths and having dialogue with them; how else could they be won for Christ? But what sort of witness were we giving if we offered our buildings to them? We could offer them to other Christians. And what about the Continuing Churches? They had been refused buildings, yet they were faithful Christian people." The Aberdeen Press and Journal (15.07.96) mentions Bishop Butler’s remark regarding "the hurt caused to other faiths when Christians said they would rather see their church knocked down". According to the Yorkshire Post, the Bishop may have been referring to an occurrence 25 years ago, described as "a bitter Christian-Muslim clash over the redundant St Mary’s Church in Savile Town, Dewsbury. Muslims wanted to turn it into a mosque but the Church of England rejected their application - and demolished the building." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 6] Five Muslims were honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Zulfikar Alibhai Jadavji, audit manager at the National Audit Office, received a CBE. Farhad Ahmed, divisional officer of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary received a CBE. Shireen Akbar, head of adult and community education at the Victoria and Albert Museum received a CBE, as did Moussa Jogee, for services to race relations in Scotland. Iftikhar Hassan Sheikh, a member of Croydon Race Equality Council, also received a CBE for services to race relations (Muslim News, 26.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 6/7] The project on the Church of England and Other Faith Communities in a Multi-Faith Society, led by Professor James Beckford and Dr Sophie Gilliat of Warwick University, has recently published a summary of its findings, available from the Secretary, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, price £4.50. The project aimed to discover how the Church of England’s dominant position in publicly funded chaplaincies in prisons and hospitals, as well as in civic religion, could permit people of other religious faiths to participate in these aspects of public religion in England. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] Following a pilot scheme run by Liverpool Health Authority and Liverpool Muslim Society (see BMMS for May 1996), a clinic specially for Muslim women has opened in the Abercromby Health Centre in Toxteth. The clinic has four link workers who interpret for and accompany Muslim women in health settings and can advise on the cultural and religious needs of Muslim women (Easter Eye, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] The Sun (26.07.96) claims that Muslims are angry about a lottery scratchcard called Pigs Might Fly, since eating pork is forbidden in Islam.[Many Muslims would also argue that playing the lottery is also forbidden. See BMMS for January and February 1996]. A spokesperson for Camelot, the promoters of the scratchcard, commented: "The card is supposed to be funny. The phrase ‘Pigs might fly’ is uniquely British. We would be amazed if many people were offended." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] The possibility that the consumption of sheep’s brains, spinal cord and offal, might be a health risk has worried some Muslims in Leicestershire. Yaqub Khan, general secretary of the Pakistan Association, said: "This problem of disease in sheep’s brains created a major scare among the community and they have no option but to give it up, until there’s an absolute guarantee of safety." Commenting on the threat of an EU ban on the sale of some lamb products, Harry Allbright, of the National Farmers Union, said: "This could be a major blow to Muslims as the majority of the proposed ban forms a substantial part of their cuisine" (Leicester Mercury, 25.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] Interfaith Network appointment Dr Manazir Ahsan of the Islamic Foundation, Leicester, has been elected vice chair of the Interfaith Network. He takes over from Dr Mughram Al Ghamdi, the former director of the Islamic Cultural Centre in London. Dr Ahsan’s background is as a historian of the Middle East. He has published many books, including: Social life under the Abbasids, Muslim festivals, The Qur’an:basic teachings, and Sacrilege versus civility:Muslim perspectives on the Satanic Verses affair (Muslim News, 26.07.96, Q-News, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] Dr Abdul Majid Khatme, founder member of SPUC (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) Muslims, claims that there is scientific evidence that the human foetus is sensitive to pain from as early as the tenth week of pregnancy. Moreover, he believes that such research supports what he claims are Islamic laws against abortion. Q-News (26.07.96), in its article on the abortion debate, concedes that: "Muslim scholars have traditionally been divided on the merits of abortion." Dr Majid Katme also has a letter published by the Daily Telegraph. In common with many anti-abortion campaigners, Dr Majid Katme condemns the destruction of frozen embryos, stored as part of fertility programmes. Based on what he claims is Islamic teaching, he demands that: "Every frozen/orphan embryo should be put back in his or her mother’s womb, and that is the end of it...The storage and use of egg and sperm or frozen embryos should be made illegal" (Daily Telegraph, 24.