|
British Muslims Monthly Survey for August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8
Features Slough and Southall disturbances
Reports
Community Death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed Regents Park mosque disturbance
Education Initial teacher training approval Islamia and al-Furqan still wait Conference on Muslims in schools Islamia High School, Batley plans
Politics Al-Mas’ari and George Galloway MP Barking & Dagenham controversy Muslims and Scottish Parliament 9
Racism
Women
Youth
Interfaith
Health
Mosques & Burials
Features Controversy has developed surrounding the sale of a church. The church, St Oswald’s in Small Heath, Birmingham, an area with one of the largest populations of Muslims in the city, is on the market apparently with the proviso that it is not to be used as a mosque. Another local church, St Gregory’s which was recently closed, was sold to a Pentecostal church. The congregations of the closed churches now attend a third church in the area which is to remain open. The Ven. John Barton, Archdeacon of Aston, under whose responsibility the church comes, justified the apparent condition of sale by saying: "It might be seen as a signal that Islam has taken over from Christianity around here" (Q-News, 05.09.97, Asian Age, 28.08.97). Steve Jenkins of the General Synod doesn’t believe that Muslims are being discriminated against. He said: "There was a debate in the General Synod last year and guidelines were published of what purposes churches could be used for after being sold. When disposing of Anglican buildings, it was decided that they would not be sold to anybody intending to use them as a place of worship by other religions" (Q-News, 05.09.97). The church may be sold to Muslims and used for other purposes. Jahangir Mohammed, deputy leader of the Muslim Parliament, associated the conditions of the sale to issues of rising Islamophobia. He said: "The Church of England’s plans to streamline its operation in Birmingham, including the sale of Oswald’s [sic] Church are a clear example of religious discrimination against Muslims" (Asian Age, 28.08.97). Leader of the Muslim Parliament, Dr Ghayssuddin Siddiqui, commented: "Instead of using it as a bingo hall or something, it would have been better if it remained a place of worship." Commenting on the statement by the Archdeacon of Aston, he continued: "People of God are supposed to be men of vision ... I’m surprised that a man of God would make a statement like that. I’m sure the souls of the people who have contributed to the church would be happier if it remained a place of worship" ( Asian Age, 28.08.97). Following the statements by the Muslim Parliament, the Ven John Barton said that the comments he made were personal and denied that the church was not for sale to Muslims. He said: "It’s quite possible we could sell it to Moslems, but it’s my personal view that churches should not be used by faiths other than Christians for worship .... I can see no reason why it should not be used by a Moslem community association. The Moslem faith and the Christian faith are not interchangeable and I don’t think their buildings should be either" (Birmingham Post, 28.08.97). The local MP, Roger Godsiff, has called the statements by the Archdeacon "foolish and discriminatory". He said: "If the church just wants to make as much money as possible through the sale then it can hardly complain about whether the building will be then used as a mosque, a playgroup, or a strip-joint for that matter" (Birmingham Post, 28.08.97). A spokesperson for the Birmingham Diocese said: "The remarks made by Ven John Barton represented his own personal beliefs that it is not right for another religion to worship on a religion’s consecrated ground" (Birmingham Post, 28.08.97). A spokesperson for the Church of England Commissioners, denying claims of discrimination, said: "It’s obviously an issue of some sensitivity. There are guidelines laid down which say the preferred use for a redundant church is firstly a Christian one and then a secular one. If no suitable use was found under those two headings alternative use by another faith might be considered. Here is a building created for Christian worship and about which people have sensitivities. There is no policy of discrimination against any group at all - the policy is to consider all proposals on an equal footing against the guidelines which respect the sensitivity of local people" (Jang, 28.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 1]
Several papers have reported on possible new legislation regarding religious discrimination and changes to the law on blasphemy (see British Muslims Monthly Survey for April, June and July 1997). On 29 July the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the blasphemy laws may be amended to protect faiths other than Christianity. He said: "It is an area we are looking at. We have not come to any conclusions. It is a very, very difficult area. We have to protect people’s right to practice religion, and protect the ability to voice dissent" (The Times, 30.07.97). The Home Secretary also raised the possibility of legislation to outlaw religious discrimination and incitement to religious hatred, moves recommended by the Commission for Racial Equality (Birmingham Evening Mail, Daily Telegraph, Bolton Evening News, 30.07.97, Eastern Eye, 08.08.97, Q-News, 01.08.97, Tablet, 09.08.97) following its recent consultation exercises. Muslims quoted in the press are divided regarding where they believe the emphasis should be placed regarding legislative changes. Ibrahim Hewitt, spokesperson for the Association of Muslim Schools, suggested in a letter to the Guardian (14.08.97) that: "Lawyers should come up with something somewhere between existing blasphemy and libel legislation which allows for reasoned and proper discussion, while still protecting everyone from scurrilous abuse..." Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, told the Catholic Tablet (09.08.97) that what was most needed was an extension of the 1986 Public Order Act to make incitement to religious hatred an offense, and a law against religious discrimination, particularly in employment and education. Jahangir Mohammed, deputy leader of the Muslim Parliament, welcomed the idea of a law against incitement to religious hatred, saying: "It is long overdue and something the Muslim community has been calling for years" (Daily Telegraph, 30.07.97). The Islamic Human Rights Commission, a committee of the Muslim Parliament, stressed the need for anti-discrimination legislation, saying: "We hope Jack Straw will take a new more serious look at the issue and not follow his predecessor who vetoed similar Europe-wide legislation on the pretext that it might lead to the prosecution of Salman Rushdie" (Q-News, 01.08.97). Muslim News (29.08.97) criticises the Labour Party for its inaction concerning religious discrimination. In an editorial, it states: "Last month, the Home Secretary told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the Government would reconsider amending the Blasphemy laws. But again, he qualified his comments by saying it was "a very, very difficult area". Compare this with the fact that New Labour promised the Jewish community that it would outlaw denial of the Holocaust. The first thing that Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, did when he took over his new office, was to announce a conference on the Holocaust. What is needed is for the Government to come clean. Mr Straw should say clearly whether they will legislate against religious discrimination and incitement to religious hatred." Meanwhile, Q-News (05.09.97) reports that the final report on Islamophobia, by the Runnymede Trust, will contain hard hitting recommendations (see BMMS for July, August and December 1996; February, March, April, May and July 1997). The report apparently recommends a restructuring of equal opportunities policies to ensure that religion is included as well as race and ethnicity. It calls for religious discrimination to be made unlawful. The report contains approximately 60 recommendations, including the need for statistical information on Muslims and research and religious monitoring in education, employment and health. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 1/2]
The government of Israel is once more attempting to have the UK-based fundraising and organisational activities of Interpal stopped, reports the Guardian (07.08.97), (see BMMS for March, April and June 1996). A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy is quoted as saying: "We are looking into the suggestion that there is fund raising in this country for terrorist activities and if this is true then we will ask the British government to put an end to it." No organisation was named but it is interpreted as making reference to Interpal. Interpal, in a press statement, responded that: "The Israeli government is attempting to implicate Interpal in an effort to further pressurise the Palestinian National Authority and people. Such a tactic is well-known to non-governmental organisations operating in trouble spots around the world, where factions seek to embroil charities for their own advantage" (Q-News, 05.09.97). A newspaper in Israel reported in June that the British Board of Deputies had asked the Home Secretary to ban Interpal. However the Board claimed it had not had recent correspondence with the government regarding Interpal though not denying the newspaper quote. Sher Azam, a Muslim representative on the Inner Cities Religious Council stated that: "Interpal is helping the suffering and persecuted Palestinians and instead of trying to close it down, the Board of Deputies should support the charity" (Muslim News, 29.08.97). Interpal is a Muslim charity which funds aid projects in the Israeli occupied territories. Last year, Israel accused Interpal of having links with Hamas and persuaded the Charity Commission to investigate. The Charity Commissioners found that there were no irregularities, and said in their report at that time: "They were well organised and we found no evidence of any donation which could not be accounted for, or that had been given for political reasons". Ibrahim Hewitt, who is an Interpal trustee, commented: "Our money goes to the poor and needy in the occupied territories. We don’t want to get sucked into politics. It’s outrageous if a foreign country is trying to put pressure on a registered charity here" (Guardian, 07.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 2]
