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British Muslims Monthly Survey for May 1997
Features Slough and Southall disturbances
Reports
Community Postman to meet Prince Charles Slough Pakistan Welfare Association (PWA)
Education
Politics
Women
Youth
Interfaith
Halal Solihull Muslims respond to campaign
Health
Mosques & Burials
Features Following the general election on 1 May, Mohammad Sarwar has become the first Muslim MP, for Glasgow Govan (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for March and April 1997). He polled 14,200 votes, defeating his nearest rival from the SNP by almost 3000 votes (Asian Age, 13.05.97). On the night of the election there were scuffles, caused by the presence of a number of British National Party members, as Mr Sarwar’s victory was announced (Aberdeen Evening Express, 02.05.97; Wigan Evening Post, 02.05.97; Morning Star, 03.05.97). In an interview for Asian Age (09.05.97), Mr Sarwar outlined his agenda while he was an MP. He said that there was a need for Muslim state schools and an increase in the representation of Muslims in political and social institutions. He also had particular concerns for the situation in Kashmir. He stated: "I will be working towards seeing more Muslims in the police force, local government, the inland revenue and other institutions. Britain must truly become a multi-cultural, multi-religious society in every sense ... The Jews have their schools, the Catholics have their schools, Muslims should also have state-funded schools" (Asian Age, 09.05.97). There were, however, accusations that there were irregularities in the polling process. The constituency had a high number of late registrations by voters, some being disallowed and police are investigating allegations that some people gave false information in order to qualify, including men marking their wives’ ballot papers. A large number of late registrations in the constituency led to cases being referred to the procurator-fiscal and an investigation had been launched into voting irregularities as early as mid-April. In particular there were accusations that people had claimed to live at a particular address on the registration papers when in fact they were living elsewhere in Govan or in other constituencies and that names were added to the electoral roll without the person’s knowledge (Scotsman, 13.05.97). It subsequently emerged, however, that the majority of voters whose names were added late to the electoral roll did not attempt to vote (Scotsman, 15.05.97). One 16 year old youth has been charged with impersonating his dead father in order to vote (Asian Age, 13.05.97). The Conservative candidate, Bill Thomas, is reported to have said that there should be a re-run of the poll (Daily Jang, 12.05.97). A petition for a re-run has to be lodged within 21 days of the election, unless there is evidence of corrupt practices in which case it is 28 days. Only 5,000 of Govan’s 52, 000 voters are of Pakistani origin. Following the accusations of electoral irregularities, there were then accusations of bribery in The News of the World newspaper (18.05.97). Mr Sarwar was accused of offering money to an opposing candidate standing for Independent Labour, Badar Islam, to loose the election deliberately and then giving £5,000 cash in an attempt to procure a false statement against another rival (Mail on Sunday, 18.05.97). As a consequence, the Labour leader, Tony Blair, ordered an urgent investigation into the claims (Express on Sunday, 18.05.97). A Labour spokesperson said: "It is not appropriate to comment on this until we have heard in full Sarwar’s side of the story. Only then can we decide whether further action is appropriate. Party officals will speak to him as soon as possible and, should further action need to be taken in the light of this, we will not hesitate to take it" (Express on Sunday, 18.05.97). The allegations have also led to the police initiating an investigation (Scotsman, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Journal, Aberdeen Press & Journal, Daily Record, Daily Telegraph, The Times, Birmingham Evening Post, Liverpool Daily Post, Independent, Birmingham Evening Mail, 19.05.97). Mr Sarwar denied having bribed Mr Islam with £5,000. He said on 18 May: "The allegations made against me in today’s newspapers are totally false. Therefore, in addition to co-operating with any police investigation, I will be consulting with my lawyers about taking out a writ for defamation" (The Times, 19.05.97). The Times (19.05.97) called upon the Labour party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend Mr Sarwar, pending investigations. Another Govan candidate, the Independent Conservative Jamil Abbassi, also claimed that Mr Sarwar had attempted to bribe him, with £50,000 (South Wales Echo, 19.05.97). He said the offer was made to him by two of Sarwar’s supporters: "I refused the offer. I am a man of dignity and principle. I said that even if they offered me £100 million I would still stand at the election because I am a Tory...I have no personal grudge against Mr Sarwar and I am sure he was not directly involved" (Birmingham Post, 20.05.97). Initially, before consulting his solicitor, Mr Sarwar felt unable to talk to the press. By 20 May, however, he was explaining that he had given the money to Mr Islam, but it was a loan, not a bribe (Evening Standard, Birmingham Evening Mail, Aberdeen Evening Express, Birmingham Evening Mail, South Wales Echo, 20.05.97). The News of the World told the Scotsman (20.05.97) that it intended to defend any libel action: "We published the story of Mr Sarwar’s activities following detailed investigation. This newspaper stands by its report and will defend any legal action". On 21 May the NEC decided to launch its own investigation into the allegations. Tom Sawyer, the general secretary, said: "The Labour Party takes any accusation of this sort very seriously. That is why we asked for an immediate police inquiry and why we have today set up a high-level national executive inquiry which will run parallel with the police inquiry and leave no stone unturned" (Guardian, 22.05.97). Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond claimed that information had come to light to the effect that Mr Sarwar had given Mr Islam the £5,000 after the election, not before. In which case, Mr Salmond argued, it was a matter for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (Daily Jang, 21.05.97). A third Govan parliamentary candidate, Peter Paton, who was unofficial Labour, also claims Mr Sarwar tried to bribe him (Aberdeen Press & Journal, Daily Jang, 20.05.97). The Glasgow Herald (21.05.97) maintains that Badar Islam had very little support, especially amongst the Asian community, due to his large debts, which included gambling debts, and so his candidacy did not represent serious competition for Mr Sarwar. As regards Peter Paton, he was also very unlikely to succeed at the polls, having been official Conservative candidate, Independent Conservative, and then unofficial Labour candidate all in the space of two years. The author of the Glasgow Herald article also maintains that, similarly, Jamil Abbassi had no chance of succeeding against Sarwar and his main motive for standing was a personal animosity towards him. The Labour Party NEC was expected to give its decision in mid-June and if it found against him, would take disciplinary action to force him to resign (Guardian, 22.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 1/2]
Following the publishing of the Runnymede paper on Islamophobia (see BMMS for July, August and December 1996; February, March and April 1997) a seminar, ‘Islamophobia - its features and dangers’ was held on 20 May organised by the Indian Muslim Federation and the London Borough of Waltham Forest (Daily Jang, 15.05.97, 22.05.97). The seminar was attended by Muslims, Jews and Christians, as well as members of other religions. A speech was given by Dr Richard Stone of the Runnymede Trust in which he said: "Together we stand. Divided we fall. We need to remember, that as people under threat - Muslims and Jews - we must learn to trust each other. We must listen to each other and learn from each other’s experiences" (Daily Jang, 22.05.97). Dr Stone went on to blame the mainstream media for reinforcing religious intolerance and stereotyping. Another speaker at the seminar, Dr Zaki Badawi, said with regard to non-Muslim support of Muslims: "Islamophobia is on the rise. It is important to remember that we have our allies in this country. We have voices that support our right to live a life free of fear, abuse and discrimination". There have also been further responses to the paper from various groups. The Muslim National Trust stated that: "Although it [Islamophobia] had long been recognised by the Muslim community. This is perhaps the first attempt to focus on its scale and depth for the benefit of the wider British community" (Daily Jang, 22.05.97). The Board of Deputies, meanwhile, in their response to the paper have appealed to British Muslims to disown the activities of Islamic extremists (Jewish Chronicle, 16.05.97). The Board stated that Muslim leaders should be: "projecting a responsible and cohesive image to the public and providing a real contrast to the stereotypes of Islamophobia". Their response questioned the need for new legislation to outlaw incitement to religious hatred. As a consequence, a dispute between the Board of Deputies of British Jews and some Muslim organisations (Muslim News, Jewish Chronicle, 23.05.97). Iqbal Sacranie, of the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs, said of the BoD’s submission to Runnymede, which Muslim News received as a press release: "I am puzzled by the comments they make on religious discrimination. On the one hand they state that no body of research indicates conclusively that Muslims are discriminated against as Muslims when they know for a fact that there has never been a body set up specifically to carry out such research, while on the other hand they welcome the CRE efforts to obtain evidence of religious discrimination against Muslims. The interim report of the CRE clearly indicates that religious discrimination against Muslims is very much alive and that many cases have been reported to the CRE". Sher Azam, one of the Muslim representatives on the Inner Cities Religious Council, which is investigating the issue of religious discrimination along with the CRE, said of the Board’s submission to Runnymede: "We do not want Jewish leaders to tell us how to follow our faith, we know our own responsibilities and we certainly do not want to be lectured by anyone