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7] Parliamentary candidates listed Following the victory of Mohammed Sarwar in the selection process as Labour Party parliamentary candidate in Govan, Glasgow (see BMMS for August and December 1995; January, February, March, April, May and June 1996), Muslim News (26.07.96) carries an informative article which lists other Muslim parliamentary candidates. These are: Qaisra Khan (Labour, West Aberdineshire and Kincardine); Javed Arain (Conservative, Derby South); Dr Kabir Choudhry (Conservative, Bethnal Green & Bow); Bashir Khanbai (Conservative, Norwich South); Mohammed Riaz (Conservative, Bradford West); Aina Khan (Liberal Democrat, Ilford South); Syed Nural Islam (Liberal Democrat, Bethnal Green & Bow); Yasmin Zazala (Liberal Democrat). At least four of these, Qaisra Khan, Kabir Choudhry, Aina Khan and Bashir Khanbai, explicitly rejected the idea that they had been selected to stand in unwinnable seats for cosmetic reasons by their respective parties. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 7/8] A helpline for Muslim women who are victims of domestic violence will be set up in Reading as soon as suitable premises can be found. The Pakistan Community Centre has funding for a counselling and mediation service but needs a suitable venue. They can be contacted on 01734-269031 (Reading Standard, 04.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 8] Security concern for dissidents Makbool Javaid, president of the Society of Muslim Lawyers, has an article in Q-News (12.07.96) in which he outlines the lack of any security for those who have fled repressive, so-called Islamic regimes, and come to Britain. He writes: "London, we are told, is the new centre for militant Islam and Malcolm Rifkind appeases his despotic client governments by threatening severe measures. In addition, asylum laws are being tightened in a Euro-wide move to curb the influx of militants fleeing persecution from tyrants. In turn, the dictatorships export their henchmen on seek and destroy missions as was the case recently with a Libyan shopkeeper in West London. The intelligence services swap information and co-ordinate surveillance activities. It is openly admitted that Islamic groups are targets for corrupt regimes from the Muslim world. There can be no greater danger than the activities of Mossad who are never far from the scene...Hysteria about Islamic fanatics is rampant - as evidenced in the recent arrests of Algerians at the behest of the French government." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 8] Ethnic minority and religious leaders are calling for an urgent meeting with the police following threatening letters apparently from the Klu Klux Klan. The letters threaten to destroy mosques and temples and talk of destroying "foreigners". Mohammed Aslam, chair of the Union of Muslim Associations of Walsall and vice chair of the Police Consultancy Committee, said: "The Muslim community is very fearful and very concerned that this group seems to be established here. I received a racist letter some weeks ago, as did acquaintances in Birmingham and Darlaston" (Walsall Advertiser, 04.07.96). Chief Superintendent Alan Jones of Walsall Police said that he would be happy to discuss concerns about Klu Klux Klan activity and threats with Mr Aslan. He also said that reports of a Klu Klux Klan initiation ceremony at a Birmingham hotel were being investigated by police (Walsall Express & Star, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 8]
Muslim prayers were said at the start of Walsall Council’s meeting on 15 July. The mayor, councillor Richard Worrall, said that he planned to invite representatives from all the main religions in the town to lead prayers during the year. Chief Executive David Winchurch, said he believed the prayers, in Arabic and English, had been well received: "I suspect no one knew what to expect and that people found there were remarkable similarities with Christian prayers" (Walsall Express & Star, 16.