Slough and Southall disturbances The Labour MP for Southall, Piara Khabra, criticised plans for a march intended to create unity between the borough’s Sikh and Muslim communities and simultaneously celebrate the 50th anniversary of India and Pakistan’s Independence (see BMMS for February, April, May, June and July 1997). He said: "I understand what they [the march’s organisers] are trying to do, but I do not agree with their methods. Southall is a small area and a march would cause too much disruption to local businesses and at the end of it not achieve anything...The real problems faced by the community are universal, such as unemployment, education and pensions" (Asian Age, 31.07.97). The body which was organising the march on 17 August, the SMG (Southall Monitoring Group) suffered an arson attack to its premises on 8 August and decided to postpone the march to 12 October. Suresh Grover, co-ordinator of the SMG, said of the attack: "If the attack was intended to induce a climate of fear then that will only make us redouble our efforts. The only new thing about our organisation - which has worked against racism and harassment - is that we called for a demonstration against increasing levels of communalism and to mark India and Pakistan’s 50th year of Independence. We are saying enough is enough and through this rally Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus can show that we are united and do not accept the vandalism and criminality of this minority element" (Asian Age, 09.08.97). The SMG held an indoor rally against the communal violence in the area at a hall in west London, which was attended by 200 people, at which both Piara Khabra MP and the leader of the SMG, Suraj Grover, both spoke (Time Out Magazine, 20.08.97). Meanwhile, a demonstration by more than 100 Muslims outside Slough Police Station passed off peacefully. Leaflets had been distributed around the Muslim community in Slough calling for a mass demonstration outside Slough Police Station on Sunday 24 August. The leaflets were distributed by the Pakistani and Kashmiri Youth Project. The aim of the demonstration was to call for the police to deal directly with the community, claiming that there have been a number of recent crimes against Pakistanis which have not led to any arrests. The organiser, Tariq Khan, gave the recent unsolved murder of Mohammed Nazir [see below] as an example of poor police procedure (Slough & Langley Express, 21.08.97). Detective Inspector Steve Neale stated: "Following a public meeting in May we agreed to sit down and talk with the Pakistani and Kashmiri Youth Project. After the meeting we received a letter from a solicitor acting on their behalf. We wrote back to the solicitor offering an open diary for them to choose a suitable date for a meeting. We have received no reply to this letter. ... We refute any suggestion that we discriminate against any section of society" (Slough & Langley Express, 21.08.97). A borough councillor, Nazar Lodhi, chairman of Slough’s Race Equality Council, encouraged the youths to discuss issues with the police before demonstrating. The Pakistan Welfare Association, meanwhile, announced that they did not support the demonstration (Slough & Langley Observer, 22.08.97). However, the police held meetings with five representatives of the protestors which were described as positive by both sides (Slough & Langley Observer, 29.08.97). There were claims by some community leaders that the protest had been hijacked by members of al-Muhajiroun, claiming that 30 to 40 members attended the demonstration (Slough & Langley Express, 28.08.97). On 28 July, Mohammed Nazir, aged 61, of Hull Close, Slough was shot dead by hooded gunmen who broke into his home. His son, 19 year-old Mahmoud Khan, was shot in the knee. Mahmoud Khan has been active in the marches against communal violence in the town, but police have discounted this as a motive for the murder (The Times, 29.07.97). Detective Superintendent Ann Harrison, who is leading the investigation, said that it appeared that the masked gunmen were looking for the son, and his father threw himself in front of Mahmoud to protect him and was then fatally shot: "He [Mahmoud] was shot once in the leg. As the attackers were making their escape they were pursued by the boy’s father. Shots were fired, one of which hit Mr Nazir in the abdomen. He died later at the scene". She said that police were uncertain as to the motive, but that it could be a "family problem, as opposed to a problem in the community. At this stage there is no reason to link it with the recent tensions between Sikhs and Muslims in Slough" (Daily Telegraph, 29.07.97). Thames Valley Police have offered a £10,000 reward for catching the killers (Slough & Langley Observer, 08.08.97). Following the murder, concern has been voiced over the lack of progress made by police. One community leader, Sabir Hussain Chaudhry, president of the Pakistan Welfare Association, is reported to have originally stated that he had no faith in the police investigation of the murder but following a meeting with the police stated that he believed that the police were doing everything possible to solve the murder (Slough & Langley Observer, 22.08.97). However, Mr Nazir’s son said: "It is nearly four weeks now and so far the police haven’t got a clue. Why is it so difficult?" (Slough & Langley Observer, 22.08.97). After the demonstration on 24 August, Detective Inspector John Bradley said: "We are not dragging our feet on this one - we are doing all we can to catch the killers" (Windsor & Eton Express, 28.08.97). He has further stated that he believed the gunman, who killed Mr Nazir, did not intend to kill him. He said: "He died defending his home and it appears that their intention was to wound or cause serious injury, but not death." Various motives are being investigated for the attack including land deal disputes in Pakistan, a family dispute in the UK, mistaken identity, Sikh and Muslim tensions, drug problems, Muslim youth rivalries, women and stolen property (Slough & Langley Observer, 29.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 2/3]
Reports
Community Death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed Following the death of Dodi Fayed in a road accident in Paris, he was buried in a private cemetery near Guildford after a funeral service at London Central Mosque, Regents Park . [A full report on Muslim responses to this event will appear in the September issue] [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 3]
Eros International, distributors of the film Border (see BMMS for June and July 1997), a controversial fictionalised account of communal violence at the time of Independence and Partition in India, have responded to the Muslim Parliament’s criticism of the film following a specially arranged viewing by some members of the parliament. Eros International are annoyed that in their press release, the Muslim Parliament claimed that the distributors had agreed to the cuts recommended. However, a spokesperson for Eros said that: "They have released this [their report/press release] without consulting us. Our directors are out of the country and we are making no comment until they have come back in two weeks’ time"(East, 30.07.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 3/4]
Q-News (01.08.97) reports on the efforts of Shafi Ahmed in the Mastermind television quiz (see BMMS for June 1997). Mr Ahmed, a retired engineer, chose as his specialist subject The life of the prophet Mohammed. Mr Ahmed commented on the experience: "because of the sensitive nature of the subject I couldn’t guess those answers I was unsure of, and I ended up passing on a lot of questions...Looking back, I’m not sorry I chose it, but it was a very heavyweight subject and some questions were very difficult". He came joint third. Q-News reprints the 20 questions, so that its readers could see how they would have scored. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
Young Ahmadiyya Muslims were praised for their hard work which helped to make the movement’s international congress in Surrey in July a success (see BMMS for July 1997). Ahsan Ahmedi, leader of Crawley’s Ahmadiyya community, thanked those who had received visitors at the airport and accompanied them to their accommodation (Crawley Observer, 13.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
Following the complaint by a Muslim of the printing of the picture of a pig on till receipts in Tesco’s supermarkets, the supermarket’s Leyton branch has introduced two tills with plain rolls to prevent offence (Eastern Eye, 29.08.97, Asian Times, 02.09.97, Q-News, 05.09.97), (see BMMS for February 1997). According to the acting manager at the Leyton shop: "We had a gentleman in here who was jumping up and down about the fact that there were pigs on the till rolls. ... There might have been ten bits of bacon that went through before him but he didn’t seem bothered about that. He expressed his views quite strongly and the matter has been dealt with. He still comes in here" (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
