BMMS September 1999

A Pakistani imam accused of recruiting and fundraising for a Muslim terrorist group has won his appeal against deportation from Britain (See British Muslims Monthly Survey for April, June and August 1999). The Home Office had alleged that Shafiq ur-Rehman, 28, was a threat to national security as he was the head of Markaz Dawa Al Irshad (MDI), an Islamic group in Pakistan with a military wing fighting in the war against India in Kashmir. However, the newly-established special immigration appeals commission ruled that the government had not shown that Mr Rehman, from Oldham, had recruited British Muslims for military camps, or knowingly engaged in fundraising for them. At the hearing in central London, Mr Rehman claimed he was being punished for resisting an attempt by MI5 to recruit him as an agent. He said the only money he had raised was for social and welfare projects. After the hearing, Mr Rehman said: "I am very happy that justice has been done and I would like to thank my legal team. I was not given legal aid or any help and I felt that there was no justice left in England. But now I believe that there is justice after all." His barrister, Sibghat Qadri QC, demanded that the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, should tell Parliament why MI5 had been trying to recruit members of the Muslim clergy. He said: "The home secretary must explain whether it is an official policy of the British government to use mosques to recruit clerics, and if clerics refuse then they go. That sort of thing happens in countries like the Soviet Union not places like England which has religious freedom." In the 23-page judgement, the commissioners accepted that Mr Rehman had helped provide sponsorship and information for people going to Pakistan for training, which might have included military or extremist activities. But they ruled that the government had not proved that he knew what sort of training it might entail. The commissioners said: "In view of our findings the appellant had not been proved to have acted in the past in such a way as to cause a threat or damage to national security. We are not satisfied on the evidence that his future behaviour is likely to constitute such a threat." Mr Rehman is the first person to have his case heard by the special immigration appeals commission. It reviews deportations that are ordered on national security grounds. John Wadham, the director of civil rights group Liberty, said: "This does raise questions about the fairness and justice of previous decisions made under the old system and suggests that people have been unnecessarily and unfairly deported. It also raises questions about the quality of information provided by the police and MI5, confirming our scepticism about their records and information gathering" (The Guardian, 11.09.99, Daily Mail, 11.09.99, The Times, 11.09.99, Yorkshire Post, 11.09.99, The Express, 11.09.99, The Daily Telegraph, 11.09.99, Manchester Evening News, 11.09.99, Western Daily Press, 11.09.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99).

After the hearing, Mr Qadri also launched an attack on Muslim organisations and politicians, accusing them of kow-towing rather than standing up to government injustice. He said: "While my client received profound support from the Muslim community who had no doubt about the honesty and credentials of my client, he was sadly abandoned by those appointed or recognised as "the representatives of Muslims in Britain." They are only interested in getting into Parliament and receiving the patronage of the government. There was a -deliberate attempt to sabotage my client by so-called respectable Muslim organisations." The Muslim Council of Britain, which seemed to be the main target of Mr Qadri’s attack, took up his challenge to ask the Home Secretary for a full explanation. They said: "The MCB has demanded Home Secretary Jack Straw give a categorical assurance that the security services will not use any member of the community to spy on another. The case has damaged pastoral work in areas where such setbacks can least be afforded" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99).

The Home Secretary has been refused permission to appeal against the ruling. The Home Office said it will now approach the Court of Appeals directly. A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "Today’s hearing was to seek leave to appeal against the commission’s original decision. That leave was refused. We are now considering whether we will take that appeal to the court of appeal." Speaking after this hearing, Mr Rehman’s lawyer, Sibghat Qadri QC, said: "The tribunal has decided that its original decision was hard and fast and yet the home office is still considering whether to appeal. They should accept the decision" (The Guardian, 21.09.99, Manchester Evening News, 20.09.99, Asian Times, 21.09.99, Morning Star, 21.09.99, Manchester Evening News, 21.09.99, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 21.09.99, Muslim News, 24.09.99, Oldham Evening Chronicle, 30.09.99, Birmingham Post, 01.10.99).

