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British Muslims Monthly Survey for August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8
Features
Reports Community Special arrangements for taxi drivers Storm as buildings sold for £1 Work begins on Coventry centre Plans to help troubled Bradford community Community fair at East London Mosque Poets evening at centre celebrations Police caravan used for prayer Problems at Asian Festival of Harmony Residents oppose club plan in Bristol Factory to be converted into Muslim centre Pakistani minister visits centre Islamic Trust seeks planning approval Public view sought on Oxford centre Special refuse collection plan criticised
Education
Women Welfare Association celebrates
Interfaith Footballer turned away from Jewish club
Halal
Health Community opposes free-for-all donations BMA’s policy condemned as ‘euthanasia’
Employment Employee in discrimination case
Mosques & Burials
Features The verdicts in the trial of the British men held in Yemen were finally delivered on August 9, with the court finding all men guilty of taking part in a terrorist plot to carry out a campaign of murders and bombings (See British Muslims Monthly Survey for January, February, March, April and July 1999). Five of the men were given sentences of between three and seven years in prison, while three were sentenced to time already served and were free to return to Britain. Ghulam Hussain, 25, who had been on bail due to ill health, Shaz Nabi, 20, and Ayad Hussein, 24, were told they were free to go. However, just as they stepped out of the court room, they were detained once again as Yemeni prosecutors said they planned to appeal the leniency of the sentences. This re-arrest means that the pair cannot leave prison until the end of the appeal, which could last months. For the five men who were sentenced to time in prison, their lawyers said they would be appealing the convictions. Most people were expecting to hear guilty verdicts after a controversial trial, which the defence claimed was unfair and unjust, with repeated accusations of torture and corruption. However, public opinion in favour of the men seemed to wane as time went by, and as the Yemeni authorities produced more evidence to incriminate the detainees, including videos showing Mohsen Gamal and Mohamed Kamel holding guns in Albania, audio tapes linking the men to Abu Hamza, and most damaging of all, a car-boot full of rockets and mines. Despite the obvious inconsistencies in the way the trial was handled by the Yemeni authorities, few people seem to be convinced of the apparently ‘innocent’ reasons for the men being in Aden. They say they went to Yemen to study the Qur’an and Arabic, yet none of the enrolled in a language school. Also, Aden is not known to be a centre of Islamic excellence. In addition, there were many inconsistencies in the story the British men told, and the evidence the Yemeni authorities produced. But either way, it seemed that the most difficult thing to obtain was the truth in this long and arduous case (The Times, 13.08.99, The Independent, 10.08.99, Q News, No310, 15.08.99, Yorkshire Post, 10.08.99, Wolverhampton Express & Star, 10.08.99, Dundee Courier & Advertiser, 11.08.99, Muslim News, 27.08.99). Since the verdicts were announced, many reports have asked what causes seemingly normal men to go in search of jihad. Faisal Bodi, a writer for Q News, has written an article published in The Independent (09.08.99) as to why this Yemen case "is the wake-up call we need to confront what has become a blight on our name." He highlights that the past decade has seen disturbing developments in the shape of a radicalisation of British Muslim youths. He says: "Numerous factors have fed the dragon of extremism. Most of them, social and economic alienation, Islamophobia, oppressive western foreign policy, can be laid at the door of the policy makers and official neglect." Many of the youths are told that there is no place for them in this country and that they should fight, not only for themselves, but for their brothers abroad. Saeed Akhtar, former president of Birmingham University’s Muslim Society, said students were often invited to seminars and meetings held by extremist groups. He said: "They are very manipulative. They advertise for people to come to their meetings on the pretence that they are Islamic studying sessions but once you were there, the agenda was changed. They would go on about the injustices that the Muslim world is suffering and would try to make people feel guilty. Though they never blatantly spoke of military action, they would say things like ‘we need to show our strength’ and the goal of Islam domination had to be achieved by ‘all means necessary’." Many people feel that the disillusioned youths become easy prey for militant groups to recruit (Sunday Mercury, 15.08.99, Independent on Sunday, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 1]
Reports Community A new government working group has been commissioned to devise a strategy to tackle forced marriages in South Asian communities (See BMMS for February, May, June and July 1999). Lord Ahmed and Baroness Uddin will lead a nine-member working group that also includes Humera Khan of the An-Nisa Society, as well as civil servants from across the departments. Announcing the working group, Lord Ahmed said: "The great majority of arranged marriages work very well, but a very small percentage of marriages are forced and this reflects poorly on the whole community. This practice is morally, ethically and culturally wrong and must be stopped immediately – it affects young vulnerable people, their families and our communities." The government has been forced to act on this issue after many high profile cases. Ms Khan said: "The issue of forced marriages is a smaller issue in a wider context. The community must now take the initiative and realise that dealing with the issue is not going to weaken the community but only strengthen it." A strategy will need to be devised to assess how effectively refuges and advice centres are meeting the needs of victims. Estimates on the number of forced marriages taking place each year vary from thousands to just a few hundred. Baroness Uddin said: "The idea must not be that every marriage is a forced marriage. We need to ascertain the facts. For the first time wider society is waking to the reality of our lives,. It is an encouraging sign that people now know the distinction between arranged and forced marriages." The working group will report back to the Race Equality Minister Mike O’Brien before the end of the year. He said: "The government is seeking a dialogue with the community. The outcome will be a strategy that deals with the issue in a sensitive way while ensuring the fundamental human rights of these young women are not compromised" (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 05.08.99, Huddersfield Examiner, 05.08.99, Burton Mail, 05.08.99, Halifax Evening Courier, 05.08.99, Keighley News, 06.08.99, Derby Evening Telegraph, 06.08.99, Daily Record, 06.08.99, Slough & Langley Express, 12.08.99, Yorkshire Post, 16.08.99, Muslim News, 27.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 2]
Many newspapers have reported on the Oldham imam who faces deportation after being accused of having terrorist links in Pakistan and fundraising for terrorist activities (including, The Independent, 17.08.99, Manchester Evening News, 17.08.99, Birmingham Post, 17.08.99, The Express, 17.08.99, The Times, 17.08.99, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 18.08.99, Yorkshire Post, 19.08.99, Wolverhampton Express & Star, 21.08.99, Asian Times, 24.08.99 and Muslim News, 27.08.99). Shafiq Ur-Rehman, 28, began his tribunal to fight the Home Secretary Jack Straw’s decision before a special appeals com mission. Mr Rehman is accused of being the British leader of an extremist Islamic group called Markaz Dawa Al Irshad, or MDI (See BMMS for April and June 1999). It is also claimed the Mr Rehman was raising funds for Lashkar Tayyaba (LT), a Kashmiri force fighting in Kashmir. According to written submissions from the Home Office, Mr Rehman raised cash and organised young British Muslim recruits for MDI. It was said that though his followers were unlikely to commit terrorism in Britain, MI5 said they are involved in terrorism in the Indian subcontinent. MI5 told the government that Mr Rehman was "partly responsible for the increase in the number of Muslims in the United Kingdom who have undergone some sort of militant training, including indoctrination into extremist beliefs and at least some basic weapons training" (The Times, 17.08.99). Later in the hearing, it emerged that MI5 had tried to recruit the imam in 1997 to spy on his congregation, and it was his refusal to comply that led to him being faced with a deportation order. MI5 reject these claims, saying that Mr Rehman is being faced with deportation as he is a threat to national security. [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 2]