Regents Park mosque disturbance The Notting Hill & Bayswater Times (25.07.97) reports on a disturbance at the Regent’s Park Mosque apparently caused by the style of dress of the catering staff at a wedding party. The caterers were seen walking through the grounds of the mosque wearing short skirts. The mosque staff asked the women to pin tablecloths to their waists so their legs would be covered and they complied. However, after evening prayers, some men burst into the reception and caused a disturbance. Police received ten emergency calls in the space of five minutes during this disruption at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Park Road. Inspector Alan Thompson of the Marlybone police, said: "Up to six people burst into the room, went up on the stage, and tried to stop the party. The bride’s father decided after the disturbance that it was time to go home. I spoke to the bride and she was very upset". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
What was described as "the biggest festival of Asian food and culture ever to take place in this country" (Woking News & Mail, 31.07.97), took place on 31 August at a twelve-acre showground site beside the A320 near Woking. The organisers, Stars of the East Ltd, made arrangements for the constant disposal of refuse throughout the day, and ensured that no high power amplifiers would be used, whose noise might annoy local residents. A spokesperson for the company said: "We want this to be a pleasant experience for all concerned". Muslims in Ashford, Kent, held a much smaller festival on the first Saturday in August, coinciding with celebrations of the Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, to raise money for their mosque (East Kent Mercury, 31.07.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
Q-News (01.08.97) has a photograph and a short piece concerning members of the Tariqa Burhaniyyah leading dhikr [a Sufi form of worship] in Birmingham’s’s Cannon Hill Park. The dhikr was the climax of a month of events organised by the Muath Trust, under the title Giving a Soul to Europe. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
Approximately two and a half thousand people attended a fund-raising fair held by Islamic Relief at the London Central Mosque on 26 and 27 July. Amongst the performers were the Muslim rappers, Mecca 2 Medina. There was also an exhibition of art work by Bosnian and Kurdish refugee children. The organisers considered that the fair had been a great success (Q-News, 01.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
The Daily Jang (07.08.97) carries a review of an exhibition of the work of contemporary Asian and Asian origin artists, held recently at Cartwright Hall, one of Bradford’s museums and art galleries. The Cartwright Hall exhibition was a preview of works which were then sold at auction by Sotheby’s in London in June this year. The reviewer considers that Cartwright Hall was an appropriate place to hold such an exhibition, since it houses works by many contemporary Asian artists. He concludes by expressing the hope that Bradford will continue its policy of supporting UK-based Asian artists: "Bradford has to be careful that the inclusion of the artists from the disenfranchised Asian community does not imply their exclusion from the mainstream. Reports say there was a feeling that the artists from India and Pakistan were given precedence over the Asian artists living and working in Britain but according to the number of works on display it is obvious that an attempt has been made at balancing the two groups in the collection". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4]
An exhibition of Islamic art was recently held in the Bury Art Gallery to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence. Amongst the exhibitors were pupils from Manchester Muslim Prep School and Manchester Islamic High School for Girls. Umm Adeelah, a teacher from the prep school, said: "The exhibition has gone ahead because we were very keen to promote ethnic minority art. There are different types of artwork on show and a large variety which embraces various aspects of Islamic culture" (Bury Journal, 13.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 4/5]
The Halifax Evening Courier (12.08.97, 13.08.97, 14.08.97, 15.08.97) has a series of articles focussing on the achievements of local Pakistani Muslims and discussing some of the dilemmas the community faces. These articles are a commemoration of Pakistan’s 50th anniversary of independence on 14 August 1997. On 12 August the article interviews young people of Pakistan origin and the older generation. There is also a review of Home from Home, the book which accompanied the exhibition of photographs coordinated by the Bradford Heritage Recording Unit (see BMMS for June 1997) which is now touring England. The 13 August edition of the newspaper interviews local Muslims working in the restaurant trade and Jamil Ismail, a trainee solicitor. The next day’s edition looks at women’s changing roles and the debt of mainstream, white British culture to imports, influences and borrowings from the Indian sub-continent. The final feature on 15 August has an interview with a survivor of the ethnic cleansing which took place at Partition, and articles on Mohammed Salam, ethnic minorities liaison officer for Calderdale and Councillor Mohammed Najib, Calderdale’s first Asian councillor. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
The chair of the Bury Islamic Centre and Mosque, Liaqat Ali, recently invited a friend who owns several large companies in Bahrain, Mohammed Akram Choudhry to visit the town. During his visit, Mr Choudhry paid an official visit to the Mayor, Councillor Roy Walker. Mr Walker presented the visiting businessman with a plaque depicting the borough’s major attractions. There are hopes that a student exchange between Bury and Bahrain may result from this meeting between the entrepreneur and the mayor, who is a lecturer at Bolton Institute of Higher Education. Mr Ali said that: "During the meeting the two explored the possibility of sending students abroad or acting as hosts" (Bury Times, 12.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
An article in the Mirror describes the torture and public execution of a serial killer and rapist in Iran which took place recently. The headline describes the punishment meted out to the man and has a photo of the crowd at the execution. The article has a sub-heading, "Would it work here?", to which a spokesperson for the Islamic Information Centre in London responded: "Muslims around the world adopt the laws of the land which they are living in. There are many people who are unhappy about what is happening in Iran. This kind of punishment would certainly not be appropriate here". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
The Week (16.08.97) has a short article which claims that Pakistan has persuaded Channel Four to make changes to its forthcoming documentary on the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The film will now be entitled Secret History: A Bloody Partition, instead of The Secret Life of Mr Jinnah. In addition to the name change, "Filmed interviews suggesting that Jinnah, a strict Muslim, ate ham sandwiches and drank whisky, have also been cut". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
The Sparth Islamic Centre, an Islamic group which is currently operating from a house in Albion Road, Sparth, near Rochdale, has had a planning application for a purpose-built centre rejected on the grounds that it would be too close to houses and an existing community centre. They are now hopeful that permission will be granted to build on council-owned land facing industrial units in Albion Road (Rochdale Observer, 16.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
Several articles (Financial Times, 18.08.97, Daily Jang, 18.08.97, 19.08.97, 20.08.97) pay tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the qawali singer who died of a heart attack at the Cromwell Hospital in London, where he had come for treatment for kidney problems, on 16 August, aged 49. The BBC, expressing their sorrow, quoted one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s sayings that "music has the ability to draw listeners closer to God". His body was sent home to Faisalabad, Pakistan, for his funeral and burial. Many businesses in Faisalabad stopped trading for the day of the funeral out of respect for the great qawali singer. He leaves a wife, Naheed, and an adopted daughter, Nida Fatima. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
Thousands of Muslims from Britain and abroad were expected at the conference of the group Sunni Dawat-e-Islamiat at the Hayward Leisure Centre on 23 and 24 August. Moulana Shakir Rizvi, the Bombay leader of the movement, said: "Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world attend these religious functions in India. With the demand from British Muslims, we are now holding a similar conference in England and expecting the same response" (Bolton Evening News, 19.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
Sarah Cook, the fourteen year old who married a Turkish waiter, has apparently finished her relationship with her husband because he was too possessive and jealous (see BMMS for January, February and October 1996). She said that she intended to remain Muslim and to concentrate on being a good mother to her nine-month-old son (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 5]