The Guardian (01.10.99) has written a profile about the case, in which for the first time officers from MI5 and MI6 testified in open court. The article says that this case raises unpleasant questions about the attitude of the British establishment towards the country’s Muslim community. It also points out that the secret services had all the arsenal of tapping, eavesdropping, snooping and international trawling available to them in order to prove their case. They simply had to show the special appeals commission that Mr Rehman was so dangerous that he had to be deported. But the commission threw the case out saying there was no evidence to prove Mr Rehman was a recruiter, fundraiser or a threat to the UK. Added to this is the allegation that Mr Rehman, despite being a supposed threat to Britain, was ready to be recruited as an MI5 agent. Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News, said: "This has really upset the Muslim community. On the one hand you have the prime minister saying we’re considered part and parcel of society and on the other the security service is trying to recruit a person who Muslims come to with their concerns in private. It’s not like priests and confession, but if you have personal problems, you go to discuss it with the imam. And why do they consider that people supporting or sending money to groups fighting for their independence overseas are committing a crime? We were very surprised." [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 1/2]

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New prison advisor appointed

A new advisor to the Prison Service has recently been appointed, amid controversial suggestions that Britain is on the verge of an Asian crime wave. Maqsood Ahmed, 43, has been named as the first Muslim Advisor to the Prisons, beating 200 applicants to land the post (See BMMS for November and December 1998 and July 1999). Mr Ahmed’s job will be to expand and standardise services across institutions. This will mean instituting special timetables for worship, dietary facilities for Ramadan and rehabilitation strategies. Mr Ahmed said: "I look forward to the challenge of this new post which will ensure that the diverse needs of the Muslim prisoner population are catered for. I have worked for over twenty years with multi-racial communities in which I have gained first hand experience in dealing with their complexities. I strongly believe that this post is a firm commitment to addressing the concerns of Muslim inmates." Mr Ahmed will be responsible to the Director General but will also be working under the Chaplain General (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). Many newspapers reported on this appointment (including The Times, 03.09.99, Walsall Express & Star, 03.09.99, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 03.09.99, Morning Star, 04.09.99, Birmingham Post, 04.09.99, The Independent, 07.09.99, The Guardian, 08.09.99, Leicester Mercury, 08.09.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 08.09.99, Hull Daily Mail, 08.09.99, Eastern Eye, 10.09.99, Church Times, 10.09.99).

However, many papers concentrated their stories on the surge of crime amongst Britain’s Muslims, following an article on the front page of The Times, with the headline that Britain is facing an "Asian crime wave" (The Times, 03.09.99). It reports that the Muslim Advisor has been appointed because of this concern, and that the number of Muslims in prisons has doubled in just six years. It also reports that ministers have been told that the upsurge in criminal activity could lead to a dangerous new "moral panic". The number of Muslims in jail has risen from 1,840 in 1990 to 4,355 in 1999. This is compared with the number of Hindus in jail, which has risen from 198 in 1997 to 243 this year, Sikhs from 394 to 456, while Jews fell from 288 to 198. It also reports that Western influence has been a catalyst for change, with most youngsters rebelling against their elders’ ideals and being more assertive in following modern Western trends.

Demography offers a partial explanation of this change. Most criminals are young men, and there is a higher proportion of young Asians than of any other ethnic group. Added to this is the tendency to be academic underachievers, which leads to poor job opportunities. Unemployment among Pakistanis and Bangladeshis is said to be roughly double that of the white population. However, some people have criticised these suggestions, saying that the newspaper, by using such a strong headline, has sensationalised the story, making the situation sound worse than it actually is. Police in Bradford have refuted claims that crime among the Asian communities is on the increase, more so than in other communities. Inspector Martin Baines, Bradford Community and Race Relations Officer, said: "Crime is all over the place, not in one or two particular areas. I have policed Bradford for 25 years and the people that come through the custody doors just reflect the population" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 07.09.99). There are also suggestions that the sentencing of Asian men is likely to be harsher. Ishtiaq Ahmed, director of Bradford Racial Equality Council, said: "I think there’s a strong element of prejudice in sentencing." Rachid Singh, a Sikh lawyer, agreed, although he said things seemed to be improving: "Sentencing is tougher, and always has been. It’s always been harder to get bail for people of Asian origin. The main argument is that they can always leave the jurisdiction.