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 8] The Runnymede Trust has formed a commission on Muslims in the media, called the Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia (Independent, 20.07.96). The commission will also look at issues around Islam in schools, and state funding for Muslim schools. The chair of the commission, Professor Gordon Conway, vice chancellor of the University of Sussex, regards prejudice against Muslims as a serious problem: "When you start to look at the issues, particularly the attitude of the media, at what is said, particularly in the newspapers, you begin to see the extent to which there is considerable anti-Muslim sentiment. In the tabloids it is vicious and rabid. In other papers it is often more subtle. If you look carefully, you see the ways, often insidious, in which British Muslims are being portrayed". Professor Conway conceded that in certain instances it was difficult to know if the abuse suffered by some Muslims was racially motivated, or religious in origin: "We want to know the extent to which violence is racial, or against a religion", he said. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 8/9] The Independent on Sunday (14.07.96) carries a feature article on the plight of asylum seekers who are being denied welfare benefits and housing. The asylum seekers it features are from the Ivory Coast, the Congo, Somalia, Cameroon, Afghanistan, Iran, and former Yugoslavia. Over half of those featured are Muslims. The article is entitled At the gates of Fortress Britain and details the effects of increasingly restrictive British and European legislation on the lives of asylum seekers, most of whom are already very vulnerable due to past physical and mental trauma. Q-News reported on the vote in the House of Commons on 15 July which defeated the amendments to the Asylum and Immigration Bill (see BMMS for December 1995; March 1996) passed by the House of Lords. One of the most significant of these was to allow asylum seekers to receive social security benefits if they made their claim for asylum within three days of arrival, rather than only at the time as arrival. Chris Smith MP, shadow social security secretary, commented: "This government is trying to starve genuine refugees out of this country." In June, following a test case brought by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, the Appeal Court declared the social security regulations denying asylum seekers benefits which had been introduced in February, illegal. These have now been reintroduced. Muslim News (26.07.96) quotes Nick Hardwick, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, as saying: "This vote is a kick in the teeth for some of the world’s most vulnerable people in the hour of their greatest need." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 9]
Anti-semitic poster investigation Special Branch officers have been called in to investigate anti-semitic posters, apparently produced by Muslims, which have appeared in Nottingham. Chief Inspector Peter MacLeod, of Carlton police, said: "This has been recorded as a racist incident. We take anything which shows an intolerance to any religious or racial group very seriously" (Nottingham Evening Post, 22.07.96). Mohammed Ishaq, a Muslim spokesperson in Nottingham, said: "The police are right to investigate this because it can cause real problems. Older Muslims are more aware of the truth, but it is easy for these groups to make the youth believe whatever they want by twisting the words of the Koran" (Nottingham Evening Post, 22.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 9] Q-News (26.07.96) reports on a case of alleged discrimination on religious grounds in employment in Northern Ireland which could be of significance for Muslims in mainland Britain. Mr Rab Nawaz is a museum curator at the Ulster Museum. He claims that in 1994, he was unfairly passed over for promotion as head curator of the museum’s geology section. Mr Nawaz turned to the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission for help, and they will be hearing his case in October. The Fair Employment Commission was set up under the Fair Employment Act, primarily to fight discrimination of Catholics by Protestants, but it also covers people of other faiths. Makbool Javaid, of the Society of Muslim Lawyers, commented on the potential usefulness of similar legislation in mainland Britain: "The Fair Employment Act is a model which can easily be transferred to the rest of the United Kingdom. But there is neither the political will nor is there effective pressure from the community". Mr Nawaz is appealing through Q-News for funds to continue fighting his case, as he is not eligible for legal aid to do so. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 9]