A display, organised by Young Muslims UK, at a library in Luton has been criticised for apparently showing a map which includes Kashmir as being part of Pakistan. However, a spokesperson for the Young Muslims said that the man who had made the criticism had been geographically mistaken and claimed that he was a member of a minority political organisation. The map apparently took a month to make and it is hoped that it will go on permanent display somewhere (Luton News, 20.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
The Kokni Muslim sports festival was held on 17 August. The festival, which is a regular event, attracts participants from across England and includes serious athletics and fun races (Wembley & Brent Times, 21.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
Police have been requested to investigate an insurance claim made for Coventry Muslim Association following a burglary in July 1996 (see BMMS for June 1997). A police spokesperson said: "We are looking into allegations relating to an insurance claim at the Coventry Muslim Association in Red Lane, Foleshill. There have been no arrests and it is too early to make further comments" (Coventry Evening Telegraph, 27.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
The general secretary of Bradford’s Council for Mosques, Faqir Mohammed, has been presented with a certificate and replica helmet by the West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable. The presentation was made in gratitude for his liaising with the community and police. Mr Mohammed had acted as a police liaison representative for fourteen years but was retiring due to ill health (Jang, 28.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
Plans have been submitted to Woking Borough Council, by Al-Birr Foundation, for the change of use of the ground floor of a property in Walton Rd, to a community centre for social, cultural and religious purposes for the local Muslim community (Woking Review, 30.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
Both the Sunday Mirror (31.08.97) and Mail on Sunday (31.08.97) featured the conversion of the son of the BBC Director General, John Birt, and his marriage to a Muslim woman. He has a first class honours degree in comparative religion from the School of Oriental and African Studies and a postgraduate teacher training certificate from Warwick University and he works in the Azhar Academy Islamic Bookshop and Centre in Norbury, London. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
The law firm Eversheds has hosted the first seminar on Islamic real estate finance, organised by the Association of Muslim Lawyers. The seminar aimed to discuss the setting up of financial services compatible with British and Islamic law (The Times, 02.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6]
Education Ofsted inspectors have recently published their report on the Jamiah al Islamiyyah Darul Uloom school in Bolton (see BMMS for January and July 1997). A boys boarding school set up three years ago, it has to make improvements before the inspectors’ next visit on 17 September, or face closure. The necessary measures relate to policies and procedures, the welfare of the boarders, and educational standards. In response to Ofsted’s criticism, the school has appointed a new acting head, who is a non-Muslim. Manek Mehta, the new headmaster, was confident of his ability to improve the school: "I have previously worked at two schools that were in a worse state - the Jewish senior boys school in Salford and the Darul Uloom in Bury. As a Zoroastrian, my job will be to strike the correct balance between Muslim teaching and the mainstream" (East, 30.07.97). One of the problems Ofsted highlighted was the high turnover of staff. Mr Mehta explained: "We can only afford to pay teachers £6 an hour. Why would they want to stay if they could get £20 an hour in other places?" The Times Educational Supplement (01.08.97) discusses the problems at the Darul Uloom in Bolton together with those of two other religious independent schools, the Islamic Institute at Flintham, Nottinghamshire (see BMMS for September 1995; January 1996; June 1997) and the Talmud Torah School in London, both of which were inspected by Ofsted and did not meet the required standards. The TES comments on the similarity of the inspectors’ criticisms of the three schools: "All were found to be emphasising religious teaching at the expense of secular subjects; all the pupils’ were underachieving in national curriculum areas; creative and aesthetic development was neglected, non-religious books and teaching materials were scarce; the children’s accommodation was inadequate and health and safety arrangements insecure". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 6/7]
Q-News (01.08.97) carries an article which argues that the abolition of student grants and the charging of tuition fees will hit Muslim students and their families particularly badly. Sher Azam of the Muslim Council of Britain told the newspaper: "Muslim students are already at a disadvantage when it comes to higher education. Grants have been cut piecemeal over the last decade...Because Muslim students come from poorer backgrounds and large families, their parents are not able to subsidize their education. The latest measures will affect Muslims quite badly...Britain will suffer long-term consequences from this retrogressive step. A country which does not value education is a country with an unhealthy future. Higher education is one of the means by which the brightest members of society achieve success. David Blunkett’s measures will deter poor people from all communities entering university". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
A new Muslim school has opened in Birmingham, run by the Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust. It is a boys only school and hopes to enroll 80 pupils aged between 11 and 13 this year and to extend its admission to 14 and 15 year olds next year, eventually having 200 pupils. The school will run GCSE courses in Urdu, Arabic and Islamic studies in addition to National Curriculum subjects. The school is based at Ombersley Road, Balsall Heath (Birmingham Evening Mail, 12.08.97). The fees for the school are £980 per year (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
The Kings School, Wordsworth Avenue, Cardiff, has been sold to the South Wales Islamic Educational Trust for £275,000. Paul Madley, a partner at Rawlins & Madley, estate agents, said: "The property generated considerable interest and after lengthy negotiations a sale has recently been completed. The trust will now relocate from its existing premises in Canton and will use the property to offer larger educational facilities for the local community" (Cardiff Western Mail, 13.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
Initial teacher training approval The Association of Muslim schools have applied for a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training scheme based in Muslim schools. Draft approval was granted in May 1997 by the Teacher Training Agency and final documentation was due to be submitted by 1 September. The scheme, if approved, will hope to start in September 1998 and will involve schools around the country. The co-ordinator of the scheme, Dr Musharaf Hussain, is confident approval will be given. Two pilot schemes are planned which will concentrate on training secondary mathematics, English and science teachers. Students who complete the one year course will receive Qualified Teacher Status a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education validated by an institute of higher education (Al-Madaris, Summer 1997). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
Islamia and al-Furqan still wait Islamia school in Brent have been told that their application for state funding will be considered in January 1998 (see BMMS for December 1995; June, July and November 1996; January and June 1997). The school applied for Grant Maintained Status in January 1997 after failing to obtain Voluntary Aided Status on the grounds that there are surplus places in neighbouring schools. Meanwhile, al-Furqan school (see BMMS for November 1996; January and March 1997), in Birmingham, is waiting for its application for GM status to be considered in September 1997 (Muslim News, 29.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
Al-Furqan school in Birmingham is hoping to move to a new site (see BMMS for November 1996; January and March 1997). The listed Women’s Hospital in Showell Green Lane, Sparkhill, is being converted into houses, a health centre and will be used by the school. The school presently has 80 pupils with a waiting list of more than 300. In the new building it is hoped to accommodate 210 pupils with a nursery which will take up to 30 children (Birmingham Evening Mail, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
Special dispensations for Muslim pupils could come into force when Slough becomes a unitary authority in 1998. Borough councillor Nazar Lodhi announced at a Pakistan Independence celebration that this could mean Muslim pupils will be able to wear Islamic dress, eat halal meat and may lead to the banning of mixed-sex swimming for Muslim girls. At least one head teacher, who was present at the celebrations, said that she was concerned about the proposals: "I was concerned that these were the priorities, rather than academic achievement. ... The pupils choose the school in the knowledge that there is a uniform and girls may wear trousers if they want. We have Muslim governors at the school, and they are quite happy" (Slough & Langley Observer, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