Sentences are tougher but I think it’s getting closer and the reason is we’re getting more Asian magistrates" (The Guardian, 08.09.99). However, just as crime has increased among Muslims, criminal activity has also increased across other faith groups. Darcus Howe, writing in the New Statesman (13.09.99), asks why Muslims should be expected to be especially law-abiding, particularly when they live in the poorest inner-city areas, saying: "There is no magic, no abracadabra from Islam that can make the wills and wiles of inner-city life disappear." [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 2/3]

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Yemen update

Q News (No311, 01.09.99) reports that the appeal against the sentencing of the eight British Muslims in Yemen for conspiring to form an armed group and to carry out armed attacks in Yemen, has been jeopardised by a statement from Abu Hamza al-Masri, which claims that the group under which the men are alleged to have received military training was responsible for a series of bomb blasts in the country in recent months. Al-Masri is said to have volunteered a press statement saying that he had spoken by telephone to Abu Muhsin, leader of the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army, and that the latter accepted responsibility for the three blasts. The British men’s defence team is said to be angry over Al-Masri’s untimely intervention, not least because the Yemeni authorities believe he was responsible for dispatching the eight on a terrorist mission. They feel it could further jeopardise their clients’ position in what they believe has become a highly politicised trial. Rashad Yaqoob, a member of the legal team, was not optimistic about their chances, saying: "We don’t expect any real miracles from the judge. The appeals are going through as a matter of principle and more out of hope than anything else. We’re looking for a mitigation of sentence but to be realistic, it is very unlikely" (See BMMS for January, February, March, April, July and August 1999).

The Muslim News (24.09.99) has reported that the Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a letter dated 6 September to the Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, Iqbal Sacranie, said that he had received a reply from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to his letter of 6 August. The President has given assurances that the detained Britons would get justice. Mr Blair said that he had written to President Saleh when the judgement was delivered on 9 August regarding the torture allegations made by the detainees. He said: "I referred to continuing concern about the men’s torture allegations. I made the point that the medical examination conducted on 26 April fell short of what we had hoped for and that the defence lawyers had been prevented from questioning the doctors in court about their findings." He said the President in reply "assured me that the appellants would have the right to present their challenges in the appeal process as is guaranteed under Yemeni law." Mr Blair said he expected Mr Sacranie to explain to the MCB, the Muslim community and the families of the convicted men that the Government has been "actively engaged in defending the consular interests of these eight British nationals from the outset." The lawyers for the detainees welcomed the Prime Minister’s letter to the Yemeni President, even though they felt it was late in coming. Natalia Garcia, one of the lawyers for the British men, said: "This is the sort of representation that the families have been hoping for from the beginning. We hope the President will ensure a fair hearing at the appeal stage and hope the British Government will continue to press for a fair trial."

Meanwhile, three of the men convicted and sentenced to time already served have been released and told they are free to return home. After the trial, Shazad Nabi, 20, Ayaz Hussein, 26, and Ghulam Hussein, 25, were re-detained by the Yemeni authorities who were to appeal against the decision, but on September 25, a Yemeni court rejected appeals against the convictions from both the prosecution and defence, saying that they had been filed after the legal time period had expired. The judge also ruled that those sentenced to time already served should be re-released, and the remaining men were given 40 days to appeal against this latest ruling to the Supreme Court (The Independent, 27.09.99). Ghulam Hussein, who arrived back in Britain a few days later, has vowed to clear his name. Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament of Britain, said Mr Hussein would take his case to Tony Blair (The Times, 01.10.99, Greenock Telegraph, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 3]

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Reports

Community

Oxford Centre

Controversial plans to build an Islamic centre in Oxford have been deferred following a public meeting held concerning the £20 million development (See BMMS for June and August 1999). Planning officers recommended Oxford City Council’s planning committee approve the proposals, but the decision has now been deferred for at least three weeks to allow the committee to gather more information. Committee chairman Maureen Christian said they wanted the applicant to give them the information that they gave to the Fine Art Commission, which has backed the project. She said the committee would set up a site meeting and ask the developers to fly balloons showing the height of the proposed 120-ft tower. Some residents have objected to the scheme, on a site owned by Magdalen College, saying it will increase traffic, damage the city skyline, take up green space and increase flooding risks (Oxford Mail, 10.09.99, Oxford Star, 16.09.99, Oxford Times, 17.09.99, Oxford Mail, 29.09.99 and 30.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 3]

Holy fruits

The Coventry Evening Telegraph (18.08.99) reported on the Coventry family who said they received a "gift from God" when they found a pear with the word "Allah" written in Arabic on the skin. Fifteen year-old Sofia Khan noticed the uncanny resemblance just as her brother was about to take a bite out of the fruit. The family then took the pear to the local mosque, where the clerics both agreed that the fruit bore the name of Allah. Since then, the pear has been placed on a silver salver surrounded by petals, and many people have visited the house to see the blessed fruit. Unfortunately, as Q News (No311, 01.09.99) points out, the "prestigious" pear had no special powers of self-preservation and had to be eaten before it went off.