Special arrangements for taxi drivers Muslim taxi drivers who come into contact with dogs can make arrangements to change before going to pray (See BMMS for May 1999). A report was sent to Worcester City Council’s licensing committee by the Equal Opportunities Advisor after some Muslim taxi drivers refused to carry guidedogs in their cabs saying it was against their religion, and coming into contact with the dogs would make them unclean. In the report, the Advisor said that this should not present a problem because drivers can make arrangements to ensure washing and a change of clothes could take place before prayers. Councillor Robert Rowden said: "The problem is that if the dog is wet and shakes itself then the person becomes unclean from the point of view of going to the mosque. I am very concerned about people’s religious sensibilities. I think one monkeys with others religious sensibilities at one’s peril" (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 2]
A voluntary worker in Barking has been given an award for her role in the community as part of a millennium awards scheme. Asiya Ahmed, 56, was awarded £2,000 in The People’s Millennium Awards, organised by the Scarman Trust. Ms Ahmed has been involved in a number of projects in the Muslim community, including the Muslim Parents’ Association. She said: "I was a teacher and I felt that Muslim parents in the borough were not participating enough in their children’s education. I would phone up Muslim parents in the borough and they wouldn’t even know that they were expected to attend parents’ evenings. So I organised a meeting where the parents appointed their own representatives to carry on the work I had been doing, encouraging parents to take part in their children’s education." Ms Ahmed won her award for the weekly social and fitness club for Muslim women that she runs in Ilford. She plans to use her prize money to buy exercise equipment for the class (Barking & Dagenham Recorder, 29.07.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 2/3]
Storm as buildings sold for £1 Two mansions in Stoke Newington, were sold to a Muslim centre for £1 each, despite having being valued at £700,000. The sale was condemned by the council unions, particularly as Hackney Council, on the same night, decided to make £13 million in service cuts, which included sacking 150 workers. Cathy Stewart, leader of the town hall union Unison, said; "If those buildings were sold at the market value, it would save up to 40 council jobs that will be lost." However, the leader of the North London Muslim Centre, Ishmail Bawa, defended the purchase, saying: "We are promising to provide the council with £100,000 of extra services to the Muslim community every year for 10 years." He added that the property will never be sold on the private market (Hackney Gazette & North London Advertiser, 29.07.99 and 12.08.99, Q News, No310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 3]
A new committee was elected to run the Havering Islamic Cultural Centre for the next two years. In the chair is Tariq Lone, deputy chairman is Waqar Hassan, the secretary is Captain P. Badruddin, and the treasurer is Mohamad Saleem. The group, based at Century Youth House in Albert Road, meet every Friday and Sunday (Romford Recorder, 30.07.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 3]
A £3.2 million sheltered scheme for pensioners, set to open in Newham in October, will include a block of flats for elderly Asians. Newham Council set aside the places in the development to cater for the special needs of the Asian community after council chiefs spotted a gap in service provision. The toilets in this block are being specially designed so that none of them face Makkah, and equipment will be provided to cater for Indian cooking, with extra ventilation to remove spicy food odours. The project is a partnership between the council, Hanover Housing Group and the Housing Corporation. Project manager Teresa Waters said: "We need to respect cultural and religious beliefs of ethnic residents. They must have facilities to cook their traditional food because strict dietary laws exist and they must also be given the freedom to worship in their own way" (City of London Recorder, 30.07.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 3]
The much-hyped total eclipse of the sun on the 11th August received great media coverage, but some attention was also given to the thousands of Muslims who marked the event with Salat al-Kusuf, the eclipse prayer. In Gloucester, Muslims were requested to attend the mosque between 11am and noon for the prayer. Mahmoud Patel, a community member, said: "According to the text of the prophet Muhammad, Muslims witnessed a solar eclipse around 632AD. They thought a great person had died and they gathered to hear a speech." A religious leader added: "In the speech, Muhammad said the sun and the moon are two of Allah’s several signs. They are both a creation of God and they do not eclipse because somebody has died or because somebody is born. Whenever the almighty wishes he can bring about changes in any way he wishes… Whenever you observe such changes in the sky or on earth, remember your sustainer and cherisher and offer prayers, give alms and ask forgiveness for your bad deeds. Help the weak, poor, sick and the old. Be kind to his creation on earth and the lord of the skies will be merciful to you" (Gloucester Citizen, 10.08.99). Around 3,000 people are estimated to have attended the eclipse prayer in London’s Central Mosque. Sarah Joseph, spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain, explained the significance of the eclipse, saying that it was a sign of God’s power and even though the Prophet’s son had died on the day of an eclipse, he did not link the two events together. Ms Joseph said: "Even though Ibrahim, his infant son, died on the day of the eclipse, Muhammad did not use that for his advantage. He just repeated that the sun and the moon were God’s creation, that we do not worship these things but rather the Creator himself" (Lancashire Evening Post, 11.08.99, Blackpool Evening Gazette, 11.08.99, The Guardian, 12.08.99). Q News (No309, 01.08.99) printed some hadiths on the phenomenon, and in issue number 310 (15.08.99), reported on the sermon given at London’s Central Mosque. [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 3]