Nottingham city councillors were being recommended to grant planning permission to a new Muslim education centre. The centre, which aims to take up to 60 pupils at a time, is planned for an outbuilding behind shops in Ilkeston Road. However, the proposed conditions are that the classes could not be held until sound proofing work has been carried out. The application is being made by the Lenton Muslim Social and Welfare Organisation ( Nottingham Evening Post, 25.08.97, Nottingham Recorder, 28.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7]
The overseas students adviser at Huddersfield University and chairman of the National Muslim Education Council of the UK, Dr Muhammad Iqbal, claims that students from ethnic minorities are receiving unequal treatment in schools, universities and employment. At a conference in London on Muslim education he stated: "About 65 per cent of the Muslim school-leavers have no GCSE subject to go after their names ... Twice as many of the school-leavers from the black and ethnic minority groups are out of a job, compared with their white counterparts." Dr Iqbal in particular wants to see Islam becoming the focus in RE lessons in schools with predominantly Muslim pupils. He said: "Virtually no significant teaching of Islam - in addition to proved under-achievement in major foundation subjects - results in Muslim school-leavers with no Muslim identity." The National Muslim Education council would like to see more Muslims employed in the education system as teachers, school inspectors, advisers and administrators as well as wanting changes in religious and sex education legislation (Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 28.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 7/8]
Conference on Muslims in schools On July 19 a one day conference on ‘Muslims in State Schools’ was held at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, organised by the Muslim Education Council of Manchester (see BMMS for June 1997). The conference was organised in two parts, firstly a series of presentations by guest speakers and secondly working groups where the issues could be discussed in detail. Presentations were made by speakers including: Akram Khan-Cheema on ‘Educational Achievement’; Ibrahim Lawson on ‘Religious Education’; Muhammad Ibrahim on ‘Sex Education’ and Muhammad Muqaddam on ‘Implementation of National Policies’. Presentations were also made by Yusuf Islam, Khadija Knight and Umar Hegadus (Muslim News, 29.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
Islamia High School, Batley plans Islamia Girls High School, first opened in 1984, plans to move into new accommodation shortly and also plans to offer courses to students over the age of sixteen starting in September, having linked up with Huddersfield Technical College. The school at present occupies a former church building in Thornton Lodge and currently has 63 pupils. The new buildings just purchased were previously the Thornton Lodge Bowling Club. The administration worker of the school, Mahboob Alam, said: "There’s a lot of potential in these buildings, when the refurbishment is finished it will be invaluable for the local community. ... There has been demand for extended provision for some time. The younger generation want to go further, they want to continue their learning so we’ve got to move with the times" (Awaaz, 01.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
During the school summer holidays some pupils in Batley have been taking part in a summer school at Carlton Junior School run in partnership with the Hope Street Mosque. The school has been held on four mornings a week with provision for 30 pupils aged between eight and eleven. The programme has consisted of an Islamic assembly and then Maths and English tuition. The project, co-ordinated by Routeways to Success has received funding from the Nottingham based charity Muslim Hands (Awaaz, 01.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
Bolton Muslim Girls School has opened a new annex at a cost of half a million pounds which was raised by private donations and interest free loans. The extension houses a sixth-form centre. The school opened in 1986 with 23 pupils and now caters for over 300 pupils (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
Politics Al-Mas’ari and George Galloway MP The Glasgow Hillhead MP George Galloway has been cleared of accusations that he failed to declare Arab financial interests whilst fighting to stop the deportation of the Saudi dissident, Muhammad al-Mas’ari (see BMMS for December 1995; January, April, June and July 1996; January 1997). The alleged interest was his directorship of Hawk Communications International, a firm established to "assist democratic development in the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. However, the Commons Committee on standards and privileges found there was no case to answer, as the company had never traded and Mr Galloway did not stand to benefit in any way (Q-News, 01.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
The ‘rally against oppression’ was held on 3 August in Trafalgar Square, organised by al-Muhajiroun (see BMMS for July 1997). According to al-Muhajiroun’s official figures, between 2,000 and 2,500 people attended the rally (Muslim News, 29.08.97). The meeting was introduced by Shaykh Omar Bakri Mohammed and included speakers from different groups and organisations including Makbool Javaid, spokesman for al-Muhajiroun in the UK and chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers, Ayesha Islam, leader of Muslim Women’s Dawah and the Saudi dissident Dr Muhammad Al-Mas’ari (see BMMS for December 1995; January, April, June and July 1996; January 1997). The Jewish Telegraph (08.08.97) reports that Bury South MP Ivan Lewis has criticised the organisers of the al-Muhajiroun rally after hearing that their leader, Omar Bakri Mohammed, had said "We are all Hamas". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
The Sunday Times Scotland (10.08.97) notes the absence of the suspended Glasgow Govan MP, Mohammed Sarwar (see BMMS for March, April, May and June 1997) from the annual Glasgow Mela, or festival of Asian culture. Since his constituency is close to the site of the festival, Queen’s Park, and the event was formally opened by Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland, under normal circumstances Mohammed Sarwar could be expected to attend. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8]
A campaign is to be launched to press the Home Secretary to lift the ban on entering Britain which has been maintained for 11 years against Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam (see BMMS for July 1997). Paul Twino, director of the Manchester-based Operation Farrakhan Campaign, said: "This order was instituted by the Tory government on the basis of utterly false allegations of anti-Semitic race baiting...Over the past 11 years the minister [Louis Farrakhan] has been instrumental in Black American activities and is regarded as de facto head of state across the world. On a recent 20-nation world tour he met numerous heads of state, including Nelson Mandela. He also organised the highly successful crime prevention and prisoner rehabilitation schemes" (The Voice, 11.08.97). The British Board of Deputies has reacted to the campaign. The Board has dismissed claims of the Manchester based ‘Operation Farrakhan’ that accusations of anti-Semitism against Farrakhan were false. A spokesperson for the Board said: "Farrakhan has a known and established record of anti-Semitism. The United States has a different legal constitution under which they have been unable to prevent his activities" (Jewish Telegraph, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 8/9]
Barking & Dagenham controversy Remarks made by Councillor George Brooker, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council at a formal dinner recently have continued to have their repercussions within the local Muslim community (see BMMS for July 1997). Some of the Muslims present at the dinner, which was to welcome the incoming Labour MP, Margaret Hodge, saw Councillor Brooker’s comments as derogatory to Muslims and ethnic minorities. Councillor Brooker is now reported as saying: "I do not believe in God. I will not listen to Muslims, I will not listen to Sikhs, I will not listen to Hindus, I will not listen to Christians (Asian Times, 05.08.97). One of his fellow councillors, Mohammed Fani, who was present at the reception, supported Councillor Brooker, saying: "Councillor Brooker has never rejected us, he believes everyone is equal. Some younger Muslims were challenging him - and he loves an argument" (Barking & Dagenham Post, 06.08.97). Councillor Brooker denied he was a racist, explaining the context of the disagreement: "It was the bitterness of a few people that were dissatisfied that we haven’t given into their persistent demands, mainly over the lease arrangements for the mosque. But the council has certain policies on that situation. These people think that because they are a religious crowd, that we should look upon them separately. If we don’t, it’s racist. But I do not stand for that" (Barking & Dagenham Post, 07.08.97, Ilford, Barking & Dagenham Herald, 15.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 9]
