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British Muslims Monthly Survey for February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2
Features Straw to act on forced marriages
Reports
Community Foreign Office supports events
Education Concern over meetings in house
Politics Eid celebration at House of Commons Peer mistaken for delivery boy PM criticises ‘sloppy stereotyping’
Racism
Women
Youth
Interfaith Communities to tackle drugs problem
Halal
Employment Girl sacked after attending rally Scientist awarded compensation
Mosques & Burials
Features Since the launch of the Ijara plan from the Islamic Investment Banking Unit, a division of The United Bank of Kuwait, The Guardian (30.01.99) and The Independent (03.02.99) have reviewed the new scheme. The Manzil Ijara home purchase plan allows Muslims to replace their existing interest paying mortgages with a new principle based on leasing (See British Muslims Monthly Survey for December 1998). The IIBU buy the property from the customer, and enter into two contracts: a promise to purchase and a lease. The bank will then lease the property to the customer who pays a monthly rent along with a payment towards purchasing the house. The property must be valued at a minimum of £50,000 and the first payment has to be at least 20 per cent of its value. Keith Leach, UK financial services manager for IIBU, said: "Those forced by circumstances to take out an interestonly mortgage can now change if they wish to one acceptable under Shari’a [Islamic law]" (The Guardian, 30.01.99). The Ijara plan will have the pricing of its "rent" altered every year, making it economically equivalent to a variable interest rate mortgage. Mr Leach said: "Part of that rent gives us our profit and covers our costs, and at the same time they get to buy the house from us for a deferred period, say 25 years." He added: "The numbers might equal the same as interest, but technically, legally, and structurally, they are not paying us interest." The IIBU believe that this, and the Murabaha plan which it already offers, are the only mortgage products on the market that comply with Shari’a, offering Muslims more choice about the type of mortgage they take. The IIBU aims to prove its long-term commitment by launching itself as a separate company from the United Bank of Kuwait, and will then be known as Al Manzil Islamic Financial Services. Its products will be marketed through independent financial advisors and it hopes to offer a range of Islamic finance products similar to those available from high street banks. However, not everyone believes the take up rate of these products will be very high. Syed Junaid Ahmad, senior partner at Unicorn Independent Financial Advisers, said: "About 90 per cent of the Muslims have succumbed to the idea that [paying interest] is something that they have to live with, and God will forgive them for taking a mortgage where they are paying interest. So they will stick it out." The IIBU may soon have some competition as a Genevabased company called Dar al-Maal al-Islami Trust also wants to launch a halal mortgage. It already offers an Islamic saving and investment plan, with some life assurance, and has submitted plans for a Muslim mortgage to its Shari’a board (The Independent, 03.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 1]
A racist letter has been sent to a mosque in Bristol bearing a swastika, the symbol ‘C18’ and the words "White Power". The letter was delivered to the Jamia Mosque in Green St, and has been condemned by the Bristol Racial Equality Council as deeply offensive. Their Director, Peter Courtier, said: "It’s very important that people who receive letters or leaflets like this should report them to the police." An investigation has been launched, but the police are so far treating it as a one-off incident. PC Steve Fraser, from Avon and Somerset’s community liason department, told Muslims to contact the police if any more letters are received. He said, in a letter to Islamic organisations: "I appreciate that your first response may well be to destroy the offensive letter. However we will need the letter and envelope if possible, in order to increase the likelihood of tracking down the author and successfully prosecuting him or her" (Bristol Evening Post, 02.02.99). Meanwhile, in Bishop’s Stortford, the British National Party (BNP) have been distributing leaflets against plans for a mosque in the town. The leaflet, which was distributed to around 2,000 households, brands the plan as an "outrage" which will lead to racial tension in an "overwhelmingly white town" and would lead to a breakdown in Christian traditions, such as school nativity plays. But the allegations have infuriated residents and the president of the Herts and Essex Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, which wants to turn a former library into a place of worship and education. President Dilwar Ahmed said: "This will only stir up problems against the ethnic minorities after East Herts District Council has shown they are very keen for a multi-ethnic town by allowing us to go ahead with the centre. We are a very small minority of people living in villages who like to enjoy our own religious practices and culture in peace. There’s room for everybody." A nearby resident said: "I was disgusted and appalled by this leaflet. As far as I’m aware there is no racial trouble at all in Stortford but this sort of thing could stir up all sorts of problems." The plan for the mosque was approved last year by a number of county councillors who also considered applications from a number of other organisations. Bishop’s Stortford County Councillor Gerald Francis said: "The people who wrote this leaflet obviously don’t know much about the people of Bishop’s Stortford otherwise they wouldn’t insult people’s intelligence with such lies and scaremongery." East Herts police officers are liasing with the force’s criminal justice department and the Crown Prosecution Service to establish whether or not the BNP has committed a racial offence. East Herts divisional commander Phil Picton said: "We have already had several calls from residents who are angry because they felt the leaflet tried to incite racial tension." BNP spokesman, Robin Williams, said the leaflet had been put together by some Stortford based members. He said: "I’m sure that even the residents who are moaning about it would not like to see their town turning the same way as London, with its multiracial problems" (Bishops Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Citizen, 03.02.99). The BNP activists have also been handing leaflets out to shoppers in the town centre. Many leaflets have been handed in for fingerprinting to the police who are asking residents for descriptions of the distributors. Robin Williams said the leaflets were not racist because they were targeting a religion not a skin colour. He denied attempting to stir up bad feelings in the town: "Bishop’s Stortford is almost totally white, there is no one to incite hatred against." At the same time, he claimed Muslims would move to the area because of the new mosque and residents had to be warned. The mayor, Councillor Andy Graham, urged people to ignore the leaflets. He said: "The warning to our community is not to play into the hands of this group who are more destructive than constructive." Residents have also been warned not to endanger themselves by challenging BNP members, but to leave these matters to the police (Herts & Essex Observer, 04.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 1/2]
In the continuing case against Labour MP for Glasgow Govan, the court heard claims from Badar Islam, a rival candidate, saying he was given £5,000 from Sarwar to give a false statement, blaming voting irregularities on another candidate, Peter Paton (See BMMS for February, May, September, October 1998 and January 1999). Islam said: "He [Sarwar] said if I gave that statement ‘I will do anything for you’. I swore to him ‘You can do nothing for me, I will still do you a favour.’" He agreed to give the false statement even though he knew Paton was "completely innocent", on condition that the statement was only used within the Govan Labour Party. The following evening, Sarwar phoned him asking him to give a sworn affidavit about the voting, which Islam did not want to do. It was at a third meeting between the pair, that Sarwar allegedly held up five fingers and said: "Five thousand I give you for a statement." Islam added: "I told him I didn’t want the money." It also emerged that Islam owed £10,000 to Sarwar’s cash-and-carry business after his restaurant and hotel businesses failed, and he was twice declared bankrupt (Daily Record, 03.02.99). He admitted he was heavily in debt with rent arrears and debts to banks, casinos and money-lenders, and when asked if the amount of money he owed could be as much as £50,000, he replied: "I owe maybe more than that. How do I know. It doesn’t matter how much I owe. It may be a million. Who knows" (Glasgow Herald, 05.02.99). Islam also said he had a tape recorder on him, provided by the News of the World newspaper, the day he went to collect the money from Sarwar. Islam said after the money was handed over, he got back into his own car, and drove to a hotel to meet a reporter. He showed him the bag of money and said: "You wanted the evidence, you have got the evidence." Islam then phoned the lawyer’s office where he was due to go to sign the affidavit, making the excuse that his son was ill. He asked the lawyers to fax a copy to the hotel so he could show it to the reporter. Sarwar tried to get in touch with him many times, and eventually Islam told him he did not want to sign the affidavit. Islam said when he went to meet Sarwar again he again had