Work begins on Coventry centre Work began on the first phase in the construction of a £1 million health service for the Asian community, which will double the size of Coventry Muslim Resource Centre. The centre was awarded £430,000 from the National Lottery Charity Board in 1997, and received around £350,000 from European funding. The remaining £180,000 was raised by the Asian community themselves. Osman Sheikh, development officer for the centre, said: "If you have a free-standing service that says ‘health centre’ then by walking in you are saying to people outside that you are going in because you have a health problem or concern. In a close-knit community, some people don’t want to access that type of service so they keep away, thinking the problem will go away – a kind of ostrich approach. The only problem is their problem gets worse and we want them to access intervention at the earliest stage possible." The health centre will be linked to the existing community centre so, from the outside, people cannot tell what services visitors are accessing. The centre will provide accommodation for consultation, treatment, counselling, day care, a public internet access point, training rooms, training kitchen promoting nutrition and dietary advice, a crèche facility and a large hall for public events. Mr Sheikh added: "This is a community-led effort which strives to address health and care needs of Asians in Coventry in a way not explored before. It will encourage active participation by individuals and local groups in the project’s work, helping develop a positive sense of ownership of health issues among all Asian communities city-wide, particularly Foleshill" (Coventry Evening Telegraph, 02.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 3/4]
Plans to help troubled Bradford community Muslim leaders in Bradford are hoping to convert a derelict pub into a community centre and religious school to help improve a troubled inner city area. The UK Islamic Mission believes crime and social problems such as drug abuse, are increasing in the community because of the decline of religion. The supplementary school would be aimed at teaching children aged from five to eleven, and at mothers. Mohammed Ismail, president of the Bradford branch of the Islamic Mission, said: "There are a lot of young people in the community growing up as troublemakers – getting involved in drugs, stealing cars, car radios. We want to create a civil society and to stop people creating trouble. If you are educated you do not try and create trouble. We believe if someone is religious they will be a good person in the community and those who don’t believe in anything are trouble. We will teach in English and in Arabic, but mainly English. My generation had to learn to speak and read and write English, but my children and grandchildren all speak English. We need to teach the Koran in English because if we don’t, it will not mean anything to these children." The mission already runs a similar school for up to 80 children in another part of Bradford (Yorkshire Post, 02.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4]
Community fair at East London Mosque The Young Muslims Organisation UK, was to hold a community fair at East London Mosque on 7th August. Organisers promised a warm welcome for everyone attending the fair. Organiser Hussain Shefaar said the event would include a number of workshops highlighting social awareness problems such as drug abuse and gang violence. He said: "We want to create an awareness of these important issues so we can work towards the common good for the entire community" (East End Life, 02.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4]
Poets evening at centre celebrations A poets’ gathering was hosted by the Indian Muslim Association in Leicester, as part of their 10th annual celebrations. Scores of poets and Gujrati language writers from all over the country attended the gathering. Among them was Ahmedbhai Lunat, who recently received an OBE (Leicester Mercury, 04.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4]
Police caravan used for prayer Policemen in Edinburgh have won praise from the community after allowing a tourist to pray in their caravan when he realised he would not make it to the mosque on time. The English tourist asked policemen at the caravan for directions to the new mosque in Potterow, but became anxious when he realised he would not make it to the mosque for the 6pm prayer. PC Callum Macrae, who had given the directions, then offered the use of the caravan and cleared a space at the rear where the man could lay out his prayer mat and be left in private. Sergeant Lesley Clark of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This was an unusual request. We try to find solutions to all problems we are confronted with. We are glad that on this occasion we were able to help the gentleman, who wished to meet his religious obligations." Mohammed Yasin, from the Edinburgh Mosque and Islamic Centre, said: "We are grateful to the police for helping a Muslim perform his prayers in the caravan. The prayer is a very important part of our religion and has to be performed on time. The actions of the police have been a great service to the whole of the Muslim community." The man did not leave his name but thanked the police for their help (Glasgow Herald, 06.08.99, Sheffield Star, 05.08.99, Edinburgh Evening News, 05.08.99, Wolverhampton Express & Star, 05.08.99, Shropshire Star, 05,08.99, Birmingham Evening Mail, 05.08.99, Daily Record, 06.08.99, Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4]
Problems at Asian Festival of Harmony Members of the Muslim group Al-Muhajiroun caused a storm at a recent festival in Plumstead after they were thrown out by organisers, after setting up a stall at the event. The Plumstead Asian Festival of Harmony is an event designed to promote racial harmony. A few hours after the group had set up their stall, organisers ordered the members away, and police stepped in to ensure the group left the precincts of the festival. Abu Mujahidah, a representative of Al-Muhajiroun, said: "They said we were propagating religious and political ideas but that’s just prejudice because the Labour Party had a stall there and there was a Sikh stall selling symbols and religious books." However, the Plumstead Asian Mela Committee, who organised the event, said the group was expelled because it had not obtained a permit for the stall, which was blocking a fire exit. One member, Sidhu Biring, said: "The festival is licensed by Greenwich Council and conditions of license include the submission of layout plans of all types of stalls before the event. On this occasion there was no prior application by Al-Muhajiroun for a stall therefore they were asked to leave the site. The group were also blocking a fire escape route" (Erith & Crayford Times, 05.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4]
A chef who has just returned from the Middle East has criticised Muslim vandals who have been spraying graffiti in the Slough area. Billy Beale, 32, said he was angered by graffiti in one of the underpasses in Slough which reads: "The Islamic State is on its way." Mr Beale said: "I have lived and worked in the Middle East for a year and Oman is a beautiful place. It is an Islamic country but they don’t have to advertise it. Here, it is all over the place. It is being pushed down our throats." He added: "When I left Slough it was just starting, now it is everywhere. I think other people might be threatened by it." Slough Borough Council is responsible for removing the graffiti, but Mr Beale says it is a hopeless task, because as soon as it is removed, the wall is sprayed again. A Slough Borough Council spokesman said: "There has been a lot of graffiti in the last few weeks, we keep taking it down and within a few hours it is up there again. If people see who is doing it, they should report it to the police because technically it is criminal damage" (Windsor & Eton Express, 05.08.99, Slough & Langley Observer, 06.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 4/5]
Residents oppose club plan in Bristol Plans to convert a derelict social club into a Muslim centre have brought a furious response from local residents. Most have voiced concerns that the new centre with regular meetings will clog up side streets with cars. Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Chris Selway said; "People from all over Bristol would be coming in their cars for regular meetings. It would cause a traffic nightmare in nearby tiny streets and prevent access for ambulances and fire engines. Our objections are not on race or religious grounds. We realise there would not be any drinking problems with Moslems – it’s just the number of cars that would cause a problem." The Hosseinieh Foundation has asked for planning permission to use the premises, and councillors were to discuss the issue at a meeting at the end of August (Bristol Evening Post, 06.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