The Muslim Parliament is planning changes in its structure aimed at increasing its representation. One proposal is to have representatives from Islamic movements in exile in Britain, such as those from Kashmir, Palestine and Algeria. Dr Ghayassuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, said of the communities in exile: "They are often ignored by the media. This will give them a coordinating body so that they can air their views and their message, their suffering comes to be known to the Muslim community in Britain" (Asian Age, 29.07.97). Other plans are to have a type of shadow cabinet to monitor the British Cabinet and their policy-making decisions, and to hold annual conferences of all affiliated organisations. According to East (30.07.97), the Muslim parliament proposes to increase the number of seats in the Lower House from 150 to 200, and to have at least twenty for women. Two deputy speakers will be women, and the current chair of the Bait-al-Mal [treasury] and vice-chair of the Halal Food Authority are women. The parliament also hopes to encourage more young Muslims to take part. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 9]
Following the recent article in the Sunday Telegraph which attempted to equate the Taleban movement of Afghanistan with the Deobandi tendency within Islam in Britain, there have been clarifications by Dr Ghayassudin Siddiqui of the Muslim Parliament and Dr Zaki Badawi of the Imams and Mosques Council in East (30.07.97). Dr Ron Geaves of Wolverhampton University has a letter published on the subject in the Sunday Telegraph (03.08.97). Dr Badawi’s reaction to the suggestion that Taleban, or like-minded groups, were attempting to indoctrinate young British Muslims was that: "Second-generation Muslims want to shed their cultural baggage which often has no relation to living in modern Britain". Dr Ghayassudin regarded Islamophobia as one of the causes of any extremism which might exist amongst young British Muslims: "The problem is that there is much anti-Muslim propaganda in this country and the kids are responding against it". Dr Geaves’ letter seeks to address several points of misinformation contained in the original article in the Sunday Telegraph, in particular concerning the Masjid Al-Farouq mosque in Walsall, which he says "is used by a small community of peace-loving Gujerati Muslims who are inspired by the traditional teachings of Deoband. They have no connections with the Taleban and are moderate, law-abiding citizens of this country". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 9]
Muslims and Scottish Parliament The Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar, recently visited the Glasgow Central Mosque, where he told his audience that: "The voice of the Muslim community, like those of all other political, ethnic and cultural communities in Scotland, will readily be heard in a Scottish Parliament". He said that he believed that a proposed new voting system would help to ensure all sections of the community were well represented (Aberdeen Press & Journal, 16.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 9]
Racism The Hillingdon Community and Police Consultative Group has recommended that more money be spent in the area educating young people about the distress caused by racial taunts. They are supporting Hillingdon Racial Harassment Forum’s bid for an EU grant for this purpose. Obaid Siddiqui, of the Hillingdon Muslim Council, thanked the consultative group for their support. He said: "At last senior police officers are starting to listen to us. At these meetings, we have been able to express our views time after time. We have now been able to establish more liaison between the police and the ethnic community" (Harefield Gazette, 23.07.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 9/10]
A preview of the three television programmes in the BBC television series Planet Islam appears in Q-News (01.08.97). The first programme was The making of a martyr on Sunday 3 August, then came The empire strikes back on 10 August, and finally Who shall overcome? On 17 August. The first programme was concerned with Muslims in France. The second tells the story of the 1.5 million Tartar Muslims in the Russian Federation. The final programme dealt with the Nation of Islam, in particular their work in attempting to police certain ghettos in America. Q-News’ main criticism of the series was that: "...what hampers the insight of an otherwise fascinating and informative series of programmes is that like much of contemporary discourse on the subject it has very little sense of history. The effects of, for instance, French colonisation in Algeria or Russian hegemony over Central Asia are not explored fully enough in attempting to understand the mindset of the Muslims that are living in those nations". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
A Muslim woman, Shaaisda Yousaf, has been awarded £2,000 damages after a court found that she had been the victim of racial discrimination. The woman, who wears hijab, was prevented from viewing a house by an estate agent (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
At an industrial tribunal in Hull, a former security guard has made allegations under the Race Relations Act that he was racially discriminated against because he refused to shave off his beard. He claims that the personnel manager at his place of work insisted that he shave but he told her he refused because he was a Muslim. The tribunal has been adjourned until November 12 (Hull Daily Mail, 21.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
Women The Yorkshire Post (26.07.97) has a feature article on women boxers, amongst them a Muslim woman, Rukhsana Sabar. She was due to make her professional debut in Doncaster on 6 September and her promoter, Zak Goldmann, expects that the show will be broadcast to an audience of 200 million world-wide. Ms Sabar, who was formerly a kick-boxer, sometimes wears leggings in addition to shorts in order to placate Muslim objectors. In the newspaper interview she said: "I’m not really religious. I’m from a Muslim family but I’m not a practising Muslim. I’ve never heard one person say that I shouldn’t box but maybe I don’t hang around with the people who would say that. My brothers always say ‘be careful’ but nothing more". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
Following the kidnap and rape of an 18-year-old Muslim woman in Edgware, London, Young Muslims UK have offered a reward of £5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the men responsible. On 2 July the young woman was followed as she came out of the Edgware Road tube station. Two men snatched her from the street at knife point, blindfolded her and bundled her into a car. She was raped repeatedly and dumped the following morning in north west London. Although there were many witnesses, since the kidnapping took place in a busy street in broad daylight, police had still not caught those responsible when the Young Muslims made their offer of a reward. Asian Times (29.07.97) comments in an editorial: "After reading about the horrific incident in Eastern Eye, Young Muslims UK stepped in with their generous offer. It sends out exactly the right signals: that women should never feel unable to report crimes against them from whatever quarter they come and that when they do the community will stand supportively behind them. If this leads to more women feeling confident enough to tell the authorities about sex crimes they have suffered, it is indeed progress". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
An exhibition has started and will be shown until the end of January 1998 at the St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Art in Glasgow about hijab. It is entitled The veil in Islam: Myth and Reality and has ben co-ordinated by Ulrike al-Khamis, who explained: "Western society is absolutely against the idea of women being veiled and automatically assumptions of oppression and voicelessness spring to mind. There are many different opinions represented in this exhibition and there will always be people who disagree with those opinions" (Scotsman, 08.08.97). Coinciding with the opening of the exhibition, the Herald (08.08.97) reproduced one of the exhibition’s positive images of a Glasgow University student, Fatima Bettagui, wearing the veil. Ms Bettagui said of the exhibition: "If it clears up the myths, trying to give a more realistic picture of Islam to people who have misconceptions, then it is very important. People are often very hesitant asking questions about it because religion is a taboo subject which is often difficult for people to talk about. It seems to symbolise something women aren’t comfortable with" (Scotsman, 08.08.97). There is also a film made in conjunction with the exhibition, The Veil in Glasgow, in which Muslim women explain why they wear hijab. The film was co-produced by Alex Robertson, who is the curator of Glasgow’s Open Museum. Glasgow City Council donated £500, which enabled the organisers to make 30 copies of the film, some of which will be used for staff training in the city’s education and social work departments (Glasgow Herald, 15.08.97). The exhibition is part of the Salam Festival (see BMMS for November and December 1996; May and June 1997). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10]
Youth Scotland on Sunday (27.07.97) has a feature article on people who have secrets. One is a young Scottish Muslim of Bangladeshi origin, a student at Manchester University, who, unbeknown to his family, has had girlfriends. Eventually, he told his parents about his last girlfriend, who he had been going out with for two years. His parents did not react angrily, as he had been expecting: "Their fear is not to do with sex so much as me establishing a relationship I can’t get out of. I’m not going out with my girlfriend any more so they assume everything’s rolling along as it should be. They don’t know much about the things I do. Lying is not a problem for me and I don’t feel guilt. It has been stressful though. Every weekend for the last four years I have heard about arranged marriages from my parents". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 10/11]