Updates Education Campaign for college prayer facilities Adeela Rashid, president of the Student Union at Hammersmith and West London College, is leading a campaign for prayer facilities for Muslim students. According to Muslim News (26.07.96), each appeal to the college authorities, who claim to provide students with a religious chaplaincy, have been met with such answers as: "This is not a religious institution" or, "Shepherds Bush Mosque is just near by, students should pray there" or, "The college rooms may look big and free, but they are not". The Students Union was sent a memo by the college authorities naming Muslim students who have been late to class through attending the mosque. Ms Rashid commented: "Obviously in the winter time, when there are at least three prayers during the college day, going to the Mosque is just not practical and it is unfair of the college to deny us a place to pray within the college." Ms Rashid has also been encouraging Muslim students to play a more active part in student politics, and next year three student union office holders will be Muslims. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 9/10] Concern over use of students’ unions funds In an article in Q-News(26.07.96) concern is expressed about the subsidizing of beer and other alcoholic drinks by students’ unions. According to a report by PAMS (the Professional Association of Managers in Student Unions), the student union bars with the highest turnovers in 1994-5 were: Sheffield University (nearly £2 million turnover); Cardiff (£1.5 million); Liverpool John Moores (£1.4 million); Leeds (£1.3 million) and Birmingham (£1.1 million). The report did not show how much of the turnover was profit and how much of that profit is then being used for the benefit of students in the form of facilities provided by the unions. Sheffield Students’ Union, however, has been more generous than most to the University’s Muslim students. Islamic Society president at Sheffield, Umar Hamdoon, explained: "It is disappointing that so much money is going on alcohol. Obviously groups like ourselves who do not drink are not seeing any benefits. It’s a concern we’ve raised here with the union who have given us a £12,000 extension to the prayer room". [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 10]
School assistants were granted leave for Eid after complaining to Burton Anti-Racist Forum. About 10 staff from Victoria and Angelsey Primary Schools and Paget High School were initially denied time off by Staffordshire County Council (Derby Evening Telegraph, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 10] Having failed to gain voluntary-aided status (see BMMS for December 1995; June 1996), the Islamia mixed primary school and girls’ secondary school in Brent are now applying for grant maintained status (Kilburn Times, 27.06.96, Wembley Observer, 27.06.96). The school’s administrator, Muhammad Zamir, said: "At the moment we are a fee-paying school. It is a matter of principle. It should be the right of pupils to have their education free. It is not a matter of desperation - I would not say the school is in a bad financial state. The reason is because parents on low incomes have to save to pay the fees. Ultimately, it is the community which is being affected" (Wembley Observer, 27.06.96). Ahmed Versi, writing in the Muslim News (26.07.96) claims that Catholics have an advantage in gaining grant maintained status, even in boroughs where there are supposedly surplus school places, because of backing from John Patten MP, who is a practising Catholic. Yusuf Islam commented: "Here is the man who refused our application for voluntary aided status on the technicality of surplus places but now he is disregarding it and barging out to support the GM [Grant Maintained] Catholic school" (Muslim News, 26.07.96). The Brondesbury College for Boys, which is founded by the same educational trust as the other Islamia Schools, the Waqf Al-Birr, is on target to open its doors to 25 students in September. Fees will be £4,800 per year, although it is hoped that these will reduce as the school grows and that some bursaries and scholarships will be available (Asian Times, 11.07.96). The school hopes to attract students from all over Britain and from abroad. Each student will have a personal tutor (Kilburn Times, 04.07.96). The head of the Waqf al-Birr, Yusuf Islam, said: "This school was founded in recognition of the need for a broad system of educational excellence - one that will meet the demands of parents who want their sons to enter the approaching millennium equipped with the necessary skills and moral qualities to prepare them for tomorrow’s world" (Wembley Observer, 04.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 10] Warwick Boys School in Walthamstow continues to feature in the local press (see BMMS for June 1996). The school received mixed reports from the Ofsted inspectors. At the end of June, about 25 Muslim parents and their supporters held a protest outside the school and handed a letter to the chair of governors, complaining about "the quality of discipline and diminishing standard of educational performance in the school"; that prayer facilities had been removed; that parents had been marginalised; and that pupils were playing truant without the school’s knowledge. The deputy head, Mick Stevens, said that there is an active Islamic prayer group which meets on Fridays and that the school would like to see the parents’ association revived (Walthamstow Guardian, 27.06.