Factory to be converted into Muslim centre A disused factory in Accrington is to be converted into a Muslim cultural, social and educational centre. The scheme has been drawn up by the Ghousia Mosque Committee, who plan to transform the factory with the help of Lottery money. Councillor Ken Curtis said the fact that the factory was a listed building plagued by vandals and arson attacks had posed many problems for the council. He added: "It is a building with a long history, but I am delighted that this organisation has taken it over and have such good plans for it" (Accrington Observer, 06.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
Pakistani minister visits centre The Pakistani Social Welfare Minister, Chaudry Mohammed Riaz, visited Crawley at the end of July after receiving an invitation from the local Muslim association. As well as meeting people in the community, Mr Riaz also met with the town’s MP Laura Moffat. Former President of the Pakistani Muslim Welfare Association, Amin Mirza, said: "He stopped by to talk to Laura about a family in Langley Green who want their mother to fly over from Pakistan and visit them. But she has been turned down five times even after Laura had written a letter to pursue the cause" (Crawley Observer, 11.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
Islamic Trust seeks planning approval The Islamic Forum Trust are seeking approval from Newham Council to turn a shop and living accommodation in Manor Park into a religious school and drop-in welfare centre for the elderly (Docklands Recorder, 11.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
A two-week festival, called Mela Magic, was launched in Ribble Valley to celebrate the different aspects of Asian culture and the colourful contribution it makes to Lancashire life. Dr Shakoor, of Manchester-based Asian Art 2000, began the mela [festival] with a talk about the history and culture of Asians in Britain. He explained to the audience the differences between the religions and cultures of Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. After the meeting, Dr Shakoor spoke of the importance of the mela. He said: "It’s a celebration of the Asian community living in the Ribble Valley since the ‘50s. With the Millennium coming next year, it is a timely reminder of what Asian people have achieved within our society. It shows the way forward, because we all have to live together and we need to celebrate our differences as well as recognising what we have in common too" (Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, 12.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
Public view sought on Oxford centre Residents in Oxford are being asked to give their views on the planning applications submitted for the new building of the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies. Oxford City Council wanted residents to voice their opinions at a public meeting held on September 9, about the construction of a new building on part of Magdalen College sports ground (Oxford Journal, 13.08.99, Oxford Times, 13.08.99, The Guardian, 19.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
A women’s group in Waltham Forest is angry over funding cuts for the children’s holiday project the group ran. The Muslim Women’s Welfare Association, which runs activities at Leyton Youth Centre, hit out after Waltham Forest Council agreed funding for only two weeks. Co-ordinator of the Association, Meher Khan, said: "In past years we have received money for between three and four weeks" (Waltham Forest Independent, 13.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5]
Q News has printed an article about a woman’s experience at a Sufi gathering in London. Invited by a friend she was under the assumption that the Shaykh at the gathering was a respected one, but arriving there, she was shocked and angered at what she experienced. The crowds that gathered in the tiny council flat seemed to be "semi-worshipping" the Shaykh, while much of the behaviour between the Shaykh and the females in the crowd seemed inappropriate. The woman writing the article told how she was forced to sit at the Shaykh’s feet, while men danced and sang, and that she was told not to go home, and many of the others there had not been home for days. She was finally ‘rescued’ from the gathering by her husband. However, she was left confused and asked "Are such practices the norm now? What is going on? If this is the face of Sufi Islam, I dread to think what the media would make of it! It seems to me as extreme, at the opposite end of the spectrum, as Wahhabism. I feel cheated and disappointed" (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5/6]
Special refuse collection plan criticised Muslims living in the Little Horton area of Bradford have been given special dispensation from the council to allow their rubbish to be collected from their doorsteps instead of the collection point at the end of the alley. Muslims living in the five streets where the new arrangements are being carried out persuaded the council that their religion forbids women from going outdoors, so they would not be able to take their rubbish to the end of the alley. Now the council has called in external auditors KPMG and has asked its chief executive to investigate how the arrangements have come about. They are believed to have started with the intervention of two Little Horton councillors, Bradford council leader Ian Greenwood, and transport, planning and design committee chairman Latif Darr. The council does make special refuse collection services available to people who cannot wheel their bins to the end of the alleyways, such as the disabled and the elderly , but this is the first time a block dispensation, involving 50 houses, has been made. Cllr Greenwood said that one of the reasons he was asked to get involved was because some of the householders were women in purdah who were not permitted to have contact with strangers and therefore could not take bins out into the streets. He assured reporters that no pressure had been brought on council officers. He said: "A lot of people were unhappy when the new system started and I arranged a meeting to discuss it. What has happened is not improper in any shape or form. It was raised with me as a local member." But the exemption has evoked disbelief among those who claim it is exploiting the council’s eagerness to be seen to be servicing Muslim needs. One prominent Bradford Muslim said: "I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s ridiculous. They’re abusing Islam by taking it down to their rubbish level." He added: "There’s also an element of vote-winning going on. Little Horton is the ward of the council leader and Latif Darr, who is also the cleansing department manager" (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 5/6]
Councillors and MPs are calling on the Lord Chancellor to draw up a code of practice for coroners after it emerged that Bradford has become the latest place where the office is failing to meet the needs of the community. These calls come after Bradford coroner, Roger Whittaker refused to extend opening hours to allow the city’s Muslims to bury their dead as soon as possible. He has so far resisted pressure from Bradford West MP Marsha Singh and Ian Greenwood, the leader of Bradford Council, as well as numerous Muslim councillors to show some flexibility, maintaining that the coroner’s office already delivers an efficient enough service to the Muslim community. Councillor Sajawal Hussain said Mr Whittaker has left them with no choice but to appeal to a higher authority. He said: "I know of 14 deaths that have occurred since Easter where the relatives have had to wait up to five or six days for the body to be released. I can understand delays when suspicious circumstances might require a post-mortem but in normal circumstances there should be no excuse." He added: "People are being inconvenienced and distressed simply because the coroner wants to enjoy his time off. We have 90,000 Muslims in this city. I think the coroner should be more sensitive to their needs." Dr Aziz Pasha of the Union of Muslim Organisations, said: "I will be raising the matter with the Home Secretary. We are already campaigning for Muslims to be exempt from post-mortems." Marsha Singh said: "It is certainly time for there to be some national guidelines." Although the coroner is appointed by the council, he holds an independent judicial position which allows him to decide when his office is available, and is answerable to the Lord Chancellor but only in the event of serious complaints (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 6]