else"(Muslim News, 23.05.97). The BoD claimed that they had not told Muslims how to organise themselves or practice their faith, and that their evidence to Runnymede had been distorted by selective quoting. their spokesperson said: "Our press release on this matter was given to Muslim News on the understanding that it would be reproduced in full. As a community, we recognise the problems that Muslims face and we empathise with them" (Jewish Chronicle, 23.05.97). The Churches’ Commission for Inter-Faith Relations also responded to the Runnymede paper. It said that Islam and Muslims in Britain suffer from misrepresentation, particularly from the press. The Commission generally gives backing to the paper stating that: "We are anxious that a whole community should not be libelled by prejudicial and inaccurate reporting. Vulnerable people are suffering because of it" (Church Times, 02.05.97). With regard to legislation though, the commission’s secretary, Canon Christopher Lamb, said that the difficulties of such legislation "have not begun to be talked through ... Serious debate might be stifled. It might be difficult to discriminate between responsible religious traditions and uglier tendencies". With regard to such legislation, Dr Philip Lewis, adviser on interfaith issues to the Bishop of Bradford, said: "Sikhs and Jews are covered by current legislation, while Muslims, like Christians, are not" (Church Times, 02.05.97). At a local level, Raja Amir Dad Khan, in his column in the Bucks Free Press, reports that Wycombe Race Equality Council organised a public meeting to consider the paper. Ideas were suggested to help reduce the effects of Islamophobia especially in the areas of education, employment and guidelines for the media. (25.04.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 2/3]
Slough and Southall disturbances There is still tension in Slough and Southall in continuing conflicts between Sikhs and Muslims (see BMMS for February and April 1997). Community leaders have been appealing for calm after reprisal conflicts between gangs which saw groups of youths travelling between Southall and Slough to fight with rivals. Extra police officers have been brought into the areas to prevent further escalation (Ascot Express, 01.05.97). In Southall, where there has been no major trouble for two years, superintendent Mike Smythe said that dissent "would be nipped in the bud" and appealed to Southall youths "not to take the law into their own hands" (Southall Gazette, 02.05.97). Some of those involved believe that the conflict is related to issues in the Indian subcontinent, and an article in the Independent quotes one Muslim as saying: "It’s nothing but Khalistan versus Pakistan. The Sikhs think we didn’t help them in their war of liberation of Khalistan and they now want revenge". But another Muslim states: "This is not a question of community, religion or nation. These are just a bunch of irresponsible kids" (04.05.97). An article in the Guardian highlights the issue of unemployment and housing. Suresh Grover of the Southall Monitoring Group states: "There are no youth facilities in Southall or Chalvey, nowhere for the youngsters to go or nothing to do apart from hanging around the streets. Both areas have been badly neglected by the local authorities and the so called community leaders. Most of these leaders are totally out of touch with the youngsters. Over the past few years there’s been a reassertion of religious identity among the young, who are struggling to establish who they are. While one section of the young Asian community is doing very well and is entering the professions and universities, those in the ghettoes are being left behind" (Guardian, 03.05.97). Meanwhile, Berkshire County Council’s youth and community service and the regional youth officer for the Commission for Racial Equality have called a meeting to discuss the problems. The meeting will discuss what resources can be developed to deal with the issues of violence and intolerance between Sikh and Muslim youths (Slough and Langley Observer, 09.05.97). Also, West London Community leaders have organised a conference to discuss the problem on 1 June at the Meadowbank Community Centre (Hounslow Borough Chronicle, 08.05.97). The continuing violence has led to a feature article in London’s Evening Standard (22.05.97). Amongst other people with local knowledge of Southall, the Standard interviews the playwright, Harwant Bains, who wrote the 1993 film Wild West, a comedy about a group of Asian Southall teenagers who wanted to become country-and-western singers. He believes the situation has worsened since he left Southall six years ago: "Yes, there were gangs like the Holy Smokes and Tutti-Nungis ["naked shits"] but nothing like what’s going on today. There was no real threat from your own people. I really thought these differences had become secondary. As I grew up we all fought against racism. Now these post-pubescent kids, wearing bandanas like something out of LA riots, are making us the object of derision in a society in which we’re still not that welcome". The article also examines the view that part of the problem may be sexual relations across communities. A 17-year-old Hindu girl told the journalist, Rifat Malik, that: "Muslim boys won’t go out with Muslim girls because they say they’re sisters. But they think we are just slags so they can go out with us". A Teletext (20.05.97) report stated that four people had been arrested in connection with recent clashes in Chalvey, Slough - three Muslims and one Sikh. On 13 May, in a separate incident, two Sikhs aged 18 and 22 were attacked outside Ealing Broadway tube station by between seven and ten young Asian men, and the younger man had to receive hospital treatment for wounds to the head caused by a hammer. The investigating officer, PC Terry Rockwell, said the victims, who had apparently been followed from Southall by their assailants, believed the attack was linked to recent incidents between Sikhs and Muslims in Slough and Southall (Southall Gazette, 23.05.97). Thirteen men were bailed to reappear in court on 18 June for public order offences during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in Southall (Southall Gazette, 23.05.97). A leader column in the Southall Gazette (23.05.97) expresses concern at the spread of communal tensions in the area: "The background to the current tension between Sikhs and Muslims is a long and complex tale that requires time and effort to understand. Too often people in the east of the borough look down their noses at Southall and think that it should be part of Hounslow anyway. But we should be proud to have such a unique town within our boundaries and its problems deserve to be taken seriously and properly addressed". About 100 people attended the Chalvey Community Forum meeting in Slough to discuss the policing of recent incidents. Muslims were especially critical of the lack of a police presence when, four weeks previously, a gang of about 40 Sikhs marched through Chalvey, smashing the windows of shops and homes. DI Steve Neale told the meeting: "That mob was in and out within 30 minutes, and by the time we had reinforcements, it was all over. If I could turn the clock back and get a lot of people nicked, don’t you think I would have done that?" (Slough & Langley Observer, 23.05.97). Slough’s new mayor is Councillor Lakhbir Minhas and the deputy mayor is Councillor Gurbachan Thind. At the mayor-making reception on 17 May, Councillor Minhas promised to make "positive work with young people" the theme of his mayoral year. He said of the troubles between young Sikhs and Muslims: "I believe unemployment is one of the main causes of these troubles. When young people have nothing to occupy them, when they feel that society doesn’t care what happens to them, it is then that we see the kind of deeply alarming scenes of recent weeks" (Slough & Langley Observer, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 3/4]
Feversham College in Bradford had hoped to become the first state-funded Muslim school in the UK (see BMMS for November and December 1995; March, September and December 1996; March and April 1997). Applications for funding have previously failed because of inadequate premises but the school has since moved and had been negotiating with the Roman Catholic diocese with regard to the vacant Cottingley Manor School situated near Bingley. However, the Daily Jang (02.06.97) and the Yorkshire Post (28.05.97) report that the school has been unable to buy the property, upon which Feversham’s case for state funding was based. The premises have reportedly been bought by investors for £1 million, to be turned into a private health and fitness club. Dr Mohammed Khan, chair of the association which runs Feversham College, said: "Other options and sites are being considered, although it is disappointing news as a lot of work was done based around the Cottingley site in the application to the government. We are confident and will still continue our battle to become a state-funded school". Meanwhile, Bradford Council’s education committee has agreed to support the school’s funding bid for voluntary aided status and are compiling a statement of case for the Education Department. If successful, the school would only have to find 15 per cent of its annual costs and parents would not have to pay for places; at the moment they pay £700 a year. At present there are 190 pupils aged from 13 to 16. Once under state funding, the school hopes to increase its school roll to 450. Dr Mohammed Khan, said: "Our faith is no different to the Christian, Jewish, or any other faith and we are confident that whichever Government is in power it will judge us by the same benchmark. There is no reason why Muslims shouldn’t be given the same rights and the support throughout the whole community ... The benefits we stand to gain are enormous. Most Muslim parents can’t afford to pay the fees but soon they may no longer have to. Their demands would be met with the school working as part of a team, under the umbrella of the local education authority. We could have gone down the grant maintained road but we didn’t because we realise the values of being within the LEA system" (Yorkshire Post, 05.05.97). The Bradford Telegraph & Argus (26.05.97) printed an apology regarding an earlier article about Feversham College. The article had: "...upset a reader who rightly took exception to us referring to the college as ‘an Asian school’. As she points out, it is in fact a Muslim school and some Muslims, including herself, are white". In an open letter to the new Secretary of State for Education and Employment, David Blunkett, in the Times Educational Supplement, Ibrahim Hewitt encourages the prompt approval of grant-maintained status to Islamia Primary School in Brent (see BMMS for December 1995; June, July and November 1996; January 1997) and Al-Furqan Primary School in Birmingham (see BMMS for November 1996; January and March 1997). He says: "It makes little difference whether they become GM, foundation school, voluntary-aided or whatever. But they want to be state schools. Islamia has been seeking state funding since 1984. It would establish that precedent that we are accepted as citizens" (TES, 09.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 4]