Another holy vegetable was found in Coventry. This time the sign of Allah was found in an aubergine which read the name of Allah in Arabic on one side. Chef Hasib Mohammed Sadi sliced the aubergine in two at his busy take-away and put half of it in a dish he was preparing. When he looked down at the rest of the vegetable he instantly recognised the name of God on its side. He called shop owner Mohammed Chunu Miah into the kitchen to inspect the aubergine, which is usually mark-free on the inside. He said: "I used to be in Kuwait and I can read Arabic and saw that it was the name of Allah." Mr Miah took the aubergine to the local imam who confirmed that marks spelled out Allah, and added that the other marks around the edge spelled out the name of the Prophet Muhammad. Mr Miah’s wife, Rushna, said: "God’s sign can be found in anything and a lot of people have found it in fruit and vegetables." She said she did not know what to do with the aubergine: "I might try and dry it so we can keep it" (Coventry Evening Telegraph, 28.09.99).

Many newspapers have also reported on the finding of a holy tomato in Bradford (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 08.09.99, Evening Standard, 09.09.99, The Sun, 10. 09. 99, USA Today, 10.09.99, Liverpool Daily Post, 10.09.99, The Independent, 10.09.99, Derby Telegraph, 10.09.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 10.09.99). Housewife Shabana Hussain, 27, said she could not believe her eyes when she cut open the tomato and saw the words "In the name of Allah the most beneficent and merciful" written in Arabic on one side, and "There is no God but Allah" on the other. Mrs Hussain said: "Whenever I start anything I always say "in the name of Allah" and I was halfway through when I cut open the tomato and saw the scripture. I really could not believe my eyes." Most newspapers have reported that hundreds of people have visited the house to see the tomato for themselves. Mr Hussain, 38, said: "You hear about this happening to other people but you don’t think you’ll see anything like it. It is a miracle. As Muslims we know that Allah’s signs are manifest and that everything praises God" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 08.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 3/4]

Bomb hoaxer locked up

A man responsible for a bomb hoax that led to two mosques in Luton being evacuated, has been sentenced to twelve months youth custody. Graham Wise, 20, made a 999 call in May saying: "We are the White Wolves and there is a bomb in the Bury Park Mosque." As a result, both mosques in the Bury Park area were evacuated and surrounding roads were closed off and traffic diverted. Voice identification techniques led to the arrest of Wise, who also punched an officer who tried to arrest him. Wise pleaded guilty to communicating false information and assault on police. Tom Allen, defending, said: "It was an offensive piece of behaviour, but his only intention was to have a laugh, although it was not remotely funny." Judge Maher said: "It is essential for people to know that bomb hoaxers will get little sympathy from the courts" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99, Luton on Sunday, 22.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 4]

Scotland to have own "Parliament"

The Muslim community in Scotland is seeking to establish its own parliament in Glasgow to combat the tide of "Islamophobia" it claims is sweeping through society. Imam of Glasgow Central Mosque, Tufail Hussain Shah, and Bashir Maan, Glasgow Labour councillor, are behind the moves. The body would debate on Muslim issues for representatives of the community’s religious, political and business leaders. Both Shah and Maan believe a Scottish Muslim parliament would help the Asian community fight the negative myths they believe exist over the Islamic faith. It would be modelled on the UK Muslim parliament which sits in London four times a year, and has 155 male and female members. Speaking to the Sunday Herald, Imam Shah said: "Now that England and Scotland are moving apart, Muslims in the two countries will be faced with differing issues. We need a forum in which our community leaders in Scotland can address these matters. A Scottish Muslim parliament is the answer." Mr Maan said: "The extent of Islamophobia now present in British society sometimes makes it difficult for an Asian Muslim, like myself, to feel like a loyal citizen of this country. Islamophobia is the invention of ignorant minds. It is the Muslims who are peaceful, and the West which is violent. During the Crusades, Muslims were made out to be diabolical and slaughtered in their thousands when the Christians took Jerusalem. When Muslims recaptured the city, no innocents were murdered." On the issue of Shari’a law, Mr Maan said: "When it is implemented properly it is the best set of laws for society. The West is only interested in playing up the barbarity of acts like the chopping off of hands, but it is only the incorrigible criminal who suffer this fate. Britain is proud of its record of law and order, but look at all the rapes and murders here. Nobody is secure. Which cruelty is better? The cruelty to the criminal or the cruelty to the victim?" He added: "The demonisation of Islam leaves British Muslims feeling stigmatised and leads to discrimination and racism. A forum representing Scottish Muslims will allow us to fight these lies head on" (Sunday Herald, 22.08.99, Asian Times, 31.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 4]