A drug addict who broke into mosques and stole from them to finance his habit, was caught after being arrested for shoplifting. Salim Ali’s fingerprints were found to match those left behind at the mosques. Ali, aged 25, pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary each at Cumberland Street mosque and Troy Street Mosque and possession of heroin. He was remanded in custody for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. The magistrates, who indicated that all sentencing options would remain open imposed condition of residence, surrender of passport and ordered him not to apply for any international travel documents. John Dewhurst, defending, asked the magistrate to adjourn the case for reports. He said that until these matters had been detected Ali’s family had no idea of his heroin addiction (Q News, No. 310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 6]
Some High Street banks have been condemned for making money out of Muslim religious sensibilities. Halifax, Barclays and Yorkshire Bank have said that when Muslims refuse to have interest credited into their accounts, the money will not go to charity but will most likely be kept by the bank. Halifax alone said it could be keeping back a total of £15,000 of rejected interest each year. But despite some banks saying they will donate the interest to charity on behalf of the customer, these three have said they will not follow suit. Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, said: "It is scandalous that the banks, which make billions of pounds, are earning more money because of the simplicity and naiveté of individuals. Moslems are being exploited without even realising it." Banking experts and politicians joined in the criticism. Mushtaq Parker, editor of Islamic Banker magazine, said: "Moslems not accepting interest is a growing trend and the banks should try to accommodate them. High Street banks are largely ignorant of the issues and see this as a religious phenomenon that they don’t want to get involved in." Liberal Democrat finance spokesman Vince Cable said: "The banks should not be using their customers’ religious convictions as an excuse to boost their profits. This interest should be given to charities in accordance with customers’ wishes." A Halifax spokesman said keeping the interest that might have been paid to Muslims "does not really benefit us - it’s a drop in the ocean." A Barclays spokeswoman said that the bank could not give interest to charity because technically it belonged to the customer. But HSBC (formerly Mid land) and Bank of Scotland offer this facility to their Muslim clients (The Express, 18.08.99) [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 6/7]
Local Muslims in Leicester have been raising money for victims of the earthquake in Turkey. Islamic Relief has launched an emergency fund for victims of the disaster, and has already pledged £12,500 to help the needy. Manzoor Moghal, chair of the Federation of Muslim Organisations and local representative of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "The local Muslim community is shocked by the level of devastation - the death toll seems to be rising every hour. Our prayers and sympathies go to those who have been afflicted" (Leicester Mercury, 19.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
The Ahmadiyya community in Tilford linked up with 10 million people from around the world via satellite. The event was part of the group’s annual international convention, held at its regular home of Islamabad - formerly Old Sheephatch School. Organisers of the conference hailed it the best in their 34-year history. Spokesman Nasser Butt said: "It was extremely successful. We had 21,000 people this year and we were only expecting 19,000. we had people from 60 countries coming from Japan, Indonesia, China, Africa and a particularly large contingent from Germany." The Ahmadiyya community praised local councils and emergency services for their handling of the event (Farnham Herald, 20.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
A seminar entitled Promoting Muslim Arts in the UK was held as part of the "Mutualities: Britain and Islam" initiative where artistic/cultural events nation-wide have been promoted. Terry Sandell OBE, director of the Visiting Arts Department of the British Council who held the seminar, explained that the Mutualities programme was spawned because "not enough was happening" in terms of Muslim art. The problem of funding for the arts was a common point raised throughout the seminar (Muslim News, 27.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
The ‘Kirklees Foster Campaign’ is seeking local people who can provide foster homes for Asian children who cannot live with their own families for a variety of reasons. Clare Mulgan from the Family Placement Team, said: "We already have some foster carers from the Asian community and to help us to find more we have now appointed someone who speaks Asian languages. This will make it easier for people interested in fostering, as they will be able to speak to a social worker in their own language." Children who need care come from a variety of backgrounds, and some need carers who can look after them throughout childhood and into adulthood, while others will only need to be cared for over a short time. Rafique Rashid, who has just joined the Family Placement Team, said: "We always try to find a family that is similar to the child’s culture and background. That is why we need to speak to families from all parts of the Asian community to provide places for children from Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faiths. This will enable us to bring up the children in the culture and faith they are used to." Support, training and financial assistance is provided to foster parents to help with the extra costs incurred when taking another child into the family (Muslim News, 27.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
Muslim News (27.08.99) comments on the low number of Muslims who were honoured with awards in the Queens Birthday Honours List this year. Only five CBEs were awarded to various Muslims for their services, which they compare to 16 Hindus and Sikhs and 17 Jews. The Muslims who were awarded CBEs are: Naseem Fatima Khan for serving cultural diversity; Faizur Rahman Choudry for serving community relations in Birmingham; Ahmed Abdi Jama for services to the NHS; Hossain Rezaei for service to ethnic minority speciality bread sector [managing director of Pride Valley Foods]; and Mohammad Ishaque Suleman for serving patient care. [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
Education Councillors in Blackburn have given the go-ahead for a new Muslim school, but have decided to restrict it’s numbers to 200, as opposed to the 400 wanted by the board. The Al Islah School will be built on land off Lambeth Street in the Auldley Range area. The lower total was set by the council because of fears of traffic problems in the area if 400 pupils were allowed. A car park has been included in the plans for the two-storey building. Labour councillor Dorothy Greenwood said: "I still think that the extra traffic in this area will create horrendous problems" (Blackburn Citizen, 30.07.99, Q News, No310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
A joint parents’ evening and presentation night was held at the Idara Minhaj ul Quran Muslim School in Nelson. Pupils from the school were rewarded for their hard work and dedication during the last school year. The event also gave the parents a chance to hear and see a little of the work which has been done by their children at the school. Teachers also had the opportunity to speak with parents about their children’s work (Nelson Leader, 06.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7]