There is continuing discussion in the press regarding the building planned for the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (see BMMS for February, March and April 1997). The Daily Telegraph (05.05.97) published an article entitled: ‘Will Islamic architecture ever look right in Britain?’ This examines the issues surrounding the Oxford building highlighting the problems of achieving a harmony between East and West. The article highlights the nature of a lot of mosque building in Britain, that many are plain and reflect limited budgets and that the Oxford centre will "be the most lavish example yet of an emerging new architecture, the British Islamic style". The plans for the new building have already been submitted although they have not yet been considered by Oxford City Council’s planning committee (Oxford Mail, 07.05.97). The Oxford Preservation Trust have opposed the plans. In a letter to the council, it says: "They have played safe by toning down the Islamic elements of the building, which has become bland and undistinguished" (Oxford Mail, 07.05.97). The issue of the planned 108ft minaret seems to have created much controversy in particular. However the Oxford Times, in its leader column, warns people to be cautious: "For some the picture conjured up is all too real. A giant minaret tower soaring beside a domed mosque, dominating Oxford University’s heartland .. It is easy to understand the unease generated by the proposal by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to build a permanent home, just off St Cross Road. It is easy to see how the sillier rumours about it threaten to turn an already complex planning matter into a major controversy" (Oxford Times, 09.05.97). It has been announced that President Mandela is to visit the centre in July (The Times, 14.05.97). At the end of May, it was confirmed that King Fahd, the King of Saudi Arabia, had donated £20 million to the Centre for Islamic Studies (Financial Times, Birmingham Evening Mail, Shropshire Star, 29.05.97, Oxford Times, Oxford Mail, Financial Times, 30.05.97, Independent, Nottingham Evening Post, 31.05.97). The donation was confirmed by Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, when he attended the dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales, who is a Vice-Patron of the Oxford Centre. The money is intended to be for the new buildings. Dr David Browning, registrar of the centre, said their aim was now to raise over £10 million to be able to permanently endow 35 scholarships (Oxford Times, 30.05.97). The Financial Times (30.05.97) carries an article which details Brasenose College’s objections, and also details the sources of funding for Islamic Studies at various universities in Britain. In this article, Professor Akbar Ahmed, the Cambridge academic who is behind the new film on the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah (see BMMS for September 1996), said: "it is a big minus that the money is so directly linked to one family. It means that there has to be a ‘line’ on something when research is carried out". Professor Nicholas Lash, also of Cambridge University, disagreed: "There is a folklore that you can’t get money from the Middle East without strings attached but that is not the case with the Islamic Studies lectureship here at Cambridge" (Financial Times, 30.05.97). The day after the donation was announced, Merton College withdrew its offer to sell land for the new premises to the Islamic Studies Centre. A spokesperson for Oxford City Council said: "Merton owns the land on the only proposed site for the building. As far as I know, that’s the only site under consideration and it was due to go to the planning committee on July 2" (Express, 04.06.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 4/5]
Reports Community Following conflict between Muslim and non-Muslim Afro-Caribbean youths in Derby (see BMMS for April 1997), there has been speculation that right-wing extremists are behind an attempt to escalate the conflict by producing leaflets, which have been circulated to multi-racial areas of the city, which insult black people and call for a jihad against them (Independent, 10.05.97). The contents of the leaflet have so shocked Derby city council that they have produced their own leaflet to try deal with the problem, with the help of police and community leaders (Derby Evening Telegraph, 10.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
Following the commission report on the Bradford disturbances (see BMMS for February, April, May, November and December 1996), major employers in Bradford have admitted that discrimination continues to exist on a large scale in Bradford. Their own report, by Bradford Chamber of Commerce Industry, Bradford Breakthrough and Bradford Retail Action Group says: "Ten per cent of the UK Pakistani community are resident in Bradford but to our knowledge, with the exception of Section 11 funding, no major initiatives to improve educational attainment within these communities have been undertaken since 1990" (Bradford Star, 01.05.97). Up to twelve employers will take action to promote equal opportunities practice in recruitment and selection in a new group called Bradford Employer Diversity Group. Bradford’s education chairman, Councillor John Ryan, said: "The business community has lagged behind in terms of the employment of ethnic minority people which was something that came out in the Bradford Commission report. The council, while it needs to improve its own record, is more than willing to assist" (Bradford Star, 01.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
After the Gloucester imam, Shabir Gangat, had been threatened with deportation (see BMMS for April 1997), Gloucester Muslims have attempted to prevent the deportation by providing him and his family with a rent free house and increasing his salary. Mr Gangat has been threatened with deportation after claiming state benefits while a temporary resident. The city’s Labour MP Tess Kingham said: "I will be taking his case up with the new Labour minister, asking him to allow Mr Gangat to stay in this country, as he is no longer a so-called drain on the country" (Gloucester Citizen, 13.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
An exhibition of Urdu and Arabic scripts was due to be held from May 1 until May 22 at the Stalybridge’s Astley Cheetham Art Gallery. This is part of a joint presention between Tameside Museum and Gallery Services and the Darul Uloom Qadiria Jilania Pakistani Cultural Centre (Ashton & Audenshaw Reporter, 01.05.97 & 08.05.97; Ashton Advertiser, 08.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
The Watford Muslim Community Project and the Palace Theatre in Watford have arranged a concert by Pakistani singer and film star Irene Perveen on May 4. The concert was to include Urdu and Punjabi Ghazals and a Bhangra mix. The event was being arranged to celebrate Eid (Watford Observer, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
The Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey Bengali Welfare Association in Camberley has changed the name of its centre to the M.A. Al-Kharafi Islamic Centre. The centre was previously known as the London Road Islamic Centre but has been renamed in the memory of the late father of a Kuwaiti businessman who is one of the main benefactors (Camberley News, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 5]
The Muslim Welfare Association in the Vale of Glamorgan is seeking £540,000 lottery funding. Vale council officials have recommended a £5,000 grant from the local authority to contribute towards the cost of a business plan to aid its lottery application. The lottery money is expected to be used to upgrade the facilities of the Muslim welfare centre in Holton Road, Barry. The association organises language classes, advice services and counselling services (Cardiff Western Mail, 03.05.97; South Wales Echo, 03.05.97; Barry & District News, 08.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
An inquiry has been demanded following the claim that membership application forms, which were submitted to Bury Racial Equality Council for the affliation of the Khirza Mosque, are false. Officals at the mosque claim that on one of the forms the name of the representative to the Council has been changed and on the other form the signature of the mosque president has been forged. The chairwoman of the Race council, Val McGrory, said: "The membership process involving the Khizra Mosque is being set aside pending a full investigation" (Bury Times, 06.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
Muslim Aid is the 1,000th charity to register on the Charities Aid Foundation’s CharityNet Web site. The Muslim Aid site is: www.charitynet.org/winner.html; the CharityNet site is: www.charitynet.org/ (Daily Telegraph, 06.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
A delegation from Uzbekistan has been visiting Leicester, visiting a number places including newspaper offices, multi-cultural community groups and Islamic organisations. The group were on a fact finding tour to see how democracy and business operates (Leicester Mercury, 09.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
Oxford’s Shi’a Muslims gathered in a house in Weldon Road, New Marston, to mark Muharram, which commemorates the death of Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet (Oxford Mail, 21.05.97, Oxford Times, 23.05.97). In Oldham, there was a commemorative event hosted by the recently-formed Oldham branch of the World Islamic Mission (Oldham Evening Chronicle, 22.05.97). Raja Amir Dad’s weekly column in the Bucks Free Press (23.05.97) gave a concise account of the significance of the martyrdom of Hussain and of the commemorative events taking place locally. In Burnley, worshippers travelled from all over Britain to join a Muharram march . The march started and ended at the Hussainia Mosque in Grey Street. The men beat themselves on the chest and chanted religious songs in mourning for Hazrat Hussain (Burnley Express, 28.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