A kabbadi tournament took place in Blackburn’s Witton Park on 27 July. The Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph (28.07.97) describes kabbadi as "a traditional Asian game similar to rugby without a ball". The event was attended by the mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Peter Greenwood, and was supported by Muslim Youth, Blackburn City Challenge, the Kashmiri Association, Rawalpindi Association and the Islamic Welfare Association. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Qur’an-News (01.08.97) interviews four male students, all Muslims from families originating in Bangladesh or Pakistan and aged between 16 and 21. The first question put to the four interviewees is: "How would you define yourself: as a Muslim, Asian, black, British, Sunni, or Pakistani/Bangladeshi?" And a subsequent question is: "Can one be British and Muslim at the same time? Are they contradictory?" In answer to this question, Kazi Hussain, a 21-year-old engineering student replies: "...Nationality means nothing; Islam is transnational. I am not British and neither am I Bengali. If you look at the Bosnian war, mujahideen went from all over the world to support the Muslims, from Pakistan, Saudi, Britain. Where you come from is irrelevant. We are all one". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Interfaith There are suspicions that the removal of non-Christian symbols from the chapel at Gatwick airport may have been the work of an evangelical group which has tried to prevent Muslims obtaining prayer facilities at Heathrow Airport. A crescent and star was one of several items stolen. In a previous incident a qibla direction pointer had been taken. The airport chaplain, the Reverend Phil Hughes, has demanded the return of the items (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Health Q-News (01.08.97) reports that a recent anti-abortion march was greeted in Birmingham by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Sybil Spence, and a group of Muslims headed by Mohammed Afzal. Mr Afzal was particularly concerned about foetuses being aborted because of disability. He said: "Today we hear much about civil rights for people who are disabled, yet we very often have the same people calling for them to be destroyed up to birth". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
The Highland Islamic Clinic, previously based in Muir of Ord for the past three years, has moved to Inverness (see BMMS for May 1996). The successful medical clinic, run by Muslims, has denied links between the centre and the Murabitun group (see BMMS for August, September, October and November 1995; February 1996). The new centre will be run by three practitioners, Dr David Evans, a psycho-therapist, Dr Jordi Dalmau, a general practitioner and homeopath, and Dr Muhammad Karim, a specialist in herbal medicine and acupuncture (Inverness Courier, 22.08.97, Ross-Shire Journal, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Health officials in Birmingham are still trying to trace all the guests at a Muslim wedding reception following an E.coli food poisoning outbreak. It is thought that 1,600 people attended the wedding but only 1,132 have been traced. The contamination was traced to a lamb curry. So far eleven children and five adults have been infected by the bacteria (Birmingham Post, 30.08.97). The catering company involved, Hamza Valley Trading Centre, has been closed down (Q-News, 05.09.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Q-News (05.09.97) reports on the findings of a study which indicates that Muslims originating from the Indian subcontinent are 50 per cent more likely to suffer ill health than the white community. The main reasons are believed to be poverty and poor dietary habits. The study by James Nazroo, a medical sociologist, is reported to have surveyed 10,000 people. The report discovered, amongst other findings, that 25 per cent of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis over 40 years old suffered severe chest pain or had diagnosed heart disease; it also discovered that they were five times more likely to suffer from diabetes. It is believed that there is a strong link between poverty and health. Dr Nazroo said: "Poor health is associated with poverty. ... Some ethnic minority groups are among the poorest people in Britain and they also have the worst health." A general practitioner working in Bradford, Dr Abdul-Karim Hussain, said in regard to the findings: "Almost 90 per cent of my patients are Muslims from Pakistan and India. Genetics and poverty do play a part, but the biggest single reason for the staggering rates of heart disease, respiratory illnesses and diabetes amongst Muslims is an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. We eat far too much red meat and fatty foods. Food is cooked in an unhealthy manner ... And on top of that, our men and women do hardly any exercise, which causes obesity and diabetes." The article concludes that one positive aspect of the report is that less than ten per cent of the Muslim community drink alcohol. [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11]
Mosques & Burials Following vandalism to some Muslim graves in June, members of the local Muslim community have sent a petition to Aylesbury Vale District Council, calling for more protection and for compensation for the damage. Bob Bryant, of the council’s client services, said: "Compensation would not be paid because the graves are their own property and the council is not liable for third party damage. We will wait for the petition to arrive and we will address the issues then". An Aylesbury police spokesperson commented: "We are taking the matter very seriously and doing everything we can to find out who damaged the graves. We will look at the petition with interest" (Bucks Herald, 06.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 11/12]
A decision regarding the building of a mosque in Oak Street has been suspended so that meetings between planners and religious leaders can take place (see BMMS for July 1997). The plans looked like they would be rejected as the building was considered unsuitable for a residential area. Officials have revealed that the Hanif Muslim Association have handed in a new set of scaled down plans and if no residents object to the new plans then officials are likely to approve the scheme (Blackburn Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 26.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
Worshippers at the Princess Street Mosque claim that their community’s need for a mortuary with cold storage facilities is becoming urgent. The mosque committee put in an application for planning permission to build such a facility over a year ago, but then subsequently decided to pursue another plan, for an upper storey extension to the mosque (see BMMS for April 1996). The president of the mosque committee, Mohammed Mahoof, explained that the recent British Airways strike had exacerbated the difficulties caused by the lack of a mortuary and cold storage: "Older members of the community want to return to their roots and members of their families in Pakistan want to see the body before it is buried. The body is washed by relatives and kept ready until a flight is available. The BA strike did cause us a few problems but hopefully it won’t happen again. If the weather gets hot or the body has to stay too long then it can start to get a bit unpleasant, which is why we need a proper mortuary" (Burton Trader, 13.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
Calderdale Council has found a way to enable Muslim burials to take place at short notice, even at weekends and public holidays. Fibre-glass linings will be used to protect graves that have been dug during the working week, so that, if a plot is needed at short notice, a lining can be removed and the burial go ahead. Trusted members of the Muslim community will be given keys to the cemetery. Councillor Mohammed Najib, who had campaigned for five years for the change, said the need for fast burials was increasing as more Muslims buried their dead in Britain rather than sending the bodies abroad. The new scheme not only permits faster burial for Muslims, but also saves the council the cost of keeping grave-diggers on stand-by during holidays (Halifax Evening Courier, 19.08.97). The new burial service was officially launched on Tuesday 19 August. Cllr Najib together with senior representatives of the Muslim community were invited to see a demonstration of the new burial facility (Jang, 29.08.97). Cllr Najib gave thanks to all those involved in making the provision possible. One adult grave and one child’s grave would always be dug and available (Halifax Evening Courier, 21.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
Work has begun on the building of a new centre for the Ismaili community in Croydon (see BMMS for April, May, June, September and October 1996; March 1997). Demolition of a former private school has started to make way for the new building. It is hoped that the building will be completed by the latter part of 1998 (Croydon Advertiser, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
The Muslim community in the Haslingden area is raising money to build a new gate into the wall of Holden Hall Cemetery to enable better access to the Muslim graves. Mazhar Hussain, a local community leader, said: "It is something we have been thinking about for a year. Several people have asked me whether it would be possible, so I decided to do something about it. The Muslim plots are at the top end of the cemetery and when people use the main entrance, it is a long walk, especially for the elderly. This would benefit everyone visiting their dear ones". Rossendale Groundwork agreed to help design and build the gate after discussions with Mr Hussain. They are also negotiating funding (Rossendale Express, 15.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