a tape recorder with him as the newspaper wanted to get Sarwar to mention money. He told the court that he had been paid around £45,000 by the newspaper, and had also been provided with a security guard for two months (Daily Record, 04.02.99). When asked whether he set Sarwar up to make a lot of money quickly, he said: "I didn’t set up Mr Sarwar...Mr Sarwar set me up" (The Scotsman, 05.02.99). In giving evidence, Peter Paton accused Sarwar of turning to kidnapping to boost his chances of becoming a Labour MP. Paton continually denied he had any antipathy or animosity towards Sarwar, even though he had tried to sue him for £2 million. He also alleged that Sarwar "ruled the Asian community with an iron fist." He said Sarwar’s ‘rescue’ of Glasgow businessman Abdul Haq’s family from Pakistan was just "a politically motivated stunt", but he then agreed in court that he had helped Mr Haq draft a writ, suing Sarwar for the sum of £1 million. Michael Jones QC, suggested that when the figure was upped to £2 million, Paton arranged to keep his own name in the newspapers after announcing he was intending to fight for the Govan seat (Glasgow Herald, 11.02.99). In later stages of the trial, the court heard of a conspiracy against the former Govan MP. Unofficial Labour candidate Peter Paton and independent Conservative Jamil Abassi denied being involved in any conspiracy against Sarwar, and also denied they had put political posters up together in the Govan constituency wearing balaclavas. The trial also heard claims that fringe candidates combined efforts to split the Asian vote in Govan. Sarwar’s defence advocate, Michael Jones QC, told the court that press releases for the pair and Badar Islam were written on the same word processor and sent out on the same fax machine (The Express, 12.02.99). Tariq Malik, Islam’s friend and election agent, who was also present when Sarwar allegedly handed a £5,000 ‘bribe’ to Islam, said Islam tried to return the money to Sarwar after he failed to sign the affidavit. He also said a statement Islam gave to Labour party lawyer Ian Smart, about a plot by election rivals to destroy Sarwar, was essentially true (Daily Record, 16.02.99). Later, the court heard that after the News of the World published the bribery allegations the pair were put up in hotels in London by the paper, and looked after by reporters, who wanted to protect their exclusive story. Rebekah Wade, former acting editor of the News of the World, told the court that the men regarded Sarwar as "a latter day mafioso kind of person who was going to have them shot for betraying him and the Asian community." She also said she had never dealt with men as frightened as Islam and Malik, which caused them to change hotels. She said: "There had been some incidents of death threats at the first hotel that they believed had come as a direct result of Mohammed Sarwar" (The Scotsman, 20.02.99). She added: "I am not saying for an absolute fact that this was the case but this was what I was being told." She said because of these fears she was prepared to help Malik, who had not received any money for the story, but they then fell out when he demanded "a five figure sum" indicating he had also received an offer from "the Sarwar camp" which would set him up for life. When Ian Smart took to the stand, he told the court he had heard rumours of a plot against Sarwar. He said because the first interview with Islam was confusing and unclear he phoned Islam and suggested an affidavit, to which Islam seemed to agree, but wanted to speak to Sarwar first. When questioned by advocate deputy Duncan Menzies QC, prosecuting, about who suggested the affidavit, Smart replied: "It was definitely my idea." Smart began to take Islam’s statement, formally, three days later, the day Sarwar handed over the money to Islam. But Islam had already told his "conspiracy" story three days earlier (Glasgow Herald, 20.02.99). Giving evidence on the 22nd day of the trial, Sarwar’s former election agent, Margaret Curran, told how the MP sobbed in her home when the bribery allegations were reported. Ms Curran told the court she was angry as this story undermined Labour’s first general election victory for 18 years, and sought an explanation from Sarwar. She said: "He [Sarwar] sat down and he was sobbing. He was very, very upset and could hardly articulate a word so I backed off." She said the MP told her: "It’s not true. It’s not true. Nothing happened before the election and when you hear the tapes you will see the truth." Ms Curran said there was no "real explanation" given for the money Sarwar gave to Islam, and he did not say that it was a loan. She said he contacted her again in the morning after he had met with Nick Brown, then Labour’s Chief Whip, who she said was very constructive in his approach. Sarwar also looked "much more cheery" than the day before (Daily Record, 26.02.99). Sarwar denies the two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, one charge alleging he understated his election expenses, and one charge alleging voter registration fraud. The trial continues. [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 2/3]
Straw to act on forced marriages Ilkley and Keighley MP Ann Cryer, along with Halifax MP Alice Mahon, met Home Secretary Jack Straw to discuss growing concerns about Asian women running away from home to escape arranged or forced marriages. The problem first came to the attention of the MPs through their own surgeries, and then further by a series of articles in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Ms Cryer said: "We want the Asian community to work with us to persuade the small number of families involved to deal with these problems without resorting to threats of violence or intolerable pressure. The good name of the Muslim community is being tarnished by this small minority." She said she was pleased with Mr Straw’s reaction to the meeting: "Mr Straw responded very positively to our request. He accepted that the T&A [Telegraph & Argus] has brought out into the open a very serious problem facing the Asian community. He is now going to contact Sir Herman Ouseley at the Commission for Racial Equality to organise further meetings to look at the best way forward." Ms Mahon added: "The Home Secretary has a very clear understanding of the culture of arranged marriages. He has no intention of undermining that culture, but we all agree that Muslim women should enjoy the same rights as other women. If they choose to assert those rights, we have a duty to support them" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 21.01.99, Ilkley Gazette, 28.01.99). During a debate on human rights for women in the House of Commons, Ms Cryer highlighted these problems by giving examples of the lives of some women who refuse to marry the man of their parents choice or those who try to get out of the marriage after it has taken place. She told the story of Jack and Zena Briggs, who ran away together to get married against her parents wishes (See BMMS for February 1998). She said: "Zena’s fate had been sealed virtually from birth when her parents promised her to a first cousin in Pakistan, a young man she despised, regarded as arrogant, with no English, who treated women as beneath contempt...To this day a death sentence is hanging over them and through the years this otherwise decent Bradford Asian family have employed private detectives, bounty hunters and hit men to seek out their once much-loved daughter for the purpose of killing her and her husband. They even stooped to punish them by terrifying Jack’s elderly mother who was dying from cancer" (The Independent, 11.02.99). She also told of Asiya [not her real name], who was forced into a marriage with a much older man. She said: "After a few days of appalling treatment by him she waited for her strength to return and when sure he was soundly asleep made her escape." But the mother ordered her to go back to her husband and threatened her life. The girl refused and is still on the run (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 10.02.99). She then went on to say: "Many Muslims have assured me that it is un-Islamic to use any form of coercion in the arrangement of a marriage. Therefore the question I have asked myself is, why are families prepared to go to these lengths to force their daughters into such unsuitable marriages? The answer often given is that it is their culture and that outsiders such as myself should not interfere in what are essentially community and family matters. I cannot accept this view" (The Independent, 11.02.99). This is echoed by Carol Sarler, writing in The Observer (07.02.99). She asks why there is no help coming for these young women from Muslim or non-Muslim communities. From her own experiences, she has known a girl of 14 whose "family beat her, kidnapped her and imprisoned her - all to knock the Western stuffing out of her - and then began to plan her wedding. She escaped, but was almost murdered in the process, and now lives a teenage exile far from all she ever knew." Another, a neighbour of Sarler’s, was married to an older man she did not know, at 16, and hanged herself soon after. She adds: "So schoolteachers will continue to lose pubescent girls...and will continue to say nothing. Heads who know perfectly well that a planned fortnight’s ‘holiday’ in a distant land might mean a vanishing off the face of the earth will, still, alert nobody." She asks why it is all right to suggest that these practices would be condemned when applied to a white girl, but seem to be perfectly acceptable for a brown one. Ms Cryer also said: "Our Asian constituents are perfectly entitled to expect the same human rights that are afforded to us and to our daughters. They are also entitled to expect