Cuts have been made to the film, written by Hanif Kureishi, My Son The Fanatic. The film is concerned with an Islamist teenager in the northern of England. Apparently certain scenes were removed from the BBC-funded film so as not to offend the Muslim community. Kureishi apparently had written the script to examine extremism in the light of the fatwa against Salman Rushdie (Observer, 11.05.97; Asian Age, 14.05.97) [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
A march was held in Darlington in which 200 Muslims took part. One of the participants, Dr Amar Boston, said: "The gathering is basically about Muslim spirituality and the atmosphere is one of peace and brotherhood". A meeting held at Central House was addressed by the religious leader Shaykh Sufi Mohammed Aslam from Blackburn (Darlington Northern Echo, 12.05.97) [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
An international conference was held at The School of Oriental and African Studies in London on Sufism. Amongst those presenting papers were Prof S.H. Nasr and Prof Annemarie Schimmel and a keynote address was given by Dr Javad Nurbakhsh. The event was organised by the Centre of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, SOAS and the Nimatullahi Research Centre (Daily Jang, 15.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
An appeal for help for the victims of the earthquake in Iran has been made by Islamic groups in Glasgow. Donations have been asked to be made to Islamic Relief (Glasgow Evening Times, 16.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6]
The Shaykh of Al-Azhar, Sheik Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the head of the oldest university in the world in Cairo, Egypt, came to Britain on a six-day visit as the guest of the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey. Dr Carey stressed the need for dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and praised the work being done by the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations and the Oxford-based Centre for Islamic Studies. The Archbishop called for more dialogue and interchange between Christians and Muslims (Yorkshire Post, 21.05.97). Whilst in Bradford, Shaykh Tantawi was due to meet the city’s Council of Mosques, to visit the Inter-Faith Education Centre, and to lead a seminar on Islamic law and social change. The Bishop of Bradford’s inter-faith adviser, Dr Philip Lewis, commented: "Bradford has been chosen as a place where Christians and Muslims have developed a pattern of constructive relationships which seek to transcend a history of mutual suspicion and conflict" (Yorkshire Post, 22.05.97). The Church Times (23.05.97) was the only paper to publish a photograph of Grand Shaykh Tantawi, together with Dr Carey, the interpreter, Hilda Pressdee, and Dr Mohammed Shaker, the Egyptian ambassador. This article, by Helen Saxbee, reports that: "Dr Carey said he was uncertain how to structure the development of Christian-Muslim dialogue, ‘given the nature and history of our different communities’. Canon Deuchar [the Archbishop’s secretary for the Anglican Communion] said that the Archbishop was simply affirming his belief that there should be a structure". East (29.05.97) concentrated on the meeting of Prince Charles with the Grand Shaykh. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 6/7]
A charity walk by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association UK, organised to celebrate Bradford’s centenary, raised £20,000 for a number of local and national charities. The walk was a 26 mile course with a 13 mile course for younger people (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 05.05.9; Ilkley Gazette, 08.05.97; Craven Herald & Pioneer, 09.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
Keighley’s Sangat Centre, which was the subject of some controversy because of its acceptance of National Lottery funding, has outgrown its premises in the Emily Street Community Centre and is looking for larger ones (see BMMS for February 1996 and April 1997). As a temporary measure, some of its activities will move to the nearby Methodist-owned Youthlink premises. The manager, Kadim Hussain explained that there was not enough space for all Sangat’s diverse activities, and some wanted to expand as well: "This is community development work. We are very overcrowded and have to sub-divide rooms and there is a demand from the women’s group for sessions more than once a week. We are looking forward [to the move to Youthlink]. It will be a good partnership in a building which is under-utilised at present" (Keighley News, 16.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
TES Scotland (30.05.97) prints a review of an exhibition of Islamic art at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum, which will be on display until April 1998, and is called Open Sesame (see BMMS for November and December 1996). The exhibition takes visitors through an idealised, traditional Muslim city of the past, "where areas such as the citadel and market place are hinted at rather than replicated". Bushra Iqbal, a member of the exhibition’s consultative committee, said: "I’ve lived in Scotland for 25 years and this is the first time I’ve seen an exhibition which truly reflects my background and culture. We all carry an idea of our past with us and, for me, this is it". Associated with the exhibition, there are workshops for schools. For more details, contact the museum’s education officer, Jem Fraser, on 0141 287 2747. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
The Muslim who won £18 million from the National Lottery (see BMMS for January and February 1996) has donated £300,000 to the Masjid-Al-Momineen mosque in Ash Street, Blackburn, whose trustees have apparently accepted the donation (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 28.05.97, Sun, 31.05.97). The donation came to light because of an anonymous leaflet which argues that, since gambling is forbidden in Islam, the mosque should not benefit from Lottery money. One mosque official, a Mr Mahmood, confirmed that the mosque had received the donation. He said: "Yes, we have had some Lottery cash - who doesn’t want Lottery cash these days. You could argue all day about whether accepting this is against our religion. The people who have produced this leaflet are wasting their time. It is just a gimmick" (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 28.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
Muslims and Christians have united in support of banning the film Crash (see BMMS for December 1996). The film, due to be on release in June, shows sado-masochists getting sexual pleasure from car crashes. Sher Azam, of the Bradford Council of Mosques, said: "We are all affected by what we see and hear, and as far as I am aware, nothing good is going to come out of seeing this film. Other councils must follow the example of Westminster City Council and ban its showing". Chris Demetriou, a pastor in Cornerstone ministries, a Christian group coordinating action against the film, said: "Over one thousand churches and 600 Islamic centres are working with us in support of the ban...I’m liaising with councils up and down the country to get the ban imposed nation-wide. Lanarkshire was the first local authority to ban the film, followed by Westminster. It has also been banned completely in Singapore" (Asian Age, 24.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
A new Islamic investment fund, called the Halal Mutual Investment Company plc, has been set up for investors in the UK (Muslim News, 23.05.97, Personal Finance, 01.06.97). Each participating share will cost £250. The shares will not be listed on any stock exchange, to prevent speculation. Muslim News (23.05.97) explains that: "the fund has been developed to meet the basic need of Muslims living in a western jurisdiction who wish to invests small amounts of their surplus money in order to earn a regular income in a manner consistent with the Islamic Shari’a". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
The Islamic Education Centre in Luton is one of many ethnic minority run organisations and businesses which have benefitted from the NatWest Bank taking up issues highlighted in a recent House of Commons report, the Business Link Ethnic Minority Conference Report. The bank provided a £200,000 loan, to be repaid over 13 years, to build the Islamic Education Centre (Luton on Sunday, 11.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
The Muslim community of High Wycombe has launched an appeal for donations to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Iran. A collection was taken at Friday prayers at the High Wycombe Mosque (Bucks Free Press, 16.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7]
Asian Age (20.05.97) reports that a detective novel is to be published in September by Virgin Books, called Royal Blood, by Barry Davis, which features Princess Diana. The story tells how a right-wing group decides to murder Princess Diana using a crossbow bolt infected with the AIDS virus, to prevent her marrying a Muslim doctor. Muslim parliament spokesperson Jahangir Mohammed said: "The plot revealed so far is resonant of Mein Kampf and how Nazis worried about how an increasing number of non-Jewish women married Jewish men. If the plot involved black or Jewish men marrying white women then a ban would be covered under incitement against racial hatred legislation. At the moment there is no law preventing anyone from being anti-Islamic". Gai Eaton, a consultant at the Regent’s Park Mosque, did not feel there could be a legal remedy in any case: "It is a far-fetched idea, but the extreme right are crazy anyway. You can’t ban works of fiction even if it does have a racist sentiment". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 7/8]
People in East Lancashire are being asked to help victims of the cyclone in Bangladesh, reports the Blackburn Evening Telegraph (21.05.97). Around 25,000 people have been evacuated from the north shore of the bay of Bengal. Islamic Relief has launched an emergency fundraising appeal. For more information, contact Fuad Itani on 0171 722 0039. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
A proposal to put up banners outside Bolton Town Hall to celebrate Hindu and Muslim festivals, such as Diwali and Eid, is to go before the council’s civic affairs committee for their approval. A council report which recommends this measure, says: "It would send a clear message to the ethnic minority communities that the council recognises different cultures and the benefits they bring to the borough" (Bolton Evening News, 22.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