Prayer rooms for London hospital

The Royal London Hospital is to have two Muslim prayer rooms in its basement. Work is currently being carried out on two separate rooms, believed to be the first in a hospital in this country. The facilities, complete with their own ablution areas for men and women, have been developed by Barts and the London NHS Trust in response to requests from the local community. It will complement the existing inter-faith chapel on the ground floor. Funds for artwork and decorations to the rooms were provided by the League of Friends, a hospital charity. And the Trust’s Vital Arts Project was involved in choosing a firm of designers who specialise in Islamic calligraphy. The Trust’s imam, Shafiqur Rahman, said: "The creation of these prayer rooms comes as part of our development of a multi faith chaplaincy service and will go a long way towards meeting the spiritual needs of Muslim users of the Royal London Hospital" (East End Life, 23.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Summer playscheme success

A summer playscheme which proved to be a success will be planned on a bigger scale for next year. The Doncaster branch of the Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) received a £1,000 grant from Children in Need to run the group which took place on six days over a two week period. More than 70 children from all ethnic backgrounds joined the group, playing many sports and enjoying craftwork classes. The scheme finished with a boat trip in Rotherham where children were awarded prizes by Councillor Gordon Jones (Doncaster Free Press, 26.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Community centre plans under fire

Muslim charity workers who want to build a community centre on land used by the disabled, have come under fire from local residents. Nearly 200 residents have signed a petition objecting to the proposed development on Woodland Drive in Barnsley. Councillor Sandra Birkinshaw, who handed the petition in to the council, said: "I’m not at all racist, and I do realise that they want somewhere as a meeting place for their Muslim religion. But to take this facility away from the most disadvantaged in our society would be crime in itself." However, Naeem Jarrel of the Al-Quba Muslim Society said the development would be the perfect way to bring different groups of people together. He said: "We want it to be mutually beneficial. What we are trying to do is not a threat, but an addition to the community." Muslims have been without a meeting place since arsonists burned down the Al-Quba centre in April (See BMMS for April, May and June 1999), and they want to build new premises for classrooms, a day room for OAPs and a worship area. Mr Jarrel added: "We have had several meetings with the council and social services, and agreed to look at how we can coexist and to use the land to benefit the whole community - the Muslims and the disabled." Estates officer for the council, Tony Hunt, said: "We intend to be as supportive as we can and help the Muslims find premises. They have drawn up sketch plans on how the building might look, but there has been no political decision. Our view as officers is that if the training centre is using this piece of land, it is unavailable" (Barnsley Chronicle, 27.08.99, Barnsley Independent, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Mosque child abuser jailed

A man who sexually assaulted two boys in a mosque has been jailed for a year (See BMMS for July 1999). Tahir Din, 34, committed the offences during the holy month of Ramadan, at Glasgow’s Central Mosque. Passing sentence, Sheriff James Murphy said that Din had terrorised the children, and added: "This happened in a place in which parents believe their children to be safe and where the children are encouraged to call male adults ‘uncle.’ You have shown no sign of remorse." There were suggestions that officials from the mosque had tried to cover up the abuse after an imam interrupted the first attack but failed to report the incident. It was only until the mother of the second boy went to the police, and a witness to the second assault came forward to testify, that the case was brought to trial. The father of one of the victims said: "Din will be an outcast forever. Moslems will find it difficult to forgive anyone who has committed such a terrible crime, particularly in the holiest of our places and at Ramadan" (Scottish Mirror, 27.08.99, Daily Record, 27.08.99, The Sun, 27.08.99, Asian Times, 31.08.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Chief inspector visits Islamic Trust