us to help them to enjoy those human rights" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 10.02.99). Ms Cryer has since come under attack from Muslims after her comments on arranged and forced marriages in the House of Commons. At a specially arranged question and answer session held in Keighley, Ms Cryer was criticised by the all male audience for making it an issue bigger than it really is. She told the audience that she had no reservations over arranged marriages, and knows they can work extremely well, but the parents have to ensure they speak to their daughters about it before-hand. However, as she tried to explain her position further, members of the audience stood up and shouted their opinions, or just talked over her. Zafar Ali, director of the Keighley Racial Equality Council said it was important to distinguish between forced and arranged marriages. He said: "Arranged marriages are part of the Asian and Muslim identity – statistics show they are successful. Enforced marriages are only a few cases, only one or two. We must not make a big issue out of it." Javaid Bashir, press secretary for the Keighley Muslim Association, claimed Ms Cryer was guilty of a "publicity stunt" and was "blowing it out of proportion." He added: "People in Keighley are upset about this. There are 10,000 Muslims in Keighley and she is hurting the feelings of the whole community. There are only a few cases of forced marriages – forced marriages are not allowed. Mrs Cryer quoted two cases of enforced marriages in Bradford. That is from a Muslim population of around 90,000. She should be more sensitive." Ms Cryer said she was sorry if she had offended anyone, but still felt it was an important issue that needed to be raised and dealt with (Yorkshire Post, 20.02.99). She also said: "I have no doubt I will be criticised for taking this stance. I didn’t start the campaign to grab headlines and I know I will probably lose votes because of it. But if that’s what it takes to change the current situation then so be it. I’ve contacted a number of community leaders and the response so far has not been great – but hopefully that’s because they are taking these comments on board. Muslim families are not going to take any notice of me – this change needs to come from inside the community itself and that’s why community leaders have an important role to play" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 11.02.99). Humera Khan of the An-Nisa Muslim women’s society, comments on the exclusion of Muslim women in society, and the need for more Muslim women to stand up to protect themselves and their fellow Muslims. Social exclusion, she said, comes mainly from discriminatory and inappropriate government policies. She says: "The Race Relations Act of 1976 is the key to the social exclusion of the Muslim community. Focusing solely on the idea of race as an indicator of identity, the act by-passed the Muslim community, the largest minority faith in Britain. Those who chose to accept the race labels on offer (such as Asian and Afro-Caribbean) got some redress and are represented in almost all walks of life. Muslims did not immediately realise that being subsumed under the label Asian would not get them social aid and group identity." She goes on to say that the issues surrounding forced marriages, teenage brides and disappearing adolescents were not first raised by "Islamophobic journalists, radical feminist groups or women MPs", but "It has been, and still is, Muslim women who have stood up in defence of their own. What we need are the resources and support to deal with our own problems in our own way. That’s what An-Nisa Society, a Muslim women’s group, has been trying to do since 1985, to deal with difficult issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental health and counselling. What we want to create is a strong, healthy Muslim community relevant in our society. An-Nisa has led the way without resources and without recognition" (The Guardian, 20.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 3/4]
Reports Community With the trial of the British men held in Aden continuing, reports have continued speculating on the men’s involvement with extremist Abu Hamza al-Masri, and there have been further calls to extradite him to Yemen (See BMMS for January 1999). Q News (No301, 01.02.99) gives a good account of the events, providing background information on the detainees, and also giving a chronology of events according to the Consular Division at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and according to the Freedom Campaign for the British in Yemen. They have also printed an interview given to them by Abu Hamza, as well as a statement given by MP Derek Fatchett, saying there is no contradiction between being a Muslim and being British, and that it is time it was realised how much of an "invaluable asset" British Muslims are to their country. Meanwhile, in Yemen the son of Abu Hamza, held in Yemen on terrorism charges, has apparently admitted that he formed an armed group to commit sabotage in Yemen. Mohamed Mustafa Kamal, 17, denied the other charges including possession of a grenade. When asked by the Yemeni judge how he pleaded to charges of forming ‘an armed gang to carry out a collective criminal programme’, Kamal said in Arabic: "As far as forming an armed gang, I admit," but denied the other charges. Kamal says he arrived in Yemen via Aden in November last year, hoping to join the Islamic Army of Aden because his father considered the country ripe for jihad. Speaking to The Observer, Abu Hamza said: "This was obviously going to happen. He has obviously been tortured if he is saying this. It’s something that happens all the time in Arabic countries. It’s nothing new. The Foreign Office should be investigating. I know that my son has been tortured, why else would he admit to such a thing?" The Foreign Office said: "We have heard that Mohamed Kamal has admitted to one charge. We have been told that the admission was made in a courtroom, but beyond that we have yet to receive any further information" (The Observer, 14.02.99). Yemeni prosecutors have also alleged that they have in their possession two envelopes from Abu Hamza which prove he was involved in a terrorist campaign in Yemen (The Independent, 19.02.99). Meanwhile, a Home Office pathologist confirmed that the first six detainees, whose trial began on January 27, have been tortured despite repeated statements from the Yemeni authorities denying the claims. Dr Christopher McIlroy, pathologist at the University of Sheffield, said that although he had not been able to carry out a full medical check up, he had looked closely at the injuries the detainees has incurred and said that they had suffered "serious physical ill treatment." Currently the trial has been adjourned and there are no indications as to when it will restart (Muslim News, 26.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 5] A new prayer room for Muslims is planned to be built at Airedale Hospital in Steeton. Hospital officials have submitted a planning application for the room, which would be built next to the existing interdenominational chapel, and would include toilets and washing facilities. Hospital chaplain the Rev Keith Owen said: "There are now nearly as many Muslims as inpatients in the hospital than there are Christians and it was felt that it was about time we addressed the issue" (Craven Herald & Pioneer, 22.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 5] A new community centre has been set up in Barnsley, and has pledged that it will serve all believers in the town, and not just those from one ethnic group. The Al-Quba centre appeal lasted four years and raised £50,000 to allow the centre to be built. Dr Khalid Mir, speaking to about 80 members and guests, told of how there were few Muslims living in Barnsley when he arrived in 1974, but now the community is in its third generation. It has also become truly multi-ethnic as Muslims from Africa and America have also settled there along with the great numbers of people from the Indian subcontinent. He said that in the long term, the centre hopes to establish a proper mosque and will lobby for the introduction of halal meals in schools and hospitals (Q News, No301, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 5] A watch whose main feature is its programmable remote control for TV’s and videos, is apparently also capable of cracking car locking codes. Sajjad Aslam, 29, used his Casio CMD40 to steal luxury cars, using his watch to grab the infrared frequencies during test drives at car showrooms, and was subsequently sentenced to four and a half years in jail. The racket was discovered after one of the accomplices refused to take off his watch following arrest. Police then sent it for testing and experts found the car codes. Q News (No301, 01.02.99) suggest a more appropriate gift for children would be Casio’s Prayer Compass model which stores only salat times! [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 5] The Al-Muhajiroun group have condemned plans to lower the age of consent for homosexuals, saying it is an "abomination". A spokesperson for the group said: "Islam upholds the institution of marriage as the only way for people to channel their procreation instincts." The move has already been attacked by some Christians who are said to have prayed for the Crawley MP to reconsider her decision to vote in favour of lowering the age of consent last year. Ms Moffat is also sitting on the committee stage of the bill which she will be examining in depth. She said: "It would be good to talk with the Muslim group to hear its views. In my opinion criminalising young people in this way is such a terrible thing to do" (Crawley News, 03.