Controversy surrounds the award of a grant of £95,000 of government money to the Salfia Centre, reports the Dewsbury Reporter (23.05.97). The centre gained the grant partly as a result of help from Councillor Mohammed Razaq, who denied that he had a financial interest in the project, and explained that, although he had held a position on the centre’s committee, he resigned before becoming a councillor. The centre operates principally as an educational facility and homework club. It is currently operating in terraced houses next to the Salfia Mosque, but soon will be moving, along with the mosque, to a new site in a nearby carpet warehouse. Councillor Razaq explained that the centre was included in the Capital Challenge scheme because improving educational facilities was City Challenge’s second priority, with housing being the first. He also pointed out that the scheme’s remit was not limited to Ravensthorpe and Westtown, and could legitimately include Scout Hill, where the Salfia Centre is based. He further explained that Dewsbury College, the centre’s partner in its educational activities, had proposed extending facilities, which necessitated a move to new premises. He said: "My fundamental role is bringing resources into Dewsbury West. There is no split and I am fighting for Ravensthorpe as well". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
An exhibition to promote an awareness of Islam is being shown in Lincoln (Lincolnshire Echo, 27.05.97, Lincoln Chronicle, 30.05.97). The exhibition, which runs from 24 June until 5 July, is jointly organised by the Lincolnshire County Council, IQRA Trust, and the Islamic Foundation. At the same time, the IQRA Trust is leading in-service training for teachers to raise their awareness of Islam. Councillor Leslie Wilson, chair of the council’s education committee, stressed the appropriateness of the exhibition, since this is the European Year of Cultural Awareness: "Not only is it a unique opportunity for schools and the whole community to learn more about the beliefs, practices and history of this world religion, it will also help address mis-information and prejudice" (Lincoln Chronicle, 30.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
A Conservative councillor, Paul James, has criticised the new city guide, which shows visitors how to find the Jama Al-Karim Mosque, but mentions only the Cathedral and four of the city’s churches. He said: "I am astonished that the guide finds room for a gay organisation, the mosque, and the social work area office, but not the vast majority of Christian churches in the city". The head of the leisure services committee, Councillor Bob Duncan, explained: "There is not a deliberate policy to favour one religion over another. I don’t think it is possible to include the Christian churches - it would cover two to three pages" (Western Daily Press, 28.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
On 28 May the Prince of Wales hosted a dinner for the Oxford Centre for Religious Studies at St James’ Palace. Amongst those invited were the heads of Oxford colleges and a number of ambassadors (Oxford Mail, 28.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
Postman to meet Prince Charles Mo Khawar, who works as a postman in Cardiff as well as being secretary of the Bilal Mosque in the Canton area of the city, was invited to attend the reception at St James Palace to mark the 50th anniversary of the Independence of India and Pakistan. Mr Khawar said: "The Prince has made a few comments about Islam and says he wants to be defender of faith, not only Christianity. It will be interesting to have a chat with him about religion. I was shocked to get the invitation. I keep thinking it’s a wind-up. It will be an honour to meet him" (South Wales Echo, 28.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
Singers, musicians and dancers from Turkey, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Egypt are performing in a festival celebrating Sufism, which lasts three weeks, from 23 June to 13 July. Most events are free and take place in Regents Park and Richmond Riverside (East, 29.05.97, BBC Music Magazine, 01.06.97). Further details may be obtained from: Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS, phone: 0171 247 8808. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 8]
Slough Pakistan Welfare Association (PWA) Following recent elections, Slough’s PWA now has a new president, Sabir Hussain Chaudhry. The PWA believes it has a role to play in creating harmonious community relations, particularly between Muslims and Sikhs in the town. They run Urdu classes and have had considerable success in GCSE and A-level exams. They also run a women’s group and hope to start youth work, too. Issues on which the PWA has been active include the provision and labelling of halal food in local hospitals and schools, and the provision of more burial spaces in the Muslim section of Slough’s cemetery (Slough & Langley Observer, 30.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
Education Some pupils at Howden Clough Girls’ High School, who were victims of an alleged racist incident involving a teacher, have been interviewed for a feature in East on BBC 2 TV (see BMMS for January, February, March and April 1997). The feature is on racial bullying (Yorkshire Evening Post, 09.05.97) [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
Christian assemblies at a Hawthorns County Junior school in Blackburn have been dropped because 95 per cent of its pupils are Muslim. The governors at the school have requested that they be exempted from the rules on religious education and the head teacher has asked Lancashire County Council that Christianity be replaced by collective worship based on a non-religious moral code (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 08.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
Governors at Park View school have voted to establish a girls’ school which will have almost exclusively Muslim pupils (Birmingham Post, 13.05.97, 14.05.97,16.05.97; Asian Age, 15.05.97), (see BMMS for September, October and November 1996). The head, Mr John Drury and the city council oppose the move and the National Union of Teachers have also added their opposition. Parent governors have petitioned to have Mr Drury removed as head teacher. A final decision is expected from Birmingham City Council’s education committee after public consultation. A governor at the school, Dr Mohammed Yasin said: "Governors are now in favour of the school becoming girls only. It is what the local community wishes and will also preserve jobs at the school. The petition to replace Mr Drury was not on behalf of the whole governing body, but was from parent governors" (Birmingham Post, 13.05.97, 14.05.97). A former governor at the school claimed that there was a coup on the governing body which had removed those opposed to the change. Some parents and pupils have come out in support of Mr Drury praising him for his hard work and dedication. One parent is quoted as saying: "I think the head has done a good job. In past years the school has had nothing done to it but when Mr Drury arrived it was painted and it looked far better. But I do think that the girls will learn better in single sex school" (Birmingham Post, 14.05.97). Mr Drury is currently on sick leave and is seeking early retirement. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
The Keighley-based Ghosiyah Association has finally bought the premises of the former Keighley preparatory School in Skipton road, for £170,000 (see BMMS for April 1997). The association expects that about 500 children will use the building, mainly for religious instruction. A spokesperson for the Muslim association said: "A lot of people are worried about their children and crime on the streets, particularly drugs. The group believes that 95 per cent of children will turn out good citizens if they are taught the right way" (Keighley News, 16.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
Haywood School in Bolton claims that they did not threaten Zakariya Amanji with reprisals if he did not shave off his beard. Fourteen year-old Zakariya says that he was told that he would not be allowed to do work experience if he did not shave the beard. The school’s head teacher, John Heaton, told Muslim News (23.05.97) that the matter had been resolved. He said: "The rule in the school is that pupils should be smart in appearance and clean shaven. But we do allow them to wear a beard for religious reasons. The parents came to see me and I explained them the school rules. I told them that they needed to write a letter and mention that their son was growing a beard for religious reasons". Zafrullah Khan, the newly appointed chair of the Muslim Human Rights Committee commented on the case: "This just shows that religious discrimination is a day to day problem for our community and many cases go unreported". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9]
An Oldham council meeting was told that there had been instances of intimidation, when supporters of the madrassah in Clydesdale Street had tried to persuade residents not to sign a petition organised by those opposing the use of the building as a religious school (Oldham Evening Chronicle, 22.05.97). The council heard that the building has been used in breach of planning permission as a mosque (see BMMS for May 1996 and March 1997) and refused further temporary permission for the madrassah. On hearing the decision, Muhammed Nawaz Sheikh, the applicant, said: "We have been turned down simply on racial grounds. We teach 100 children. I ask the council where can they go now for their religious education? If they are not allowed to use this place, then the council should find us somewhere else. It is ignoring the needs of the ethnic minority in St Paul’s ward". Mr Sheikh denied allegations that the madrassah had been used for a funeral service, and said he had received verbal permission from a planning officer to use it as a mosque during the month of Ramadan (Oldham Evening Chronicle, 23.05.97). Mr Sheikh has informed the council that he intends to continue using the premises as a madrassah, in spite of the ban, and as a mosque, for which permission was originally rejected. He told the Oldham Advertiser (29.05.97): "While my appeal goes on I will write to Oldham Council to say that I am using the place for a madrassah and a mosque - not to break the law but to give the council a chance to monitor it. If we don’t use the place, they cannot give us a fair hearing". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 9/10]