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 10/11] Pupils from Chartridge School, Chesham visited the mosque in Bellingdon Road in the town as part of their religious education. the headteacher Ken Lennon said of the visit: "It was aimed at increasing the children’s knowledge and awareness of the Islamic faith, so as they mature they will be more tolerant of different faiths" (Bucks Free Press, 05.07.96). Former mosque secretary, Mohammad Bhatti agreed on the value of such a visit: "It is very important because Muslim children learn about Christianity at school and, therefore, Christian children should learn about Islam. Ignorance creates problems. Islam is a very peaceful religion" (Bucks Examiner, 28.06.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11] Nottingham County Council has rejected a request for halal meals to be provided in the county’s schools, on the grounds of cost. Councillor Aslam, who wanted halal meals to be available for the county’s estimated 5,000 school children, said: "No child from any faith should go without a proper and well balanced meal within our state school system in Nottinghamshire." Education committee chairperson Fred Riddell responded that: "There is no way we could afford to do it. For many years now there has been an alternative menu for Asian pupils so they don’t have to eat food prohibited by their religion" (Nottingham Evening Post, 06.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11] Students from Bolton Muslim Girls School have been attending training sessions on bullying and racial harassment provided at the Housing Department’s offices by the Equal Opportunities Officer, Karen Nolan. They looked at the effects of bullying and harassment on housing estates, in schools and in the workplace; and ways of tackling harassment and supporting the victims. The girls were asked to design a poster to raise awareness of the issues, and the winners were presented with gift vouchers. Faruk Kala, Bolton’s Racial Harassment Officer, can be contacted on 52311 extension 5752 (Bolton Evening News, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11] An Islamic Centre is planned for the Littleover and Upper Dale Road area to teach Muslim children about their religion. An application for planning permission will be considered by Derby City Council in September (Derby Evening Telegraph, 17.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11] Ali Mehmood of Old Trafford, has condemned the refusal of Trafford Council to pay the fees of his daughter, Saaba, at the Islamic High School for Girls. Mr Mehmood discovered that the council pays the fees for 472 Catholic pupils to attend St Bede’s Catholic college, each costing £2,578. Saaba Mehmood, who passed the entrance exam to the Islamic college, where fees are £1,350, said: "I feel I am being discriminated against because I am a Muslim. Why do they pay for Catholics to go to their school and not for me?"(Muslim News, 26.07.96). Now Mr Mehmood is threatening to sue the council, on the grounds that all religions and ethnic minorities should be treated equally. A Trafford education spokesperson claimed that the council had operated under government regulations by refusing to pay for a place for Saaba, in that only pupils with places in voluntary aided schools were eligible, a status which no Muslim school in Britain has as yet (Manchester Evening News, 19.07.96). The Local Education Authority has the discretionary power to transfer funds for pupils to schools outside its own control. According to Ibrahim Hewitt of the Association of Muslim Schools: "that discretion has always been used selectively. It’s discrimination pure and simple. Many Christian schools receive over 90 per cent of their fees in this way" (Q-News, 19.07.96). The Leader of Labour-controlled Trafford council put the blame on the government, claiming that "because the government refuses to give voluntary aided status to Muslim schools, this makes it difficult for the Local Authority"(Muslim News, 26.07.96). A spokesperson for the Department of Education, when asked by Muslim News, implied that the LEA does have discretion as to which school places it funds: "It is a matter for the LEA to decide on its provision for places and to ensure adequate provision for its pupils in the area." [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11] Q-News (26.07.96) carries an article and editorial on the subject of the bullying of Muslim children in schools. The article describes the misery of a nine year-old boy in Harrow, who together with his cousin, was subjected to verbal and physical abuse by fellow pupils of a racist and anti-Islamic nature. The children have been removed from school and kept at home for the past six months. Saleha Motela, a Muslim who teaches in east London, commented: "This kind of bullying [against Muslims] isn’t