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 5] Foreign Office supports events A six-month programme of cultural events designed to improve the image of Muslims in Britain have been backed by the Foreign Office. Speaking at the launch of the cultural events programme at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, Foreign Office minister Derek Fachett said anything that increased "mutual understanding and respect between cultures" was to be welcomed, and that it was dangerous to assume that Islam and Christianity would inevitably be in conflict given the influence both religions have had on Western societies over the centuries. He added: "The truth is that Islam is a peace-loving religion and the community is a peace-loving law-abiding community." The programme which involves a series of arts events will take place throughout the country until July (Birmingham Evening Mail, 03.02.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 03.02.99, The Guardian, 03.02.99, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 03.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] With the decision to build a Muslim prayer area outside the Millennium Dome, Muslim representatives on the Lambeth Group, the interfaith body responsible for the Dome’s Spirit Zone, have come under fierce criticism (See BMMS for February, April, July, August and October 1998, and January 1999). The new prayer hall is expected to cost around £50,000, will be paid for by the Muslim community, and will probably be demolished 12 months later along with the rest of the facilities in and around the Dome. Dr Manazir Ahsan, a spokesman for the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs, and one of the representatives on the Lambeth Group, believes it better to have a separate area to pray rather than praying inside an area paid for by lottery proceeds. He said: "It’s not very expensive. I am sure there will be many people who support it. As with anything people will object. But the benefits will be greater than the harm. We expect several thousand Muslims to come including tourists from the Middle East. They will feel comfortable and relaxed if there is a place to pray." Muslim involvement in the Millennium celebrations has already been questioned as it is, at least nominally, a Christian celebration, and involvement for the purpose of da’wa will be defeated if Muslims end up praying away from the Spirit Zone. Dr Suhaib Hasan, chairman of the UK Shari’ah Council, said he would prefer Muslims to pray inside the Dome rather than spend this much money. He said it was permissible to do so as long as there was no possibility of people facing idols while praying: "If there could be a space set aside in the spirit zone that would be acceptable. We have the precedent of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) praying in the Ka’ba even though it was full of idols. He did it in order to attract others to Islam. In times of necessity it is even permissible to pray inside a church or cathedral." Nafees Nazir of the Human Relief Foundation said the project reflected misplaced priorities. He said: "There are more important things to do. £50,000 could serve 5,000 orphans in Iraq for one month on our sponsorship scheme, or it could feed 50,000 [sic] families for a whole month" (Q News, No301, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] Ahmed Lunat, awarded an OBE for his services to regeneration and racial equality in the New Years Honours, said he was surprised when he read about his award in the paper while on a plane travelling between Cairo and Heathrow (See BMMS for January 1999). He said: "I picked up the paper and read the headline about the honours list. I started looking through the paper for the whole list. I found my name and I pointed it out to my wife Khatija and my brother-in-law Hasan Karolia who was travelling with me. They were very surprised!" As Chair of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society, he has been involved in a lot of community affairs, including Batley City’s regeneration programme and Kirklees Racial Equality Council, which were the main projects that brought about this award. People in the community have been very happy for Mr Lunat, and he said: "People have been visiting my house to congratulate me and the phone has been ringing. A friend who I studied with, I have not seen or spoken to him in twenty years, he rang me up to congratulate me. This award has given me a lot of encouragement to continue my community work for the benefit of the whole community" (Awaaz, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] Leicestershire’s Federation of Muslim Organisations have presented a cheque for £250 to help homeless people in Leicester. The money was donated by Leicester baker, Mohammed Sabat, whose company "Leicester Bakery" makes pitta breads which are sold across the country. The cheque was handed over to the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor John Mugglestone, at a special ceremony also attended by Manzoor Moghal, chairman of the Muslim Federation (Leicester Mercury, 06.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] The Chair of the Muslim Disabled Association, Batley, died at the end of Ramadan. Ahmed Fakir Loonat was also Chair of the Milen Day Centre for eight years, before stepping down due to ill health. Aziz Daji, the present Chair of Milen Day Centre, paid tribute to him saying: "Mr Loonat was a very genuine person who always strived to help others, particularly the elderly. He played a very active and leading role in establishing MDC and he will be greatly missed by us all." Mr Loonat was buried on Eid day (Awaaz, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] A troubled centre for Sheffield Pakistanis could be moved into trust status (See BMMS for May, July, August, September, October and December 1998). The Pakistani Muslim Centre ran into financial and management difficulties and a team of trouble-shooters moved in last year. Recommendations to councillors include setting up a trust to manage training and enterprise (Barnsley Star, 13.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6] An initiative to inform staff about different faiths is also hoped to meet the spiritual needs of patients at Newham General Hospital. Newham Health Trust have set up a Spiritual and Cultural Care development group, headed by hospital chaplain the Revd Ian McDowell. Workers at all levels will be given training in how to deal with patients of different faiths. The chaplain explained that the different religions have varying attitudes to death and birth which need to be taken into consideration. He said: "When someone is dying, families of a number of faiths would have to be approached particularly sensitively about the subject of organ donation." In addition, designs have been submitted for a new prayer room. He added: "Work will include better washing facilities for Muslims and storage for prayer mats. It will be much more attractive to everyone. It will bring out the spirituality of all people but not be specific to one faith" (City of London Recorder, 12.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 6/7] The Islamic Foundation in Markfield was due to stage an open day to promote the understanding of Islam. It would include exhibitions, slide and video shows, talks and refreshments. Deputy director of the Foundation Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin said the future of all communities depended on promoting mutual understanding between different cultures. He said: "There is a lot of misunderstanding between Islam and other faiths and we hope the open day will dispose of some of that. We invite everybody to attend." The event was due to take place on March 9 (Leicester Mercury, 13.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 7] An article written by Christian Tyler in the Financial Times (13.02.99) outlines some of the issues facing Muslims who want to be regarded as Muslims, but British too. Habib ur Rahman, imam of Manchester’s central mosque, said: "We are British, and proud to be British. We are also proud to be Moslem. Faith is our identity...We have freedom of speech and movement here, freedom of education. At the same time we realise we are right on the bottom step of the ladder." Dr Zaki Badawi, president of the Muslim College in west London, said Muslims have no reason to fear that obedience to British law - and many British customs - would make them bad Muslims: "That was clear from a 15th century fatwa, guidance given by the mufti of Morocco to those Moslems who stayed in Spain after the Christian army conquered Granada. It stated that they should obey the public laws and keep up their private observances. "What he said then is what I would say now,"" Dr Badawi declared. He goes on to talk about the controversial issue of recruiting imams from countries outside Britain, many of whom are not actually trained in Islamic law/teachings; pressures young British Muslims are subjected to being caught between two cultures; Muslim schools; the inclusion of the religion question in the census; and above all, the need for legal protection of Muslims. This article was written in response to the news that Muslim leaders were to issue a proclamation to clarify the misconception of Islam in the media. The statement is to be drawn up by 60 Islamic scholars, clerics, political and social leaders, and it hopes to lay to rest the false stereotype of Islam, mainly concerning violence and killings. The declaration will support the argument by drawing on the Qur’an and ahadith. It will argue that human life is sacred and that no life can be taken unless it is in accordance with the due process of law administered by a valid authority (Financial Times, 13.02.99, Muslim News, 26.