Islamia Muslim Girls School in Brent has linked with the College of North West London to provide free A-level courses from next term. All the lessons will be held at Islamia and taught by female teachers. The subjects on offer are: Accounts, Arabic, Economics, English, Geography, Information Technology, and science subjects. Yusuf Islam, chair of the Islamia Schools Trust, said: "We are very happy that we will be receiving government funding even if it is only for A-levels" (Muslim News, 23.05.97). For further details, contact: A-level Admissions, Islamia School, 129 Salisbury Road, London NW6 6PE, phone: 0171 372 2171. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
Pupils in Croydon will soon be able to take the GCSE in Islamic Studies. Schools in the borough have also been sent guidelines on fasting during Ramadan and its implications, as part of an initiative on multiculturalism (Croydon Advertiser, Wallingham & Carshalton Advertiser, 23.05.97, Caterham & District Advertiser, 30.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
Fred Forrester, deputy general secretary of the teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, called for more teaching about other faiths and less about Christianity in schools. He also wanted a reform of the present legislation on school assemblies, saying that: "Either it is ignored or it is purportedly delivered through school assemblies which are largely of a secular nature. The new Government should review the position and amend the offending legislation, whose archaic wording goes back to 1872 though it was re-enacted in 1980". Bashir Maan, a Glaswegian Muslim councillor, reportedly supported Mr Forresters call for reforms, as he felt that more appropriate religious teaching in schools would end the demand for denominational schools (Scotsman, 27.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
The Madni Trust has finally gained full planning permission for a boarding school for Muslim girls at Forest House in Mapperley Park. Conditional planning permission was given in June 1996 (see BMMS for May, June, July, September and November 1996), but complaints were made that the school was running before all the conditions had been met. The council did not take action because there were only 20 pupils at the school. Supporting the approval, Councillor Alan Clark, head of the development control committee, said: "This is a community project, managing to make a very effective use of a magnificent building" (Nottingham Evening Post, 30.05.97). The great-grandson of the founder of the children’s hospital which the building originally housed, is still opposed to the scheme. Peter Birkin-Tebbutt wants his MP, Vernon Coaker, to refer the matter to Frank Dobson, Minister for Health. He said of Forest House: "It was given by my great-grandfather for Nottingham. He left a restrictive covenant that the building must be used for the needy people of Nottingham - but nobody will own up to having it"(Nottingham Evening Post, 03.06.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
A Muslim parent threatened to sue his son’s school because the boy had to shower naked in a communal shower after school games. The parent, Mohamed Magzoub, whose son attends North Westminster Community School, explained that his objection was primarily religious: "It is prohibited for Muslim men and women to expose themselves to any sex. This issue must be addressed". There is now a campaign for an end to communal showers supported by the Secondary Heads Association and the Commission for Racial Equality amongst others. Margaret Talbot, head of the sports department at Leeds Metropolitan University, said: "With Islamic groups, there are religious and cultural reasons for privacy. But we accept modesty in adult society. Why can’t we cater for youngsters who are undergoing so many physical changes?" (Observer, 01.06.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
A religious teacher who indecently assaulted one of his eight-year-old pupils is still teaching Qur’an to children in the Paddington area, warned the girl’s mother. In March, 62-year-old Mohammed Miah was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of indecently assaulting the girl as she read from the Qur’an. He was fined £1,000 (Paddington Times, 15.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
Politics The head of the Pakistan Muslim Centre (see BMMS for February and March 1997), Shahid Malik, is leaving after claiming that he had been fully vindicated by audits carried out by two of its funders, Sheffield Training and Enterprise Council and the Single Regeneration Budget Unit. Mr Malik said: "Despite the fact that there was no obligation to call in the auditors we felt it was essential that the public were exposed to the truth. I can now leave in the knowledge that we have always acted above board and do so with my head held high with pride for all we have achieved" (Sheffield Star, 01.05.97). However, it was revealed that the city council had set up a task force to examine the authority’s relationship with the centre. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
Following recent elections for a new management committee and executive committee for the Islamic-Pakistani Community Centre in Northampton (see BMMS for October, November and December 1996), a new management committee has been appointed to take up office. The elections produced a 75 per cent turn out (Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 10.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10]
Controversy continues over the BBC’s censorship of a ProLife Alliance party political broadcast during the election. The Alliance’s Muslim groups condemned the BBC’s decision stating: "There is overwhelming inconsistency on the part of a media authority which refuses the ProLife Alliance .. and yet can allow the BNP [British National Party] this distasteful and offensive onslaught on British citizens" (Scottish Catholic Observer, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 10/11]
Muslim News (23.05.97) has four articles on the effect of Labour’s victory on Muslims (see BMMS for April 1997), and the Swindon Evening Advertiser (24.05.97) has one on the same theme. Muslim News claims that results such as the election of Mohammed Sarwar in Glasgow Govan showed that Muslims had employed tactical voting. The other examples given by Muslim News were instances where although the Muslim candidates were not elected, there was a swing of share of the vote in favour of their parties, but insufficient for victory. The main issue which Muslim News believes concerns Muslim voters is that of Muslim schools and the call for state funding for them. In second place comes the demand for a Bill of Rights, which would include protection against religious discrimination. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Masoud Shadjareh has been succeeded as the chair of the Muslim Parliament’s Human Rights Committee by Zafrullah Khan. Mr Shadjareh has formed a new organisation, the Muslim Human Rights Commission. As well as Mr Shadjareh, the trustees of the new body include others prominent in the Muslim Parliament: Azru Merali, Abrar Mir, and Nazim Ali (Muslim News, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Women Sabeena Aslam of Old Trafford is apparently the first woman who wears hijab to obtain a job at Manchester Airport. She said that in general she felt discriminated against by employers because of her hijab. She had joined the Old Trafford Jobshop and the Jobshop leader, Poppy Maddocks-Wood said of Sabeena’s success: "Everyone at the Jobshop is delighted at Sabeena’s success and we’re very proud of the way she has refused to compromise her faith, or give up her determination to find work" (Area News Today, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
The Harrow, Stanmore, Kingsbury Times (08.05.97) carries an article about the Muslim Women’s Helpline. The helpline is a national service which is specifically to help Muslim women of whatever nationality or background, deal with any problems. Sara Cherise, a co-founder member of the helpline states: "There is a distinction which needs to be made between what the culture requires and what is actually the norm. The first thing we do is let women know the correct religious knowledge. This stops what the elder religious men say is correct. For example, the Islamic answer to arranged marriage is no, a father can’t force his daughter to marry. We can provide the source material from the Koran". The problems dealt with on the helpline cover issues such as help with forms, arranged marriages, sexual abuse and domestic violence. The telephone numbers of the helpline are: 0181 904 8193 or 0181 908 6715, 10.30am - 4.30pm. Anyone interested in training as a befriender can call 0181 908 3025. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
A ladies evening held at St Peter’s Church in Solihull, organised by the women’s section of the Solihull Muslim Community Association, raised £500 for the Marie Curie Warren Pearl Association. Azra Hussain, social secretary of the women’s section, said: "The idea of the evening was to promote good public relations and say that the Muslim community is not self-centred" (Solihull News, 16.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Miss N Shahin, who worked as a part-time sales assistant at What Everyone Wants in Walsall, claims she was dismissed for wearing hijab, which she refused to remove. She has taken the case to an industrial tribunal (Muslim News, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Cosmopolitan (01.06.97) reports that increasing numbers of British Asian women are being forced to marry against their will, according to the UK Asian Women’s Conference (UKAWC). The article maintains that: "80 per cent of Muslim marriages are arranged, many against the woman’s wishes" and quotes Kulwant Basi of the UKAWC. Ms Basi explains: "Our [ British Asian women’s] fathers are so terrified we will forget our heritage, they stifle us. Young women are being forced into marriage with men they may never have met, or have no affection for and even hate". The News of the World Sunday Magazine (25.05.97) has a feature on women who have been murdered by jealous husbands or other male relatives. One victim featured is Tasleem Begum Sadiq, who was killed by her ex-husband’s brother, Shabbir Hussain in June 1995 who ran a car over her three times. Shabir, jailed for life at Leeds crown court in October 1996, never gave a motive. The News of the World, like several papers at the time of the trial, assumes it was because Tasleem Begum had a lover. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Youth A Muslim youth worker in Bradford is still receiving death threats from a group calling itself Muslim Awareness Campaign, who say that she is a lesbian and should not be employed by the youth and community services (see BMMS for February and April 1997). She continues to receive police protection and there is now a campaign to support her which has received wide-spread support in Bradford (Pink Paper, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11]