The start of construction of the first purpose-built mosque in the borough of Haringey in Wightman Road has had to be postponed as the council claim that detailed plans by the construction company, Crescent Design and Development Ltd, differ radically from those originally proposed (see BMMS for April, May and June 1996; January 1997). Abdool Ali, president of the mosque committee, was not discouraged: "I think the drawings were too ambitious and misunderstood the wishes of the planners. Whatever inconvenience we suffer, it has to be in the name of progress and I am not too downhearted. I have a vision and I am confident it will materialise". However, he was concerned that the delay would affect fundraising: "We want to make a start so people can give more generously, which they would be encouraged to do if they saw the work starting. They’re wondering what’s happening" (Broadway Ham & High). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12]
Camden Council’s planning committee have agreed that a former bingo hall, which is a Grade II listed building in Maida Vale Road, can be converted into a mosque and Muslim social centre. The applicants are the Islamic Centre England (Paddington Times, 31.07.97, Camden New Journal, 07.08.97). The Camden New Journal writes of the social centre that it "will be open to all members of the community provided they observe Islamic rules inside - remove their shoes, do not drink alcohol and do not mix sexes". [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 12/13]
Muslims in Leigh have been granted their own burial site (see BMMS for July 1997). Part of Howe Bridge Cemetery will be set aside for Muslims. The decision was reached by Wigan Metro’s Recreation and Amenities Committee following an appeal from the newly formed Leigh Muslim Community representing 250 local Muslims (Leigh Reporter, 28.08.97). Washing facilities are not being made available because of lack of funds. Final approval is yet to be given by the full council (Wigan Evening Post, 20.08.97, Leigh Journal, 21.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
It appears that traffic managers in Lincoln are unable to assist Muslims in overcoming parking problems at the city mosque (see BMMS for April 1997). Double yellow lines have been painted outside the mosque which is close to the city centre. Worshippers attending Friday prayers usually find nearby car parks are full and therefore often park illegally and then pay fines. The County Engineer wrote to a community representative, Harun Miah, that: "Unfortunately, while we are all sympathetic to the problem we are unable to find a solution. If you have any suggestions which we might have missed, we would be happy to consider them." Mr Miah said: "It is a problem for us and we now have double yellow lines outside the Mosque. We just hope someone can help. We are more than happy to pay for parking but the only available spaces are too far away" (Lincolnshire Echo, 18.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
The six week long trial of the externally broadcast call to prayer at the King Street Mosque in Loughborough has now come to an end (see BMMS for May, June and July 1997). The last two weeks of August were a consultation period for members of the public to make their views known. The amplified calls to prayer were limited to three a day, of two minutes each and not exceeding 50 decibels at one metre from the loudspeaker. Robin Fisk, deputy director of the environmental health department, said: "We made it clear that if the Muslim community did not adhere to these conditions, or that if the consensus was that they were not sufficiently stringent, the council would take further action. The outcome will depend on the response to the public consultation" (Loughborough Mail, 14.08.97). The results of questionnaires sent out to local residents will be analysed and a detailed report will be presented to the Environmental Health and Housing Committee on September 30 (Loughborough Echo, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
The High Court has attempted to bring about a solution to disputes over the control of Luton Bury Park Mosque. Mr Justice Karnwath told the disputing parties that they should hold regular, fair elections (Daily Telegraph, 01.08.97, Dunstable Gazette, 01.08.97, Luton Herald & Post, 07.08.97). A plan for peace at the mosque had been drawn up by the Attorney General and its details were decided in court. Under the plan, the mosque will retain its present name, the Jamia Masjid Ghousia (Luton Central Mosque); trustees must be appointed from each of the warring factions; the management committee must be elected; and the court ordered that the mosque should pay the Attorney General’s fees. After the hearing, Imam Qazi Chisti said: "Nobody has won or lost. We hope the elections will be fair" (Dunstable Gazette, 06.08.97, Luton Herald & Post, 07.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
The question of brick-lined graves for Muslims is to be looked at again. Last year, a group of Muslims approached the council about the issue (see BMMS for June and July 1996), but the council was worried about the cost of such provision. Luton Council held a series of meetings on the issue and asked fourteen other councils about their burial practices. Out of the fourteen, 79 per cent had a section of their burial ground set aside for Muslims. Half allowed burial without a coffin and many allowed graves to be brick lined. Luton Council charges £334 per grave for brick lining, but local Muslims are asking for this to be free, so that they pay the same price as an unlined grave (Luton News, 23.07.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
The building of the new national headquarters for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Morden is to start in three months (see BMMS for December 1995; January, February, March, April, June and October 1996; January 1997). Planning has been given for TV studios, halls, library, offices and storage but plans for the mosque will not be submitted until the end of 1998. Pressure groups are still opposing the scheme on the grounds of traffic concerns (Wimbledon News, 22.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
Complaints have been received by Pendle Council that the call to prayer is being broadcast, without official permission, from the mosque in Clayton Street. Stuart Arnott, chief environmental health officer for the area, said: "We are monitoring the situation and are hoping to meet representatives at the mosque to see what we can come up with by way of a solution that will satisfy everybody". A spokesperson for the mosque, Mohammed Nosherwan, said: "we do not want to be a problem to the neighbours. The sound coming from the loudspeakers is the lowest possible and it does not travel very far at all" (Nelson Leader, 01.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13]
On 3 August, with the mosque in Trowbridge (see BMMS for May 1996 and June 1997) nearing completion, the Islamic Association of Trowbridge held an open day for visitors to look around the building and to learn about Islam (Wiltshire Times, 08.08.97, Eastern Eye, 15.08.97, Asian Times, 19.08.97). The building has cost £110,000 and the association have been fundraising for almost 20 years. The open day was attended by the mayor of Trowbridge, Tom James, health visitor Angela Clements, and Muslims from Swindon, Bath and Bristol in addition to other local people. The chair of the association, Khalid Karmoun, said: "The opening was pretty good. The mayor was quite surprised at the fact that the mosque is quite a large building. He congratulated everybody and wished us all the best. It was very good of him to take the time and trouble" (Wiltshire Times, 08.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 13/14]
The Muslim Welfare Association of West Ealing is hoping to be able to prove that it has used its premises in Eccleston Road as a prayer hall and community centre for the past ten years, in order to strengthen their claim to a right to continue to use the building as a mosque. The association claim that although the property was not finally purchased until November 1986, they took possession in January of that year. However, a previous occupier has written to the council saying that he was resident until November 1986 and that no religious use would have been possible before that date. Speaking on behalf of the Muslims, Abdul Hadi of the association said: "I am very surprised by this new statement. The vendor moved out in January 1986. From day one we kept an attendance register which we were able to show at the inquiry. I don’t know how it survived but I’m glad it did". The association are applying for permission to erect a marquee or temporary building in the garden in order to continue to hold Friday prayers there (Ealing & Acton Gazette, 01.08.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 14]
The trustees of the mosque in Brent View Road have applied for permission to open the building to worshippers half an hour before sunrise. At the same time, Barnet council was studying a report which claimed that worshippers were breaching existing planning conditions by using the building at night and in the early morning (Edgware & Mill Hill Times, 24.07.97). [BMMS August 1997 Vol. V, No. 8, p. 14]
|