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 7] Luton Council has refused to give a grant to the Khidmat community centre, which has angered members of the Muslim community. They say the refusal of the £18,000 grant will cripple the elderly community who benefit from the centre. Mobeen Qureshi, who is in day-to-day charge of the project, said they were worried because they needed the money to pay rent to the mosque, which owns the premises Khidmat uses. He said: "The mosque committee is going to write to the council’s social services committee. If we don’t get a grant to help elderly people go to the mosque and pray, it will be a disaster for our community" (Luton News, 17.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 7] The manager of a Tipton community-based cut price grocery service has been suspended on full pay, and sales have been suspended after a ‘trade wars’ row. Trading from the Tipton Muslim Community Centre has been halted after local grocer Basharat Khan claimed that unfair competition from the scheme threatened to put him out of business. Mr Khan, whose family have operated their business for 10 years, said traders at the nearby centre were selling goods up to ten per cent cheaper. Mr Khan’s comments led to an investigation by Tipton Community Enterprise manager Dave Thomas. A spokesman for Community Enterprise said: "Our brief was to support the community and the traders but the food sales got a bit over-enthusiastic." Mr Khan said: "I feel justice has been done" (Black Country Evening Mail, 17.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 7] A man who married a Christian woman against his parents wishes has disappeared just one week after their wedding. Zahir Abbas, 20, was last seen with his grandfather and a friend, instructing a lawyer to start divorce proceedings. Angela Whenray-Abbas, 23, reported him missing the following day, when he failed to return home from the family garage where he worked. She said: "He was very worried because his family wasn’t happy. I think it was because I was Catholic and they are Moslem. To us it didn’t matter, because we were in love, but I think they’ve been offended." She added: "I’ve no idea what’s happened to him. I’m afraid that he’s somewhere and wants to come home, but for some reason he can’t." Det Chief Insp Jan Preshous, of Northumbria Police, said Zahir’s relatives had refused to speak directly with them and officers were forced to contact them through their solicitor and community leaders. She said: "Our main concern is for the safety and well-being of this young man. We are very concerned that he has disappeared only a few days after being married and for apparently no reason. He seems to have been happy with his new life." Zahir’s father Mohammed Zulfikar, from Newcastle upon Tyne, said he was confident that his son had not come to any harm, though he did not know where he was. He added: "I have not met this woman or spoken to her, but she promised to convert to Islam before marrying my son. When, after the wedding, she changed her mind he felt betrayed and that’s why he no longer wishes to be married to her. He is getting divorced and that’s all there is to it" (The Express, 17.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 7/8] The founder of Muslim Aid has resigned from the UK based international relief agency. After sixteen years, eight which he served as chairman and spokesman for the organisation, Yusuf Islam quit the board of trustees in an expression of frustration over policies and the bureaucratic behaviour of the executive. He said: "It was with a heavy heart that I tendered my resignation from the Muslim Aid at the AGM on 30th January 1999. My primary reason for resigning was because the weight of responsibility on my shoulders became too great to bear." According to close associates, Mr Islam felt that the organisation was too dominated by politics. Mr Islam added: "Resigning from Muslim Aid marks the end of a chapter. My wish now is to co-operate with all Muslim relief agencies, not just one. The community in UK should mature and evolve to a new level of co-operation. We need to set new goals of co-operation and unity in order to match the challenges of the next century." Abdul Raheem, a Muslim Aid spokesman, said: "I have not given much thought to this matter however, the brother found out that there were a few things that were not in his liking, particular things that he did not take fancy to. There was a build up to it and not something which happened over night" (Eastern Eye, 19.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8] Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Cardiff chip shop owner Nadeem Akhtar, 28. The married father-of-one died in Cardiff Royal Infirmary, just twelve hours after complaining of cold-like symptoms. Family, friends and members of the community, some travelling from Mr Akhtar’s home town of Huddersfield, came to pay their last respects. His body was laid in an open coffin which was first taken to the women’s section of the mosque where they were able to view him, and was then placed in the men’s section, where the funeral prayer was recited. Carried by ten men and covered in a black and gold drape, Mr Akhtar’s coffin was laid in the back of the hearse, which was driven to the cemetery for a burial attended by close family and friends. Taher Majid, a life-long friend of Mr Akhtar, met mourners as they arrived at the mosque. He said: "I think there are about 800 people here. That shows how well he was respected in the community. We were both born in Huddersfield and grew up together. Both our families came to Cardiff. I’ve known him all my life. This is very much a traditional Muslim ceremony. It is seen as a final journey. These people are here today to pay their final respects." Mr Akhtar had been due to travel to Pakistan the day after, where his wife and one-year old son were staying with relatives (South Wales Echo, 24.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8] In one of four lectures held at Nottingham Trent University at the end of February, the media view of Islam was to be discussed. Footage from the new film "Jinnah" was the starting point for discussion, which was presented by its producer Professor Akbar Ahmed. Also attending were Bryan Turner from Cambridge University, Ali Mohammadi, Professor Chris Rojek of Nottingham Trent University and Musharif Hussain, director of the Karimia Institute in Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post, 24.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8]
Education The Nation of Islam school, Star Chamber Academy, has signed an agreement with the council to leave the Simba Centre before March 31. It has occuied the Centre without permission for 15 months (See BMMS for August, September, November 1998 and January 1999). At the time of protests held by the Nation, they threatened to stay at the centre until new premises had been found for them. But according to the council, no new home has been found. The school teaches about 60 pupils aged between three and sixteen, according to the teachings of the Nation of Islam. A council spokesman said: "The Simba Centre is the borough’s only community centre exclusively serving the black community and the council does not feel it is an appropriate venue for a private school. The agreement will allow the Star Chamber time to find alternative premises while meeting the council’s need to free up space at the Simba Centre for use by local community groups" (Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle, 29.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8] Children in Edgware were given reading lessons with a difference when they were shown passages from the Qur’an. Pupils from Edgware Junior School in Heming Rd, were shown the passages by Abraham El Mutawkil, as part of the mayor’s celebration of multi-cultural diversity in Barnet. Mr Mutawkil is a member of the Muslim Welfare Society of North Finchley where he teaches Islam and Arabic (Hendon & Finchley Press, 04.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8] Concern over meetings in house Two petitions have been raised against the scheme to use the ground floor of a house to teach young children the basics of their faith. The organisers say there would be a maximum of 15 children, aged up to twelve, and that the meetings would not exceed two one-hour daily sessions. But nearby residents have signed petitions, containing more that 60 signatures, saying it would increase noise during unsociable hours and would create parking problems and congestion. One nearby resident said: "This is nothing to do with religious matters, we simply think it will put too much pressure on the area which is busy enough already." However, Salisbury district councillors were said to be considering approving the scheme for three years only, and it will be subject to strict conditions which include no use on Sunday, 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, and 9am to 6pm for the rest of the week (Western Daily Press, 22.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 8/9]