Women Welfare Association celebrates The Mayor of Chingford, Peter Dawe, was to be the guest of honour at the Muslim Women’s Welfare Association’s celebration of its year’s activities. Among other attractions at the event in the activities hall at Leyton Leisure Lagoon, was to be a children’s performance and music and songs by Asghar and Co. (Chingford Guardian, 05.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 7/8]
The Slough Muslim Women’s Group, An-Nisa, is searching for new premises in the town. The group currently meets in members’ houses to run social events for women and children. They recently held a bazaar and jumble sale to raise funds (Slough & Langley Observer, 05.08.99 and 13.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 8]
Interfaith A move to establish a dialogue between Jews and Muslims in Manchester was launched at the end of July, when members of both communities attended a luncheon. The aim is to set up an Aliph-Aleph forum, an initiative of the Maimonides Foundation, which promotes understanding between Jews and Muslims through seminars, exchange visits to mosques and synagogues, and informal meetings (Jewish Chronicle, 30.07.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 8]
Footballer turned away from Jewish club A Jewish football club has denied it turned away a Muslim footballer from trials because he was of the ‘wrong’ religion. Wingate and Finchley Football Club claim that Turkish-born Serdar Kilincarslan misinterpreted their reasons for rejecting him when he turned up at the club. Serdar told reporters: "I spoke to a man who asked me where I came from. I said I was from Turkey and he asked me if I was Muslim. I said yes and he told me I could not go for trials because I was not Jewish." However, the club insists that Serdar’s poor English cause him to misconstrue their comments. A spokesman said: "He came after the draft had been concluded. I told him it was not worth his while and that he was better off directing his efforts towards a club where the draft was still open. Serdar came and spoke to me but because his English is very poor he misunderstood. To be honest, my one year old’s English is better than his." The spokesman refused to entertain suggestions that the club had a quota on non-Jewish players. Of the club’s first team squad of 18, ten are Jews and eight are non-Jews. He added: "We’re a club which plays a high level of football. We are not wholly Jewish but we have a high number of Jewish players because of our history. We have a Muslim in the squad, our president is non-Jewish and four of our player awards last season went to non-Jews" (Q News, No309, 01.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 8]
The Evangelical Alliance in the UK turned down a proposal to apologise to Muslims in Britain for the Crusades, in this the 900th anniversary of the capture of Jerusalem. Earlier, the Evangelical Alliance had proposed visiting every mosque in Britain to offer an apology to Muslims and to strengthen Christian-Muslim relations. However, the Alliance was not convinced that such an apology would not be misunderstood by Muslims, or be seen to be a superficial, ‘knee-jerk’ response. The Principal of the Muslim College in London, is said to have called for an apology from the Christian Church, even for the word "crusading" to be removed from the English language, but the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, advised against such an apology, emphasising that the crusades were a complex issue, directed not only against Muslims, but against Slavs, Jews, Eastern Christians and heretics (Church Times, 13.08.99). Muslims in Bradford were surprised to hear that the church was considering an apology. Ishtiaq Ahmed, information officer for the Bradford Council for Mosques, said he welcomed any effort to further Christian-Muslim relations, but added: "Being apologetic about the past is not the way forward. We need to look at it in a constructive and fresh light and say there are things we should leave in the past and let’s look in a new way at working together" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 05.08.99). Christians did, though, hold a service of apology to Muslims and Jews, at a service in the Round Church, Cambridge, which was built to celebrate the first victory of the Crusades. Teams of Christians also took part in a "reconciliation walk" in Turkey and Lebanon. The service in Cambridge benefited from a live link-up with a parallel service in Jerusalem, held to mark the end of the three-year walk (Q News, No. 309, 01.08.99, The Daily Telegraph, 03.08.99, Church Times, 13.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 8]
Hindus and Muslims in Wembley have clashed after a Hindu group moved into new premises next to a mosque. Muslims at Wembley Central Mosque in Ealing Road are demanding that their new neighbours be evicted from the Labour Party building next door which they are using. Mohammad Hoda, secretary of the Muslim Welfare Association, said: "It’s not possible for our differing religious beliefs and communities to practice physically side by side. We’re having complaints around the clock from our worshippers. It can only cause disorder and disturbance of peace if it’s allowed to continue." He has posted letters to nearby shops and members of the public voicing his opposition. A spokesman for the Hindu members of the Brent North Tamil Association said: "We hold no animosity at all towards Muslims - in fact, we open our doors to anyone of any faith. It’s sad when people of one faith can’t tolerate others. We all live in the same country and should be thankful for the space we’re given to practise our individual freedom of worship." The Tamil group successfully applied to rent part of Pavitt Hall on a monthly basis when it was put up for tender by its trustees. The Muslim Association is now appealing to the Labour Party to reverse its decision. But trustee Len Snow said there are no grounds to the opposition. He said: "This is not a problem. Britain is a multi-cultural society where Mu lim and Hindu families live together in harmony, so there is no reason why the Hindu group shouldn’t practise its faith in Pavitt Hall. Everyone should pipe down and keep calm about the matter which we should be able to resolve amicably" (Asian Times, 03.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 8] Halal Muslims buying live chickens for home slaughters could face jail, according to a new council initiative to stop cruel trade. Birmingham City Council chiefs say they are powerless to stop sellers cashing in on the live-chicken trade because no laws are being broken. But they now plan to warn Muslim customers that they could face a £5,000 fine or three months in jail for each home killing. Birmingham City Council animal welfare officer Graham Taylor, said: "We are powerless to stop the sellers so we are now concentrating on the customers. It is not illegal for individuals to buy live chickens which cost around £3 each. But it is an offence to kill the birds anywhere except a halal-registered slaughterhouse unless they have been stunned first. The majority of Muslims do not follow these rules as it goes against Koran teachings which say the bird must bleed to death. As well as being unnecessarily cruel, there is no way of knowing if the chickens sold are healthy or diseased." City councillor, Mohammed Kazi, said: "These street sales have to stop. There are so many registered halal outlets in the city now that is unnecessary." However, Hazrat Miya, president of a local mosque, said: "Chickens have been killed by Muslims in the halal method for thousands of years. It cannot be right for the council to threaten us with jail for simply following our religious beliefs" (Sunday Mercury, 08.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 9]