The Essex Islamic Trust welcomed Havering’s chief of community policing to a recent meeting designed to forge better links between police and the ethnic minorities. Kamal Siddiqui, the president of the Trust and a member of the police consultative group, told Chief Inspector Howard Back, that Muslims and the ethnic minorities would like to co-operate with police and build up a trusting relationship. Mr Siddiqui urged anyone having problems with the police, or from racial harassment or attacks, to contact him in confidence, or to contact the police. He said: "Trust and goodwill are a two-way situation. We have to trust each other for peace and harmony" (Romford Recorder, 27.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Men ordered off plane

Two businessmen were ordered to get off a plane after one made a flippant remark about the other’s passport photograph. Mustafa Hassan from Enfield, north London, joked with his friend Mehmet Djemal saying that he "looked like a terrorist" whilst they were checking-in at Stanstead Airport. Then, only minutes before the flight was due to take-off, two policemen arrived and demanded that they both get off the plane. Mr Hassan said: "At first I thought they were talking to someone else. I couldn’t believe they would ruin our holiday over a passing comment I made to my friend." Mr Hassan and Mr Djemal have since been permanently banned from travelling with Airtours. Mr Hassan added: "Its obviously got something to do with us having Muslim names and the fact that Mr Djemal has a beard in his passport photo" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 5]

Labour denies association with poster

The Labour Party in Brent has denied any association with a poster claiming "Islam is Evil - Time for a Crusade." The poster has been plastered across the Brent area and includes a telephone number for those who wish to "join justice against Islam." The number connects directly to the Labour Party Head Office. Spokesman Matthew Doyle said: "This is a complete fraud and has nothing to do with the Labour Party whatsoever. We have had a lot of phonecalls over the past few weeks and have been reassuring people that we have no idea who put the posters up." Mr Doyle said that the Labour Party had tried to inform the community by putting out statements in the appropriate media. When asked which media they had consulted, he said "Sunrise Radio" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6]

Three men sentenced

Three Muslim men in Preston have been sentenced to prison terms after breaking into a pensioner’s home and then leaving him battered and bleeding. Asif Kantharia, 22, Taahir Musa, 21, and Naeim Suleman, smashed the down the door of their 69 year-old victim before punching and kicking him. They then threatened retired rag-and-bone man Peter Grimes before leaving. Mr Grimes suffered horrific cuts and bruises to his back. After hearing the three plead guilty to burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and causing actual bodily harm, the judge sentenced them to three years in jail (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6]

Introductions party organised

A new scheme has taken place in Bradford for Muslims seeking to get married. An introductions party was held, where around 200 predominantly Pakistani brides and grooms-to-be were brought together in Manningham to view and speak to potential partners. The event was in part a response to the continuing problem of forced marriages but was also an effort to increase the opportunities for young people to meet outside the extended family in parent-approved settings. Organiser Mohammed Mughal said: "Some families may have a girl who is a graduate aged 30 and there may be nobody matching her within her family. This is a problem but they do not need to stay with the first cousin - we have to find some other ways." The Bradford Council of Mosques backed the idea. Ishtiaq Ahmed, information officer, said: "It is a turning point when families are saying we really need to support our children who are wanting to marry in this country" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6]

Albert Hall cancels Al-Muhajiroun rally

The Royal Albert Hall cancelled a booking for a rally by Al-Muhajiroun, saying it had been misled over the rally’s purpose. The chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, David Elliot, said: "We had reason to believe the event would be quite different to what we were told when it was booked. It was billed to us as a Muslim women’s event, but when we found out more, we decided it would be harmful to the hall’s reputation. We discovered Omar Bakri Muhammad was to speak, and looking at his internet site, we would not want to be associated with many of the views expressed." However, a spokesman for Al-Muhajiroun said it was too short notice to prevent people attending the event, which they said was to give people, Muslim and non-Muslim, a realistic insight into what it will be like to live in the Islamic state run by a purely Islamic system (Crawley News, 08.09.99, Crawley Observer, 15.09.99). He said: "It’s up to the police now. We sold 1,700 tickets and cannot tell 1,700 people individually not to go." The booking at the hall was made five months ago, but was only cancelled five days before the event. Al-Muhajiroun went to the high court for an injunction to enforce the booking, but it was rejected. The booking had cost £60,000 in advertising and other preparations, the spokesman said, and blamed "Islamophobia" and pressure from MI5 and the police for the cancellation (The Guardian, 18.09.99). Omar Bakri Muhammad, who runs a computer software company in Tottenham, denied he has publicly endorsed terrorism. He said: "The decision to cancel the rally was an attack on Muslims everywhere. It is a conspiracy by the establishment against Islam. They said they had read articles written by me in which I was alleged to have supported terrorism. I am not a terrorist. I have never publicly supported terrorism." He added: "There are two kinds of aggression, positive and negative. The bombing of Iraq was negative; it was terrorism. But many Muslims around the world are fighting to defend themselves. They are freedom fighters, and in this way violence is justified." He also said the Albert Hall officials said they would not have been able to guarantee safety, but Mr Elliot denied that the decision to cancel had anything to do with safety fears (Broadway Ham & High, 24.09.99, Teletext Services, 16.09.99, Evening Standard, 17.09.99, Hull Daily Mail, 18.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6]