Politics Eid celebration at House of Commons Q News (No301, 01.02.99) has reported on the Eid celebrations at the House of Commons. Amongst those attending the celebration were Peers Nazir Ahmed and Pola Uddin, Dr Zaki Badawi OBE, Raficq Abdulla MBE, and Rana Kabbani. Home Secretary Jack Straw began by welcoming everyone to Parliament, "your Parliament". He went on to say that Eid-ul-Fitr being a regular date in the government’s calendar, has become "resonant of the way the United Kingdom has become a multi-cultural and multi-faith society." He also acknowledged the huge debt owed to Islam by the West. Tony Blair continued where Mr Straw left off, sharing the sentiments that Islam has played a wonderful and enriching role in the world. He talked about fundamentalism and how it obscured the true and peaceful face of Islam, and that his government had to look beyond the stereotypes of Islam. He added that this celebration was "the clearest statement that we value and treasure your contribution." However, Q News felt concerned that out of all the Muslims present at "their" Parliament, only one seemed to question the issues affecting Muslims in Britain. Rana Kabbani began by saying how uneasy she felt by Parliament’s glorification of Richard the Lion Heart [a huge portrait greets guests entering the HoC] as he "chopped off the heads of innocent Jews and Muslims." She then went on to say that unemployment affected Muslims more acutely than any other group and she wanted to see action to change this situation, as well as wanting change in government policy "towards countries which does not displace dictators but which makes ordinary men, women and children suffer." Ms Kabbani believed this gathering "was a small but important step." Finally, Q News speculated as to the real significance of this event for British Muslims as there seemed to be a disproportionate number of Arab media in attendance, and it was also strange that photographic rights should have been given exclusively to the Saudi-Arabian newspaper As-Sharq al-Awsat. They wondered whether the government sought to use this event to sell themselves to the oil-rich Middle East as caring and compassionate towards Muslims. [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 9] Peer mistaken for delivery boy Lord Nazir Ahmed has recently told how he is sometimes mistaken for a delivery boy when he arrives at the House of Lords to take up his seat. Mr Ahmed was speaking at a special dinner in Birmingham which was attended by local politicians, head teachers and members of local Muslim organisations to celebrate the end of Ramadan and to forge closer links. He said: "I often drive to the House of Lords and the first officer at the gates recognises me and lets me through. Further along there’s a second officer and it’s often a new one. I’m often greeted with ‘are you here to deliver something mate?’ I say no, I’m a peer - to which they reply ‘oh sorry my Lord!’" Mr Ahmed light-heartedly spoke to highlight the need for better understanding of the Muslim community. Claims that some mosques in the UK provided military training for terrorists were dismissed by him. He said: "We are not fundamentalists, we are not extremists and we are not terrorists." He added: "Muslims are not asking for special provision in this country. What they are saying is they want equal rights" (Solihull Evening Mail, 03.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 9] Bashir Ul-Hafeez, a Labour councillor for 12 years in the London borough of Newham, is considering whether to defect to the Conservatives. Mr Ul-Hafeez has been embroiled in a series of bitter rows with the Labour Party in Newham, despite being a party member for 25 years and a councillor until last year. His younger sister, Nasreen Imtiaz, recently resigned from the executive of the welfare group Khidmat, after claiming she was harassed for alleging a Labour bias within the group and that Muslim domination stopped women playing a full part in the running of the agency. Mr Ul-Hafeez said: "I am disillusioned with the Labour Party. I want to win a seat for which I am working very hard. My way of fighting will be a different way, because Labour has to be given a lesson" (Luton on Sunday, 07.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 9] PM criticises ‘sloppy stereotyping’ The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has criticised "sloppy stereotyping" which has routinely associated Islam with extremism and terrorism. In a wide ranging written interview with the Muslim News (26.02.99), Mr Blair said he would have "no truck" with those who believed that Western and Islamic worlds were "inevitably in conflict." He insisted that the Government did not have double standards in its dealing with Israel on the one hand, and Iraq on the other, and that he did not consider Islam to be the new threat to the West. He said: "It is the job of us all to correct this sloppy stereotyping whenever we hear or see it and to put across the message that Islam is not about terrorism or extremism." He discussed issues concerning the government’s policies on discrimination and protection of religion, saying he and the Home Secretary are "thinking seriously about the concerns raised." He also answered questions on standards of education in schools, unemployment, homelessness and drugs, and visions for the Muslim community in the Millennium. Mr Blair said he hopes the Muslim community will be "fully represented at all levels of public life and seen as an integral part of British society. I hope their will be more education about Islam and for people’s first thoughts of the Islamic faith to be, rightly, of peace, tolerance and a force for good. I would like the Muslim community to feel that they are fully accepted and catered for in Britain and that their views can be expressed and heard by Government. We are not there yet, I know but I believe we are making progress." The full interview is printed in the February issue of Muslim News (also reported in the Newcastle Journal, 23.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 9/10]
Racism A member of the Nation of Islam was found guilty of attacking a police officer at the Stephen Lawrence inquiry (See BMMS for June, July and August 1998). Rasaki Yesufu-Muhammad was said to be part of a group who tried to storm the crowded hearing the day the men suspected of the teenager’s killing were due to give evidence. He twice kneed Pc Stephen Dukamp in the face during an "explosion of violence" last June, which had to be controlled by CS gas. Pc Dukamp said the violence flared when some members of the nation tried to jump a queue of several hundred waiting to get into the hearing. He said: "At least three of the Nation of Islam came on top of me." He said he was then punched to the ground before being kneed in the face. Yesufu-Muhammad had denied the claims. However, the jury convicted him by an eleven to one majority. Adjourning the case for three weeks for reports, Judge Jeffrey Rucker told defence counsel Matthew Ryder: "If it is of any assistance to the defendant, I obviously have to think forward in these matters. In the extremely fraught atmosphere of that [inquiry] hearing that gave rise to this case, everything that has happened since and is still happening, it seems to me that it would be wrong to raise the temperature at all if it is possible to avoid it. What I have in mind is a community service order." Outside court Mr Ryder said it was likely they would be appealing against the decision, and insisted the police had arrested the wrong man and then tried to conceal the facts. He said: "The cover-ups, the denials and the massaging of the truth needs to stop" (The Guardian, 23.02.99, The Times, 23.03.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 23.03.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10]
Women The case of a woman refused entry to France because she would not remove her veil, is to be taken to the European Parliament. Mrs Farrukh Shaikh, her husband and four children, were all sent home from Calais in July 1998 because she refused to show her face to male customs officers. She was refused a request for a female customs officer to do the job instead, and after arguing with the officials and police for two hours, returned to England with her family, feeling hurt and humiliated. Euro-MP for Leicester, Sue Waddington, will now meet Commissioner Monti - the man responsible for freedom of movement in the European Movement - to discuss the case. She said he had expressed his sympathy over the incident, and will now arrange a meeting to discuss the matter further. She added: "Sympathy is not sufficient. I want some action to ensure that British citizens are able to travel across European borders freely and are not subject to discrimination because of their race and religion" (Leicester Mercury, 25.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10] The An-Nisa Slough Muslim women’s group held a fundraising Eid bazaar, and hoped it would give them wider exposure. More than one hundred people turned up for the event which included stalls refreshments and a bouncy castle. Jaleelah Siddiqi, chair-woman of the group, said: "Although there are a lot of Muslims in Slough there is nothing like us. The bazaar was good exposure because people have not necessarily heard of us. There are groups for Asian women but they don’t necessarily meet the needs of Muslims." The group was set up seven months ago, and aims to create a net-work for Muslim women in Slough. It also hopes to become a charity and establish permanent premises, and would offer counselling and advice services to Muslim women on personal problems and social issues (Slough & Langley Observer, 29.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10]