A food engineering breakthrough in Manchester could broaden the range of products currently available to Muslims. The firm National Starch has come up with a speciality starch called Purity Gum 59, which could replace gelatine in confectionery, yoghurts and chilled desserts. Gelatine is prohibited by many scholars because it is formulated from collagen, a product obtained from boiling down animal bones (Q News, No310, 15.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 9]
Health Community opposes free-for-all donations Community organisations have unanimously condemned the British Medical Association’s (BMA) plans to scrap the current opt-in policy on organ donation in favour of one that presumes consent. It the new proposals are adopted by the government, it will mean that doctors will have the right to remove organs from the dead unless they have registered their prior refusal on a central database. The BMA received overwhelming backing from its members for the policy at its annual conference in July. They believe this procedure will eliminate the national shortfall of organs, currently running at 6,000. This policy has been adopted on the continent, which has led to a significant increase in the number of organs available. However, the policy has sparked fierce opposition, from within and outwith the profession. Imam Shahid Raza of the Muslim Shari’ah Council said: "We would be reluctant to endorse that kind of policy. It should be the other way round. If you wish to donate, you should make it known by signing." Dr Abdul Majid Katme of the Islamic Medical Association which is against organ donations except in extreme circumstances, said: "We oppose it very strongly. There will be a lot of Muslims who die unaware of the fact. They should leave the right of people to opt-in if they want." The proposals were also attacked by Dr Syed Aziz Pasha, chairman of the Union of Muslim Organisations, who said: "This is contrary to all the Islamic traditions. Organ transplants are not allowed at all, the premise being that an individual’s body does not belong to him but is a trust given by Allah. We advise Muslims to take a will if possible so that nobody will mess around with their body after they die." Massoud Shadjareh from the Islamic Human Rights Commission, added: "What right do doctors have to take our organs without consent? It would constitute an outrageous infringement of our civil liberties. It’s perfectly clear from the law as it stands that most people do not actively wish to donate their organs. This is just a stratagem to allow the state to steal them" (Q News, No. 309, 01.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 9]
BMA’s policy condemned as ‘euthanasia’ An ethical backlash by doctors opposed to euthanasia is emerging in the wake of the British Medical Association’s new guidelines on refusing food and water to patients. The guidelines, published in June, effectively dispense with the need for court orders before nutrition and hydration by tube are withdrawn from patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). More controversially, the BMA wants doctors to be allowed, without fear of prosecution, to authorise the withdrawal in cases involving stroke victims and the confused elderly, even when the patient is not terminally ill. In cases where relatives object, they would have to go to court to prevent withdrawal of fluids. More than 6,000 doctors are now expected to support the launch of the Medical Ethics Alliance, an umbrella group that aims to fight the proposals. An interdenominational movement of doctors from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths is combining with other non-sectarian groups who still abide by the Hippocratic oath to combat the proposals. The Alliance has received messages of support from Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi, and Dr Jafer Qureshi, after a meeting of the medical and health committee of the Muslim Council of Britain (The Times, 12.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 9]
Employment Trustees of Muslim Aid, Britain’s biggest Muslim charity, have admitted that they were wrong in dismissing the organisation’s director last January. They have also said that they are prepared to pay maximum compensation. Mahmood ul-Hassan was told to leave after the chairman of the trustees, Iqbal Sacranie, accused him of gross misconduct in the charity’s annual general meeting. In the run up to the tribunal, held in July, Mr Hassan refused several settlement offers made by the trustees of Muslim Aid. The charity had given the appearance that they would contest his claim, but then dropped their opposition as soon as the tribunal got underway. Now the tribunal, which was adjourned to examine the prospect of reinstatement and other matters, will set the level of compensation, which is set in the region of £25,000, the highest it can award. Mr Hassan also intends to pursue an even bigger claim for breach of contract, and he also has an outstanding claim for unpaid wages. Mr Hassan said he brought his claim against the trustees as individuals because he believes they acted against the interests of the charity. Yusuf Islam, one of the charity’s trustees, resigned in protest at Mr Hassan’s dismissal. Mr Hassan said: "Muslim Aid has never been a peaceful place. There have always been problems among the trustees" (Q News, No309, 01.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 9/10]
Employee in discrimination case A tribunal has heard how a non-Muslim worker was sacked by a bedding company after he refused to take a pay cut or work weekends to come into line with new working hours during the month of Ramadan. Michael Johnson, 56, told the tribunal in Leeds that he was being "picked on" because of his race while working at Premier Beds. He claimed working hours at the firm - where only three of the 22 employees were white - were reduced to coincide with Ramadan and that he was given a choice of working extra hours on Saturday mornings or taking a pay cut. Sandra Powell, representing Mr Johnson, said: "This was no real choice at all. The other employees were bound to agree to it. To have asked him to make a choice was discrimination." The tribunal reserved its decision (Q News, No309, 01.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10]
Mosques & Burials An old church in Bournemouth has been bought by Muslims to convert into a mosque. The Apostolic Church/New Life Christian Centre has been bought by the city’s Bangladeshi community, who will now have their own base. Ismail Ali, joint owner of a nearby restaurant, said: "Every Bangladeshi restaurant and take-away in town was asked to donate £500 towards the purchase price. But in the last few weeks the trustees visited Muslim communities up and down the country, asking them to help us set up a mosque." News of the new mosque received a mixed reaction. Revd Stephen Holmes said: "It’s the first I’ve heard about it but Bournemouth has a growing Muslim population and their spiritual needs need to be catered for. I have enormous respect for Muslims as they practice their faith well, and a good and upright Muslim can be a credit to the community." Tariq Palmer, spokesman for the Bournemouth Islamic Centre, said he was delighted at the news: "For the brothers to be able to meet and pray close to where many of them live and work is a great step forward. And it will certainly help to take the pressure off us on Fridays when our building is packed full." However, not everyone was happy with the news. Denis Bennett, corps sergeant major at Winton Salvation Army in the neighbouring road said: "Personally, I’m very disappointed to hear about the mosque. For 10 years up until the Second World War the Salvation Army used the church for its Sunday school and youth work. And it was in that church that I first got involved with the Army. I would have preferred the building to have been used by another Christian organisation, or pulled down and developed for residential use" (Bournemouth Daily Echo, 07.08.99). The Revd Victor Atkins, who had put the church up for sale after moving to bigger premises, was angered by the decision to sell the church to the Muslim group, especially as he was not told who the buyers were. He said: "We turned down the original offer from Muslims because of religious grounds. It’s a Christian building after all." He added: "We only agreed to a later sale to developers claiming to be building residential properties at the site...I am very disappointed by how things have turned out. I feel let down" (Bournemouth Daily Echo, 10.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10]