Interfaith A number of newspapers report on the news that by the year 2002 there will be more practising Muslims than practising Anglicans (The Sunday Times, 11.05.97; Asian Age, 12.05.97; Daily Telegraph, 14.05.97; Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 14.05.97; Methodist Recorder, 15.05.97; Walsall Express & Star, 17.05.97) The Christian Research Association, a London based research charity, claims that by the year 2002 there will be 4,000 more regular Muslim worshippers than Church of England worshippers (The Sunday Times, 11.05.97). The research claims that, based on trends for the past 10 years, the number of Muslims will increase while those attending regularly at Anglican services declines. The 1995 figures suggest that there were 536,000 practising Muslims compared to 854,000 Church of England attendees. In response to the research, The Rt Rev Roger Sainsbury, Bishop of Reading, said: "One of the attractions of Islam to disadvantaged young people is that Muslims campaign on both racial and social justice. The Church of England should learn from this"(The Sunday Times, 11.05.97). The Wolverhampton Express & Star (17.05.97), Midweek (27.05.97), and the Bristol Western Daily Press (30.05.97) all have articles which discuss the rise in the numbers of Muslims and mosques in Britain, in contrast to the decline in attendance at Church of England services and in the number of Anglican churches. Similar themes are taken up in the letters columns of several papers (Birmingham Evening Mail, Black Country Evening Mail, 28.05.97, Sunday Times, 01.06.97). The Midweek (27.05.97) article says that over 1,000 Church of England churches have become redundant since 1970, whereas there are over 1,400 mosques currently in the UK with 240 in the process of being built. This article also analyses the projected demographic growth of the Muslim community, particularly in London. The Bristol Western Daily Mail (30.05.97) points to the increasing visibility of mosques as more of them are purpose-built than in the past; the interest of non-Muslims, for example, Prince Charles, in Islam; and the increase in attendance at mosques, particularly by younger men. On this latter point, Rashad Ahmad Azami, the imam of the Bath Islamic Centre, said: "Sometimes, they come in the name of religion, sometimes in the name of culture, sometimes in the name of identity". The comment column writer in the Wolverhampton Express & Star (17.05.97) urges caution regarding mosque building: "I bet that long before 2100, worship will finally have lost the battle with mammon. The old buildings will be recycled and the only reminder of the old days will be that some bingo halls will have steeples while other bingo halls will have minarets". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 11/12]
A meeting on the theme of "Living with diversity: problem or opportunity" has been planned for 13 June in Blackburn Cathedral. The organisers are the Lancashire Council of Mosques and the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn. The speakers are Dr Ata’ullah Siddiqui and Michael Barnes (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 31.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 12]
Dr Eleanor Nesbitt, writing in The Friend (30.05.97), a Quaker journal, describes some of the challenges posed by her work researching the practices and beliefs of Sikh, Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities in the Midlands. Going on to look at the Society of Friends [Quakers], she maintains that: "Quakers have a freedom which allows us to enter unreservedly into dialogue. Openness to this risk of being changed belongs with a pluralist or universalist world view...given this openness, and in view of our experience as a minority on the margins of Christendom, our interfaith activity should deliberately include marginal minorities. Quakers can meet with Ahmediyyas and Namdharis in the same spirit as with (mainstream) Muslims and Sikhs". This openness is also attested to by the fact of dual membership of some Quakers. Dr Nesbitt writes: "I know a Friend who is a Muslim and I have met a Taoist Friend, but a Muslim Baptist would be impossible. My own worldview springs from Sikh as well as Christian sources". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 12]
Halal Solihull Muslims respond to campaign Muslims have reacted to the campaign by Solihull Animal Aid against halal slaughter (see BMMS for April 1997). Members of Solihull Muslim community claim that the protest is attacking their right to practice their faith. The General Secretary of the Muslim Community Centre Association Solihull, Abdul Hamid, said: "We are following traditions which are almost 2,000 years old - it is our obligation ... If they protest against us we have to defend ourselves - Muslims will feel their religion is under threat" (Eastern Eye, 02.05.97; Asian Times, 06.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 12]
Some local residents are protesting about the sale of live chickens on Thursday mornings in Wright Road, Saltley, Birmingham, as they are angry about the mess left afterwards (Birmingham Sunday Mercury, 25.05.97). Most of the buyers are Muslims who slaughter the birds themselves in the halal way. Graham Taylor, Birmingham City Council’s senior animal welfare officer, said: "The act of selling live birds is not against the law. The birds should be put into cardboard boxes after they are sold. But it is just not possible to stop the activity". A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "It seems anyone can buy or sell the chickens and there is nothing we can do about it...There is no need for this to happen when there are already licensed and controlled shops which sell halal meat". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 12]
Health Following the accusations of the family of Mohammed Rashid that he had his beard shaved off while in hospital, health managers at Whipps Cross Hospital claim that he did not have a beard when he came into hospital (see BMMS for April 1997). An investigation was made of the incident. A spokesperson for the Forest Healthcare Trust said: "Ward staff who were on duty have confirmed that Mr Rashid did not have a beard when he was admitted. Indeed, one of the senior nurses on the ward is a practising Muslim and would have raised objections if she had felt that Mr Rashid’s religious beliefs and practices were not being upheld at any time during his stay in Whipps Cross. The trust takes matters of religious and cultural belief very seriously and, in line with Muslim beliefs, it is our policy on our wards never to shave a patient with a beard" (Epping Forest Independent, 02.05.97). However, Mr Rashid’s son continues to insist that his father had a beard on the day he went into hospital. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 12/13]
A popular Muslim custom of putting honey on a new-born baby’s lips might have a health risk according to the Department of Health, reports the Leicester Mercury (21.05.97). The concern relates to infant botulism and although no cases have been proven to be attributable to honey, the Department of Health is advising that it should not be given to children under a year old. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "We would seek to discourage parents, simply to be on the safe side. Although there isn’t any hard evidence of a link, there is a slight risk". Manzoor Moghul, a local Leicester spokesperson on Muslim affairs, commented: "I don’t think it would worry people generally. Unless there are cases in the UK [of infant botulism from honey], it wouldn’t deter the vast majority of people who are used to doing this. The belief is that the person who administers this passes some of their good characteristics on to the child". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
Mosques & Burials Local residents are apparently outraged at the way the recent approval of plans for a mosque in Eldon Rd was dealt with by Blackburn Council (see BMMS for March and April 1997). It appears that the council was given instructions by the chief executive as to how to proceed in the case prior to the meeting, because of public representation and that the speed and wording of the resolution meant that those on the council who wished to protest were unable to do so (Blackburn Citizen, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
Following problems of overcrowding during Muslim funerals at the Pleasington Cemetery in Blackburn (see BMMS for May 1996; March and April 1997), a short-term solution has been agreed by Blackburn Council. The plan includes: the widening of the gateway to allow two streams of traffic; the introduction of a one way traffic system around the cemetery; the possibility of roping off temporary car parking spaces in front of the entrance; and the allowing one hour between services on Sundays. A council spokesperson said: "Longer-term plans include proposals to improve access, although this will be an expensive solution and cannot be carried out immediately. A further meeting will take place with funeral directors" (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 03.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
There are plans for a new mosque to be built on a site off Bell Lane in Bury (see BMMS for December 1996). The cost of the proposed building is to be £750,000. An outline planning application has been submitted to the council. The chairman of the Bury Islamic Centre, who are building the mosque, Mr Liaqat Ali said: "This will be a brand new, purpose-built mosque with other amenities including conference and library facilities. This will be to cater for Muslims but we will also invite people from other religions and the host community to come along" (Bury Times, 09.05.97). The new building will hopefully cater for up to 500 worshippers, with separate facilities for men and women. It will include a main dome and four minarets. Money for the project is to be provided by existing mosque funds although donations would also be welcomed. [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