Youth Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, London, held their annual marathon walk, and presented £1,500 to Bournemouth Heart Club from the proceeds of the walk. It is the second time the Bournemouth Heart Club has been given a large donation from the money raised, bringing the total to £4,000 (Bournemouth Daily Echo, 30.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10] Interfaith Communities to tackle drugs problem Muslim and Christian communities in Blackburn got together to tackle drugs problems across East Lancashire. Representatives from the two communities took part in a ‘Building Bridges’ event at Ewood Park football ground. Entitled ‘Drug Misuse - A Faith Perspective’, the conference was introduced by the Home Secretary and Blackburn MP, Jack Straw, and was attended by other MPs, mayors, council leaders, senior police officers and teachers. Father Jim McCartney, of St Anne’s RC Church, spoke on behalf on the Christian community, and Ilyas Foy was representative for the Muslim community. Father McCartney said: "I work with young people who are struggling with addiction in Blackburn, who are often homeless and have no support from their families. We hope to find them a pathway from homelessness and isolation into rehabilitation. It is a tremendous opportunity for both communities to come together. We can learn from each other" (Blackburn Citizen, 29.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10] A ground breaking initiative has been launched by an East London mediation agency to encourage better understanding among young Jews, Christians and Muslims. The programme is a British-Israeli partnership called the Encounter Youth Exchange Project, and involves 12 male and female teenagers, four from each religion. The programme will cost £750 and the teenagers will be encouraged to raise the money themselves. They will visit Israel in August 1999. One of the teenagers selected to participate said: "I know Muslims and Christians through work, but I have never spent time with them socially, so this will be completely different for me." Sharon Woolf, the project’s Jewish youth leader said a series of work-shops will be held prior to their trip to prepare them for the project. She added: "The goals of the workshops are two-fold. Firstly, participants need to learn to be together as a group, accepting and respecting the cultural, religious and identity differences of each individual. They also need to learn about the basic beliefs and practices of each faith and gain a greater awareness of religious and cultural diversity both in England and Israel." One of the main features of the trip will be the workshops at Neve Shalom - Wahat as-Salam in Arabic - a unique village where Jews and Arabs live side by side, committed to working through their differences. Project co-ordinator, Anne Davison, said: "We’re using them as role models - an awareness-raising thing. It will be a chance for our kids to see something positive" (Jewish Chronicle, 12.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 10/11]
Halal A Cotswold company has completed a £5.6 million project to enable air passengers to enjoy halal food. Smith Russell of Wormington managed the six-month project to create the specialist catering facilities near Heathrow Airport, which was funded by Abela In-Flight Catering Services. Mark Smith, of Smith Russell, said: "The company is Lebanese and caters for Muslims on flights operated by several airlines. This was certainly the biggest project we have done and it was a bit unusual. We enjoyed doing it." The building has been given mezzanine flooring, three commercial lifts, coldroom panelling, office suites, food-safe acrylic floor covering, extensive mechanical and electrical installations and an extension for a loading quay for lorries to load the meals. Two prayer rooms for daily worship were also created (Stratford-upon-Avon Journal, 18.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 11]
Employment Girl sacked after attending rally A 20-year old girl has said that she was sacked from her job at a mobile phones company after she attended a demonstration in support of the British men arrested in Yemen. Shabina Bano said: "I knew they were going to sack me the next day. My colleagues warned me that the managers had been saying I was a Muslim terrorist. I told my managers where I was going when I booked the day off and that’s when they made their mind up to sack me." She added that there was no violence or trouble at the rally to justify their claims: "I don’t know how my managers could accuse me of being a terrorist just for attending a peaceful protest." However, a spokesperson for Midland Phones, Birmingham, denied the protest had anything to do with her sacking: "She was still within her three months probation period and we decided to sack her for taking too many days off and being late to work. The fact that we told her on the day after the demonstration is a mere coincidence." Ms Bano rejects the claim that her performance at work was poor. She said she was initially offered the job when she went in as a customer and impressed the manager with her knowledge of mobile phones. She said: "It is ridiculous for them to claim that I am not good enough. I was always honest about why I needed time off, and that seemed to be more of a problem than the actual number of days I was absent." Ms Bano is seeking legal advice (Q News, No301, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 11] A man who was refused time off for Eid, lost his case at an industrial tribunal. Abdul Mutahir, 33, lost his case against Specialist Anodising, Burnley, where Muslims make up a quarter of the total roll, after the tribunal learned that the company already had an adequate policy. The company gives workers time off providing they have enough holiday time available and they give 48 hours notice. Managing Director Keith Fellows, said: "Our policy has always been that Muslim workers can have the time off over Eid if they have enough days to cover it, which this particular worker did not" (Q News, No301, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 11] Scientist awarded compensation An international pharmaceuticals research firm was guilty of racial discrimination in dismissing a Palestinian scientist from its Edinburgh branch, following her accusation of victimisation because of her ethnic origin. Dr Ghada Omar, from Stirling, was awarded £5,000 by an industrial tribunal, which included £1,000 for injury to her feelings. However, the tribunal rejected the complaint by Dr Omar, a biomedical research scientist, that she had been racially discriminated against by her immediate supervisor, Dr Alison Russell. Dr Omar claimed that she had been discriminated against since she started work in June 1997 at Quintiles Scotland, at Heriot-Watt University. For the first two months, Dr Russell was said to have given her low-grade tasks and began to make comments about her cultural background. Dr Russell had asked her how she had managed to get on with her Jewish supervisor in her previous job, and told her she would not be able to integrate with the rest of the team due to her different cultural background. She also allegedly made offensive comments about Dr Omar’s Muslim religion and her accent. Dr Omar said she was not invited to team meetings or social events unless Dr Russell was absent. She then wrote to the company’s personnel department complaining that her working environment was intolerable, outlining "abuse and unfriendly remarks about my accent, background, culture and race." A meeting was held by the company with her and Dr Russell attending. The tribunal said it was "almost unbelievable" the way Dr Omar’s complaint was handled. It said: "No adequate notes were taken or retained by Quintiles. The tribunal was certainly unable to characterise the treatment as the sympathetic approach which would be expected of an employer of standing." Quintiles denied the claims that the dismissal was racially motivated, saying Dr Omar had not performed satisfactorily, and that because she had made such "serious but unfounded allegations" against Dr Russell, they found it impossible to continue her employment. Dr Omar welcomed the tribunals findings, saying she felt bitter and angry over her treatment (The Scotsman, 05.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 11/12]
Mosques & Burials A new funeral service for Birmingham Muslims has been given a £12,000 grant from the council. But it has been criticised as being an unnecessary expense. Deputy Tory leader John Alden, said: "Existing funeral services in Birmingham are perfectly able and already do provide services tailored for all religions, including Muslims. I see no reason why this grant of taxpayers’ money should be given. If an exclusively Muslim funeral service has the potential to be a money-spinner as is claimed, then the people operating the business should raise their start up finance themselves in the same way as other entrepreneurs." Thousands of pounds have already been spent on feasibility studies, capital funding and development work for the business, currently operated on a voluntary basis linked to the Golden Hillock Rd mosque. Javed Akhtar, director of the Golden Hillock Islamic Funeral Service, said: "As a dedicated service we know exactly what is needed for a Muslim service. There are specific requirements for a Muslim funeral service and many people have asked us to provide something for this area. We move the deceased person as a life, which is exactly as our faith tells us to. Other funeral services do not offer such a respectful service." A council spokesman said: "A business plan has been drawn up reflecting significant demand for the service. The suggestion is that this is a niche market inadequately catered for. The business has the potential to at least cover its costs within two years" (Birmingham Evening Mail, 17.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12] Muslims in Chesham are raising money for a new purpose-built mosque. They raised £70,000 during Ramadan and recently raised a further £40,600. The community claim that the present mosque, two converted houses, is too small and that help has not been forthcoming from town and district council and the Chesham Partnership. Mohammed Saleem, president of the mosque, said: "During Ramadan there was no room for women to worship, and we all feel that leaders in the community could do a lot more to help us find somewhere to worship…I just wish people would give us a helping hand to find somewhere to put our new mosque." (Bucks Free Press, 05.02.99., Bucks Examiner, 12.09.