recognised. teachers tend to dismiss the problem or marginalise it because they are not equipped to deal with it. But there is also bullying by teachers - pressure on children not to conform to religious norms such as wearing a headscarf or covering up for PE." The editorial accuses Childline, the telephone advice service for children, of a lack of "Muslim-friendliness" and of ignoring the bullying that arises out of Islamophobia, in their and the Commission for Racial Equality’s recent reports on bullying in schools. Q-News says: "Childline reports that callers to its lines come from a wide variety of ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds - amongst them Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses - but no mention is made of Muslim callers. How is this to be squared with the fact that Muslims form the largest visible minority in Britain, are largely located at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, and that our children bring home a litany of the verbal and physical abuses suffered in the classroom on a daily basis?" [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 11/12] Nottingham’s Jamia al-Hudaa Muslim boarding school for girls will be opening in September (see BMMS for May and June 1996). The opening ceremony will be conducted by Moulana Sayyed Abdul Hasan Ali Nadwi, an eminent Muslim scholar from Lucknow, India. The school has room for 200 students (Q-News, 26.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12]
Mosques At a meeting to discuss the proposed Beckton mosque (see BMMS for April and June 1996), members of the public were shown scaled-down plans, which did not include the original minaret, mortuary and exhibition hall (Docklands Reporter, 10.07.96, City of London Recorder, 12.07.96). The promoters of the scheme, the United Muslim Association (UMA), through their spokesperson, Syed Shah, are reassuring local residents about traffic problems: "The building will cover about a third of the site, while the remainder will be used for landscaping and car parking. Plus nearly all of our users will be local people and arriving on foot. The management committee will stress the need for local people to walk, where possible" (Stratford & Newham Express, 13.07.96). Mr Shah welcomes enquiries about the mosque plans. He can be contacted through the UMA on: 0171-229-0538. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12] Details of a new mosque in Gibraltar Street, Bolton, are before the council for approval and the plans are available in the Town Hall for inspection by the public (Bolton Evening News, 25.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12] One of the new committee members of the Wellington Road South mosque, Brentford has denied that funds for the mosque have dried up. Suleman Chachia is one of the members recently elected when worshippers were disappointed by the slow progress of the building work, which has taken four years so far. Mr Chachia said: "we have no date for when the work will be finished. We are dealing with minor planning matters at the moment and that is one of the obstacles we have to cross" (Brentford, Chiswick & Isleworth Times, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12]
Planning approval has been granted for a dome and 60ft-high minaret as part of an addition to a mosque in Mauldeth Road, Burnage (see BMMS for June 1996). A condition of the planning permission is that the mosque’s loudspeakers may not be used for the call to prayer (Manchester Evening News, 16.07.96). In rejecting objections from six residents and the Burnage Civic Society, the planning committee said: "There is no evidence that the proposed extension should result in a significant intensification of the use of the property...The proposed features are not unattractive in their own right and their addition onto a building which currently has limited design appeal may well enliven the building" (South Manchester Reporter, 18.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12]
The Muslim Cultural and Welfare Association of Sutton’s centre was officially opened by the deputy mayor on Saturday, 29 June. Answering critics (see BMMS for February and March 1996), the assistant chief executive Mick Lowe, explained that the Muslim association had been the only organisation to come forward with a bid for Wentworth Hall [the centre’s premises] and had agreed to the rent and the repairs required (Sutton Guardian, 04.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 12/13] [See Feature article] The Leicester Muslim Society was granted planning permission last year to rebuild its mosque in Berners Street, Leicester. The society now wants to knock down an extra adjacent house, 7 Bakewell Street. This request will probably be considered at a council committee meeting in August (Leicester Mercury, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] Councillors in Manor Park have decided to sell the plot in Wordsworth Avenue, which the Anjuman-E-Islamia wanted for a mosque (see BMMS for February, March and May 1996) to the City & East London Family Health Authority to build a clinic. Eventually the mosque withdrew its application and offer for the site. The sale to the Health Authority will net around £200,000, believed to be approximately four times what the mosque could offer (Docklands Recorder, 03.07.96, City of London Recorder, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13]