Plans have been approved for the rebuilding of the mosque in Cheltenham’s High Street. The two houses owned by the Cheltenham Muslim Association will be demolished, and on the site a shop, two flats, and a mosque with a minaret and dome at its entrance will be built (Cheltenham Gloucestershire Echo, 24.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
Plans to build a second mosque in Chorley have caused concern amongst local residents (see BMMS for January 1997). The Muslim Welfare Society wishes to build a new mosque in Charnock Street but residents claim that this will cause major disruption, largely with regard to possible parking problems (Chorley Guardian,21.05.97, Chorley Citizen, 22.05.97). Alan Croston, Chorley Borough Council’s deputy director of technical services, said that planning officers did not believe there would be any problems. Regarding parking at busy times, such as prayer times, he said: "It seems to me that this is no different from any other church or place of worship in the Chorley area and we feel the scheme is basically alright" (Chorley Guardian, 21.05.97). Outline planning permission has already been granted and Chorley council are recommending that full permission be granted (Lancashire Evening Post, 15.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
Following a break-in at the Islamic centre and mosque in Craigavon, thieves set fire to the building extensively damaging an upstairs room and causing smoke damage throughout the rest of the building (Ulster Edition News Letter, 13.05.97; Dungannon News & Tyrone Courier, 14.05.97; The Irish News, 14.05.97) [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13]
A house in Eccleston Road, West Ealing, which is used as a prayer hall and community centre could be closed down because of complaints about noise and parking from neighbours. Abdul Hadi of the Muslim Welfare Association (MWA) said: "We’ve been here since 1986 and have had very few complaints. We do not make a noise and there is a big car park nearby - in Singapore Road - which visitors use". Speaking on behalf of the planning committee, Councillor John Delaney said: "We paid a site visit last year and neighbours told us they feel seriously inconvenienced by the comings and goings, especially because of the traffic and parking problems. It is not an appropriate location for this type of use." In March 1996 the MWA asked for permission to use the house as a religious centre and to put up an additional building in the grounds for prayers. This was refused and the council served an enforcement notice forbidding religious use of the building the following month. A public enquiry was scheduled for 17 June in Ealing Town Hall (Southall Gazette, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 13/14]
The Masjid-e-Noor mosque in Ryecroft St. has been broken into for the second time in two months. Nothing was taken but the property was damaged. There have been calls by Muslim leaders for the city council to install closed circuit cameras outside the mosque (Gloucester Citizen, 15.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
Progress is being made on Hounslow’s new mosque in Wellington Road South (see BMMS for June 1996) . The treasurer, Salah-ud-Din Butt, told the Hounslow Borough Telegraph (15.05.97): "The next stage is the windows and then we will be getting a quotation for the doors. The whole thing will be soundproofed, with the windows double glazed and more glass on the mehrab. It will all be sealed and we hope the traffic and planes will not disturb us". [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
Leeds Civic Trust, the Victorian Society and the Chapel Society are all opposing plans to demolish a disused church and Sunday school in Brudenell Road and replace the buildings with a mosque. Leeds Muslim Council has applied for planning permission to build a mosque on the site, which is supported by local councillors. Planning officers have reported that substantial repairs would be needed to bring the buildings back into use. The Civic Trust, however, argues that: "the mere nature of the buildings and their listed status should ensure their retention and the Trust totally opposes the demolition of the buildings. Repairs should not be excessively expensive"(Yorkshire Evening Post, 23.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
An agreement has been reached in Loughborough between the King Street Mosque and Charnwood Borough Council to a six week trial of having the call to prayer broadcast through loudspeakers from the roof of the mosque (Loughborough Echo, 23.05.97). Mohammed Idris Miah, secretary of the Loughborough Islamic Cultural Association, said: "The microphone will not be very loud and if there are any objections people can protest to the council". Robin Fisk, assistant director of environmental health services, added: "Amplified calls to prayer do not appear to result in widespread problems elsewhere in the Midlands, subject to hours and volume restrictions. And also while the Environmental Protection Act empowers many local authorities to deal with statutory nuisance it would not enable us to prevent a mosque introducing amplified calls to prayer, unless it can be demonstrated that as a result there is a statutory nuisance" (Loughborough Echo, 23.05.97). The conditions are that the maximum amplification for the adhan would be 50 decibels; the duration must not exceed two minutes; and there must be no call to prayer before 7.30 am, or 9 am on Sundays, nor after 10 pm. Jehangir Mohammed, deputy leader of the Muslim Parliament, told Asian Age (24.05.97): "The church bells ring freely. But only a handful of mosques in Birmingham and Bradford are permitted to call the faithful likewise". An anonymous leaflet has been circulating in the area of the mosque denouncing the council’s decision and claiming, falsely, that the call to prayer would be heard five times a day (Loughborough Echo, 23.05.97, 30.05.97, Bolton Evening News, Yorkshire Post, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 23.05.97, Loughborough Mail, 29.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
On 11 May the new MP for Enfield-Southgate, Stephen Twigg, laid the foundation stone of the Shri Darji Mitra Mandal Hindu community centre, which is being built on the Oakthorpe Road sportsground. The Muslim Community Education Centre (see BMMS for July, August, September and October 1996; April 1997), which owns the majority of the sportsground, is still seeking planning permission for a mosque on the site (Enfield Advertiser, 14.05.97, Enfield Gazette, 15.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
A fire in the Gladstone Street mosque in Peterborough which began during evening prayers on 27 May has caused about £8,000 worth of damage. Sixty worshippers fled the blaze after attempts to put it out with fire extinguishers failed (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 28.05.97). Mohammed Sabeel, who was present at the time, praised the fire service: "The fire service was excellent throughout. Their prompt actions prevented further damage to the mosque and the way the officers went about their business was highly commendable. They showed great respect for the religious requirements of the mosque. We can’t commend them highly enough" (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 28.05.97). A joint investigation by police and fire services concluded that the fire was accidental and there was no question of arson (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 29.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14]
Councillors have given their backing for plans for a three-storey mosque near the centre of Rochdale (see BMMS for August 1996). The building is planned to be built next to the Golden Mosque on Lower Sheriff Street. Some residents are angry about the decision and are claiming the decision was made prior to the planning meeting. The chairman of the College Bank Tenants and Residents Association, Mr Clifford Holt, said: "I am appalled at the decision. It was all cut and dried before the meeting. There are not enough car parking spaces for the people who use the present mosque. If they allow this bigger one to be built, where are they all going to park? There will be major disruptions for all the local residents"(Rochdale Observer, 10.05.97). A similar application for a larger mosque on the same site was rejected in August 1996 because of the inadequate car parking. A final decision regarding the application will be made on May 29.However, although the planning sub-committee had originally decided to give permission for a new mosque, that decision may now be overturned. In a report to the planning sub-committee on 29 May, Stephen Beckwith, environment director, said: "In this case the existing mosque will be replaced by one of even greater capacity for visitors. Moreover, its size and nature of accommodation may inevitably result in it becoming a major venue for the Muslim community both locally and for the wider area of the borough, to generate an even greater demand for parking" (Rochdale Express, 30.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 14/15]
A new mosque and Islamic centre is to be built to replace existing buildings in Stoke Poges Lane. It will cost a million pounds and in addition to space for worship, will have facilities for the elderly, youth, and women. Further information can be obtained from the spokesperson for the mosque’s trustees, Latif Khan, on Slough 521204 (Ascot & Sunningdale Observer, Slough & Langley Observer, 30.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 15]
Councillors in Southall have agreed to sell the Park View youth centre to the trustees of the Abu Bakr mosque who wish to convert it into a mosque (see BMMS for March 1997). The centre had been closed since a fire had damaged the building 3 years ago. The deal is not expected to be completed until a replacement building for youth in the area has been found (Ealing, Southall & Acton Informer, 02.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 15]
The frame for a new mosque in Wolverhampton town centre has been completed. The foundation stone of the building was laid 2 years ago and the finished building is planned to have a 56ft high copper dome and an 80ft high minaret. It was agreed during planning that the call to prayer would not be made from the minaret (Eastern Eye, 02.05.97; Asian Times, 06.05.97). [BMMS May 1997 Vol. V, No. 5, p. 15]
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