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12] Plans to build a new mosque on the site of a town centre car park face another problem (See BMMS for May, June, July, August, September 1998 and January 1999). They now have to overcome objections from a local hair-dresser. Louise Fearnley-Brown, pro-prietor of the Hair Company Salon, said: "It is an inappropriate site. I have spent 15 years building my salon into a thriving business and to lose parking for my customers would be disastrous." Other residents have talked about losing the view. But Mohammed Arshad, a community spokesman, said: "We are hopeful of success in the appeal, but in the meantime will not give up our search for an alternative site" (Q News, No301, 01.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12] The Muslim community in Derby are hoping to build a new £1.5 million Islamic centre for prayer and teaching. The Jamia Mosque in Rosehill St have instructed an architect to draw up plans with the intention of submitting them to Derby City Council later this year. They intend to build the centre next to the current mosque by knocking down six houses next to the mosque, which have been bought by the mosque but only two are currently occupied. The present mosque can only accommodate around 800 people, which is too little especially at Eid times, when thousands of people are said to go to the mosque to pray. The proposals include a large room for prayer, which could accommodate up to 2,000 people, and teaching facilities. Nazim Ali, chairman of the mosque, said the growing Muslim community needed extra religious facilities: "We have been planning to extend the mosque and provide teaching rooms for about four years. But we are now determined to get things sorted. We have a growing number of people wanting to use the mosque, especially on occasions like the Festival of Eid. We believe this is a very important development for the Muslim community and everybody seems very keen for it to go ahead." Money to fund the extension will come from mosque funds and donations (Derby Evening Telegraph, 04.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12] Neighbours of a former newspaper shop are campaigning to stop the building being converted into a mosque for the family of the owner, Mohammed Saeed (See BMMS for January 1999). One of the neighbours, who lives opposite the proposed mosque, said: "Apart from the fact there will be loads of cars outside my gate five times a day, the noise will be terrible. Car doors slamming, people arriving early and leaving late at night - and then there's the noise from inside. We have nothing against a mosque opening, just not there." The council have received approximately 40 official complaints so far, some concerned with parking issues (West Lothian Courier, 11.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12] Tributes have been received for King Hussein of Jordan who donated £4,000 in the late 1960s towards the building of the mosque. Former mosque chairman, Raja Amir Dad Khan, said: "There were four members of our committee prior to 1967 and I started writing letters to Muslim countries trying to gain funding so that we could create a place for prayers in High Wycombe. The only person to reply was King Hussein of Jordan and he sent his Ambassador at Large, Sheikh Quattan, to meet me personally to discuss my plans. We requested £4,000 so that we could get a place up and running. Sheikh said that he could give me that out of his pocket but that he must report back to King Hussein." King Hussein subsequently sent the committee a cheque for £4,000 (Bucks Free Press, 12.02.99) [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 12/13] A new mosque for Keighley, which will include a 27-metre high minaret in the 2,144 square-metre natural stone building, was approved by planning chiefs (See BMMS for August and September 1998). The scheme will include building on the car park of the site of the present mosque, which will be remodelled. The mosque will cater for up to 1,200 people and will provide better facilities for those using it. Restrictions will be placed on when the loudspeakers can be used for the call to prayer. It is proposed the calls be limited to three minutes and be set at a level so that sound levels at the nearest house are no more than 70 decibels. The planning sub-committee had taken into account other problems and inconveniences before giving the go-ahead (Keighley News, 12.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] Plans for the controversial multi-faith prayer complex are to go ahead, despite one of the religious groups pulling out of the development (See BMMS for July, August, November and December 1998). Permission was given to the Ramgarhia Sikh Board, the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission and the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat to build places of worship on the 7.5 acre site at Manor Farm, but now the Sikh group has backed out of the project. The Ramgarhia’s decision to pull out will not affect the other groups’ planning permission, but will make a space on the site available for use. Dawoodi spokesman Jaffer Kapasi said the other two groups would still be going ahead with the project and was not worried about the vacant site. He said: "We can still definitely make the project impressive. We have other groups interested in the land" (Leicester Mercury, 02.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] Westminster Council has rejected a request by the director general of London Central Mosque to provide a separate area for Muslims in cemeteries. The council ruled that bodies will continue to be buried next to each other, regardless of religion. At the environment and planning meeting, Conservative Councillor Kit Malthouse said: "Jews lie next to Christians who lie next to Moslems - showing we’re all equal once we’re under the sod" (Marylebone & Paddington Mercury, 04.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] A row over plans for a new mosque to be built in Whiteknights Rd erupted again after residents accused the council of a cover-up. They claim they are ignored when they ask for information concerning the project. One resident said: "People are worried that they will be accused of being racist. But this issue is not about the need for a mosque. Everyone agrees that the worshippers of the Muslim faith need a purpose-built facility in Reading, one of which we could all be proud. The issue is one of democracy. A decision has been made, by a few people, on what they see as a priority without any reference to the electorate. There is a worry that a small group of people can decide a priority and not be answerable to anyone at all. We want to know why there was no draft plan for the site, why we weren’t told about it before - when negotiations have been going on for four years - and if other sites have been considered." Residents are also worried about traffic problems the new mosque will create. Councillor Sutton said: "The idea of a mosque has been discussed for several years but it wasn’t appropriate to go public with it until April 1998 when we owned the site. People were told about the patterns of worship which are intensive on Fridays from 1pm to 2 but fairly quiet the rest of the time. We do have a constructive dialogue and a traffic assessment will form part of any planning application" (Reading Chronicle, 12.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] Swansea Islamic Centre has applied to the council for planning permission to convert a ground floor café on St Helen’s Rd to use as a mosque for the local community (South Wales Evening Post, 05.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] Walsall Council has opened three cemeteries to be used by Muslims for burials now that the previous one is fully occupied. Muslim burials have been taking place at James Bridge cemetery, but now, after 35 years, the section allocated to Muslims is full. The council has therefore opened sections of North Walsall, Streetly and Willenhall Lawn cemeteries for the use of Muslims. Although the nearest site to James Bridge is about a mile away at Fallings Heath, it comes under Sandwell Council, meaning Walsall residents could pay up to £1,860 for a burial plot there - double the cost of a grave in Walsall. Bob Hook, general manager of environmental health and consumer services, said that the Muslim burial committee, which represents all the mosques in Walsall, was consulted in identifying the areas of land suitable for Muslim sections in each of the three cemeteries. Councillors on the environmental committee will also meet to discuss the situation (Walsall Express & Star, 20.01.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13] Plans for a mosque in Walsall have been revised after a 10-year fundraising campaign failed to raise enough to complete the original plan. The shell of the mosque had already been built, but now the plans have been scaled down in a bid to complete the mosque in the near future. Leaders of the Jamie Mosque in Walsall have now applied to the council for planning permission to allow a smaller, more affordable building. The new plans ask for a single-storey building, compared to the previous two-storey, with a small community room upstairs, and will feature a smaller dome and minaret (Walsall Express & Star, 13.02.99). [BMMS February 1999 Vol. VII, No. 2, p. 13]
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