Solihull association’s annual dinner

More than 150 guests, including the Pakistani High Commissioner, were expected to pack the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham on 9 September, for the Solihull Muslim Community Association’s annual dinner. The association was forced to hold the event in Birmingham this year following the demolition of the Solihull Conference Centre - its traditional venue. The association is in the middle of a major fundraising campaign to help finance plans for the construction of its own mosque and community centre in Solihull. In the meantime, it is continuing to hold a Sunday School for Muslim children at St Peter’s School and Friday prayer meetings at the Norman Green Athletics Centre (Birmingham Evening Mail, 09.09.99, Birmingham Post, 09.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6]

Reading Muslim Group annual meeting

The Reading Muslim Group (RMG) held their annual meeting at the beginning of September, and invited Muslims and non-Muslims to attend the meeting to see the progress made between the two communities since the group was established. In the three years since the RMG has been started, they have established an Islamic school conducted in Urdu and Arabic, keep fit sessions for women and Asian youth groups. The group’s co-ordinator, Manzoor Hussain, said: "We hope to be able to carry on our activities with the youth groups and help the young girls get their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Although the group is run by Muslims, they are always interested in working with non-Muslim organisations on joint projects that can benefit the wider community" (Reading Chronicle, 10.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 6/7]

Man questioned about letter bomb

A man from Birmingham was arrested and questioned by detectives in connection with a letter bomb that was sent to an imam in Wolverhampton nine months ago (See BMMS for December 1998 and January 1999). Ghulam Herr Shabbiri, who is the imam at the Hussaini Islamic Mission at the Ali Mosque in Whitmore Reans, was sent a bomb hidden in a video cassette. Imam Shabbiri had to flee his house when the bomb started to hiss and smoke. The army later carried out a small controlled explosion in his garden to make the device safe. A police spokeswoman said officers from Wolverhampton had carried out a swoop on a house in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, after being granted a search warrant. A 33-year old man was taken into custody and questioned. He was released on police bail pending the results of further forensic examinations (Birmingham Evening Mail, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Cash for cameras

The Safer Communities Partnership Steering Group in Grimsby, has given £1,868.25 to the Muslim Association of South Humberside, based at the mosque in Stanley Street, Grimsby. The money will provide CCTV cameras to provide increased security at the mosque (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 14.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Pupil subject of new book

A pupil at St Cyres School in Penarth is one of the main characters of a new book launched in the summer holiday. The book entitled "My Life as a Muslim" looks at the lifestyle of three children who are Muslims living in Wales. This is one of a series of books about the lives of children from different religions. Amin Amin, who is in year 9, has articles and photographs about himself and his family in the book (Penarth Times, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Officers to monitor noise at centre

Officers of Peterborough City Council’s environment department have agreed to monitor activity at an Islamic education centre after complaints of noise and alleged breaches of planning permission. Residents living near to the centre in Dogsthorpe Road, used for the teaching of Urdu, Arabic and Islamic studies, said classes make too much noise and that the site is used outside the rules set down in planning permission (Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Mela success to continue into next year

The Dundee Mela 99 event which took place at the end of June is set to become an annual event due to the success of the mela this year. Young people who took part in the event were rewarded by the Lord Provost, Helen Wright, in September for their efforts in making the event a success. Ms Wright presented certificates to around 40 youngsters who gave up their time to perform or help out at the event, which was attended by Pakistan’s consular representative in Scotland, Mushtaq Ahmed. Ethnic information worker Nasra Mohammed said: "There were a lot of young people who gave up their time and energy to participate in the programme as well as volunteers who helped out. The lord provost agreed to hand out certificates of appreciation to recognise their contribution, and before that the children gave a performance of what they did on the day. The group were thrilled with the success of it, and they are already beginning to think about the Dundee Mela 2000, which has a provisional date in February, a bit earlier than last year." The Mela event celebrated the city’s Muslim community and culture and featured information and entertainment stalls (Dundee Courier & Advertiser, 18.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Islamic web-sites