The Mohammedi Park Masjid Complex, which had an official visit from Prince Charles in March (see BMMS for March 1996), had its dedication ceremony on 6 July. When Prince Charles visited the mosque, he described it as a "very special place of worship which is of such beauty". The dedication was conducted by the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who had travelled from India to be there (Greenford & Northolt Gazette, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] The designer of the proposed new mosque in Manzil Way, Oxford (see BMMS for June 1996) has been trying to get the scheme realised for 15 years. Mohammed Ehsan said: "The problem at the moment is space. There are around 3,000 Muslim families in the area and on festive days the current mosques are full to capacity. The new mosque is a very exciting challenge for me - the culmination of my thesis on mosques when I was a student at Oxford Polytechnic" (Oxford Times, 28.06.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] The Muslim Community and Education Centre (MCEC) has applied for planning permission to build a mosque and community centre on five acres of land it has recently purchased in Palmers Green. Sabir Shaikh, trustee treasurer of the MCEC, explained: "At present we are operating from a shed in my garden. We have realised there is a need for a mosque in the area. Palmers Green is ideal because it is central. The proposed buildings will not cover the whole ground - the rest of the playing field will be used for sport and recreation and will be available for schools and the community" (Enfield Gazette, 04.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] Plans for a new mosque in Choumert Grove, Peckham, were shown to councillors at their planning committee meeting at the end of June. The mosque will have a large gold dome as its centrepiece. The minarets will be topped with domes decorated with blue and white mosaic. The mosque will replace a pre-fabricated building which has been on the site since 1972. Planning permission for the new mosque was granted in 1992. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] The Moorgate Road Mosque in Rotherham has been granted permission to use loudspeakers once a week for azan, the call to prayer. A Rotherham Council spokesperson said: "We carried out a survey of local businesses and residents, and 95 per cent of them had no objections" (Yorkshire Post, 20.07.96). A spokesperson from the environmental health department gave the following details: "Although the Azan is announced five times a day, it is proposed to only broadcast using the loudspeakers once a week on Fridays. The duration of the Azan will be about a minute and a half, and noise levels will be agreed with the local environmental protection unit. This is in line with other mosques in areas such as Bradford, Leicester and Kirklees" (Rotherham Star, 16.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13] The local Government Ombudsman has ordered a full investigation into the planning permission for a mosque in Plant Street, Cradley Heath (see BMMS for June, July, August, September, October, November and December 1995; January and February 1996). Opposing the granting of planning permission, Conservative parliamentary candidate John Kennedy said: "This has been a saga of missing files, compulsory purchase orders not being implemented, of general chaos and confusion. Locals are very unhappy with the way in which this matter has been handled and it is right it should be referred to the authorities" (Kidderminster Express & Star, 05.07.96). He added: "I have always argued the Muslim Association should be allowed to build a mosque, but not in Plant Street, which is totally unsuitable from a planning point of view" (Halesowen Chronicle, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 13/14] The Islamic Association of Victoria Street, West Bromwich is applying for planning permission to convert a house and disused offices in Dartmouth Street into a mosque and community centre. The plans include a prayer hall, centre for the elderly, adult education and training facilities, an advice bureau and youth club (Black Country Evening Mail, 22.07.96). Sandwell property services director Malcolm Hinks commented on the objections raised by some local residents: "Amenity objections and noise and disturbance from the existing Islamic Centre are considerations of sufficient weight that this application be refused" (Birmingham Express & Star, 24.