A 12-year search for new premises and a larger mosque has ended for the Muslim community in Chesham (See BMMS for February s1999). A former office block in Bellingdon Road, where the present mosque is currently situated, will be able to accommodate most of the town’s Muslim community for Friday prayers and during Ramadan - the busiest times at the mosque. Now the community is praying that the proposal will be approved by Chiltern District Council’s planning committee. The Anjuman-UM Islamic Cultural and Education Centre has submitted a planning application to Chesham Town Council to convert the office block into a mosque and cultural centre. The application was to be discussed on September 9 (Bucks Free Press, 20.08.99, Bucks Examiner, 20.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10]
Members of a Cradley Heath mosque are planning to extend their headquarters in the Plant Street area of the town. The Cradley Heath Mosque and Islamic Centre has asked for permission to make extensions and external alterations to the centre. The plan was to be seen at the next meeting of Sandwell’s planning committee (Sandwell Chronicle, 06.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10]
Ahmadiyya Muslims in Edinburgh could get their own burial site. If councillors give the go-ahead, 100 graves will be set aside in Corstorphine Hill Cemetery for the group. Councillor Lesley Hinds, convenor of the Racial Equality Forum, said: "This is just one example of the work being carried out by the council’s equalities team with ethnic minority groups. Only through consultation can we achieve an understanding of the specific needs of different communities and offer suitable solutions" (Edinburgh Evening News, 14.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10]
Residents near a mosque in Gloucester say that worshippers at the mosque are causing them to have sleepless nights. The issue was raised by residents of All Saints’ Road at a police and community meeting. The meeting was told that the noise starts when people attending the mosque go to pray in the morning. Glen Lupino Meeham, 49, who lives opposite the mosque, said: "I don’t need an alarm clock any more. I am woken up at 4:30 in the morning, they have a discussion in the street and they slam their car doors. I realise they need to pray because it’s part of their religion and I have nothing against their religious convictions, but as residents we need a bit more peace and quiet." He said the same happens at night, although not as badly as in the mornings. However, a member of the Muslim community speaking on behalf of the worshippers at the mosque, said: "Islam teaches us to think of our neighbours and be considerate. We have always told our congregation to be considerate and aware of other people and religions. I will tell the congregation to be more considerate but it could be anybody outside slamming their car doors. We have always been very considerate with our neighbours - the council even gave us permission to conduct the feast of Ramadan over loudspeakers and we did not because we are considerate of our neighbours." Inspector Gary Thompson of Gloucester Police, said: "We have regular meetings with both mosques and they make serious efforts to make sure the congregation are considerate in both terms of parking and noise" (Gloucester Citizen, 11.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 10/11]
Members of Keighley’s Muslims community are being asked to donate one week’s wages to pay for the town’s new mosque (See BMMS for August and September 1998 and February 1999). The community has grown since the original mosque was built, and members of Keighley Muslim Association (KMA) feel they need a bigger mosque to cope with Friday prayers and other big gatherings. The original mosque was built in 1972, and it is hoped that the new one will provide better facilities for women and children. The KMA is now trying intensively to raise the £500,000 necessary to begin construction. Javid Bashir, press secretary for the KMA, said: "The plan is to make an appeal to the Muslim people to donate towards this project. Our plan is to raise it by getting the Muslim community to donate one week’s wage. There are 10,000 Muslims in Keighley and so if even 5,000 have £100 each we will reach our target." Planning permission for the three-storey mosque was granted in February. Mohammed Ajaib, chief administrator of the KMA, said: "Bradford Council wanted to help the Asian community and we are grateful for that. The fact that there were no objections reflects really well on the community and that was one of the things that the planning sub group has taken into account" (Keighley News, 13.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 11]
Work on the controversial £3 million development on the former Express Dairies site on London Road could begin this autumn if the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association can raise enough money in time (See BMMS for September 1998, April and July 1999). Planning permission for the building was granted at the end of July, and the construction of the mosque, which has been dubbed a ‘mosque for the Millennium’, is expected to take two years to complete. There are still mixed feelings about the mosque from local residents, who do not oppose the building as much now, but are still concerned about traffic problems (Wimbledon Guardian, 29.07.99, Wimbledon News, 30.07.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 11]
Worshippers at the Medina Mosque and Islamic Centre could be called to prayers three times a day using a loudspeaker, if Oldham’s planning department give permission. Secretary of the mosque in Stansfield Street, Jajudul Islam, said each call to prayer would last about two minutes. The timing would depend upon the time of year, but it would never be earlier than noon, and no later than 7:30pm (Oldham Advertiser, 12.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 11]
Tower Hamlets councillors have given permission for Somali group, the Nur Ul Islam Society, to build a mosque and community centre. The mosque will be next to a cinema, in the middle of what the Liberal Democrats had planned to make the heart of leisure and entertainment in Tower Hamlets when they ran the council. Owners of the cinema are worried that by showing and advertising modern and adult films, they may offend their neighbours and cause friction. Tyrone Walker-Hebborn said: "We were concerned about offending our neighbours. The council have assured us that this will not be a problem but I’m not sure how they can guarantee anything." Liberal Democrat councillor, Ray Gipson, said building a mosque next to the cinema is inappropriate. However, a spokesman for the Nur Ul Islam Society said: "It will primarily be a community centre for training and supplementary support for school children," adding that the mosque would only take up a small part of the building (East London Advertiser, 05.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 11]
Residents in Wakefield are unhappy about plans for a new mosque in Agbrigg Road. A total of 193 residents have signed a petition opposing the planned mosque and religious school. Their main objections are that the mosque will create more traffic, limit car parking spaces for residents, and will generate noise all day long. The residents’ petition was to be submitted to Wakefield planning department. Members of the Muslim community who want to buy the building, insist there will be little traffic build-up as most of the worshippers live nearby and will walk to the mosque (Wakefield Express, 13.08.99). [BMMS August 1999 Vol. VII, No. 8, p. 11]
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