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 14] The Mormon Church has put in a rival bid on land on which Swindon’s Islamic Association wants to build a mosque. In June, the Environment Minister, John Gummer, refused Wiltshire county council permission to sell the site to the Muslims because their offer of £133,700 was approximately only a quarter of its market value. The Church of the Latter Day Saints has now indicated that it wants to put in a bid on the site (Western Daily Press, 06.07.96, Swindon Star, 11.07.96). The county property services committee has agreed that it must ask the two organisations for unconditional offers (Swindon Star, 11.07.96). The Islamic Association is now offering £250,000 for the site but it is not known what the Mormons’ offer might be, nor what price the Department of the Environment would find acceptable (Swindon Evening Advertiser, 23.07.96). Mr Khan Nawaz, joint secretary of the Islamic Association was philosophical about the problem: "It is up to them [the council]. We are not particularly disappointed and we will just have to wait and see whatever happens" (Swindon Evening Advertiser, 05.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 14] The old Mayfair Cinema in Upper Tooting Road is to be turned into a mosque. Wandsworth Council has approved a grant of £136,000 from the Tooting Initiative funds to improve the facade of the cinema. The renovation of the front of the building, costing £181,000 will start in December, the balance of funds coming from the Balham Mosque and the Bank of Baroda, which will share the space (Wandsworth Borough Guardian, 04.07.96, Wandsworth Borough News, 05.07.96, South London Press, 12.07.96, Eastern Eye, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 14] Watford council has approved the terms for a 25-year lease for an Islamic Community Centre in Tolpits Lane. The council will require up to 400 hours of free use for the hall and the Association will be responsible for the hire of the facilities. Other terms included providing disabled access and that the Association complies with the council’s equal opportunities policy (West Herts & Watford Observer, 12.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 14] Some local residents opposed to the north Watford mosque (see BMMS for March, April, May and June 1996) have drawn up rival plans for a park on the site. North Watford Residents Action Group spokesperson Eric Topping said: "The plan shows there are areas to suit all areas and interests. Garden areas are to be worked and sponsored by local people. The idea will also include netball, basketball, softball and rounders." He also responded to allegations by the Anti-Nazi League that opposition to the mosque was motivated by racism: "There has been no misinformation released by us and I challenge the Anti Nazi League to produce something we have said on our leaflets which isn’t true.The racist issue has again raised its ugly head. We have said time and time again that we are objecting to the mosque on planning grounds. Racism, in any form, will not be tolerated. It is an absolute scandal that the Anti Nazi League is trying to dredge this up. It appears this group is trying to get more members" (West Herts & Watford Observer, 19.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 14]
Burials In an article headed Moslem faith puts new life in graveyards, the Financial Times (18.07.96) describes the success story of Mr Peter Budge, who acquired two of London’s Victorian cemeteries in 1981 in lieu of debts owing to him. Tottenham Park and Woodgrange Park cover about 26 acres and are worth £300,000 per acre. Catering to the Muslim burial market is part of the reason for Mr Budge’s success: "In the mid-1980s I thought of closing them down, but the Moslem population came here 30 to 35 years ago. The cemeteries have got busier every year for the last five. They are very valuable pieces of land but it’s given me an immense amount of aggravation". Muslim burials account for 90 to95 per cent of all internments in these two private cemeteries. Plots sell for between £500 and £700. [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 15] A decision has still not been made concerning the provision of brick linings for Muslim graves in Luton (see BMMS for June 1996). The matter was referred to the council’s Labour policy group, who asked for further reports from council staff on the issue. These reports will take another two months to finalise (Luton News, 18.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 15] Oldham NHS Trust is liaising with a Muslim group to find a system to enable families to bury their dead according to tradition (Manchester Evening News, 17.07.96). [BMMS July 1996 Vol. IV, No. 7, p. 17]
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