The Independent (18.09.99) has printed a couple of Islamic web-sites which it thinks give a good representation of the faith and a place to study the Qur’an. They are www.islamicity.org and www.al-islam.org. [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Talk at Welsh international centre

A leading Saudi Arabian lawyer, politician, poet and scholar was to give a lecture on Islamic law at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. The visit by Ibrahim Al-Awaji was intended to give invited academics, legal experts and representatives of the Muslim communities an opportunity to learn more about Islamic law and dispel some of the myths surrounding its application (South Wales Argus, 20.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Lectures to bring community together

A former councillor has joined forces with Barking Police in a bid to further community relations. Abdul Khokhar, President of the Barking Muslim Social and Cultural Society, gave lectures on Islamic culture to local police officers. Mr Khokhar hopes to continue the series of lectures at the Muslim Community Centre in Tanner Street, Barking, on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week (Barking & Dagenham Post, 22.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7]

Book display in Watford

A unique display has been set up in Waterstone’s in Watford, showing Islamic picture books for children, which are written by a local author. This is the first time the store in the Harlequin Shopping Centre has run a display from a local independent publisher and author. Siddiqa Juma, founder of Iman Publishers and author, runs the business from her home in Watford. She said: "I used to be a freelance illustrator and designed for magazines in London so I have always been interested in layout. I started the business almost two-and-a-half years ago after I found there was a lack of religious books on the market for my children. I wanted to be able to give them books which not only looked appealing but were informative and simple to understand. The two books I have written target children aged five to seven and give them an insight into the Qur’an and Ramadhan." Ms Juma has also produced a Ramadan fun-pack which includes games and an activity book explaining what happens in the holy month. The most recent book, Stories of the Prophet from the Qur’an, is a series of six books selling together for £17.95 and the first book she produced, My First Arabic Alphabet, is selling for £3.95 and includes a phonetic pronunciation guide. Book seller at Waterstone’s, Dawn Hinselwood, said: "We decided to run the display because there are very few religious books, other than Christianity, available on the market for children. Mrs Juma is a local author and publisher and the books are of a very high standard. I was very impressed with the way they were set out. I am happy to have them in our shop window and the display will stay for about four weeks." Ms Juma added: "My future goal is to carry on producing books of this kind and to persuade larger outlets to stock my work instead of just specialist stores" (Watford Free Observer, 23.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 7/8]

Islamic awareness week in Grimsby

More than 150 guests attended a dinner and talk organised as part of Islamic Awareness Week in Grimsby. Professor Jamal Badawi, a Professor of manage ment and Islamic Studies at Halifax University in Canada, addressed the audience on the topic of ‘Islam: Menace or Mercy’. Professor Badawi said: "It is a great pleasure to see so many people all enjoying themselves regardless of labels and religions. Part of this evening is to help raise awareness about what Islam means and to help overcome some of the preconceptions people have. But it is more about pulling together for a great God and good." The evening was organised by Dr Hussein Nagi, a consultant anaesthetist, and his Irish wife, Kathleen Roche-Nagi. It was the third time the couple had organised the well attended festivities. Mrs Roche-Nagi, who intro duced the evening, said: "Our aim during Islamic Awareness Week is that Muslims in the UK will share their way of life, enabling society to understand the true nature of Islam. This will develop a respect and a better under standing between the different com munities living in our multi-cultural society. Consequently, together we can enrich the good morals and values that are already in place in this country, and step into the 21^st century in harmony." Later, Mrs Roche-Nagi thanked the organising committee for their hard work. She said: "It was a tremendous evening and everybody enjoyed themselves, but none of it would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the organisers" (Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 27.09.99 and 29.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 8]

Charity shop aims to fight misconceptions

A unique new service which aims to battle poverty and religious bigotry has been launched in Aberdeen. The Islamic Voluntary Services centre is a charity shop, which also offers information on the Muslim faith. Volunteer Mohammed Khan said part of the centre’s role would be to combat myths and misconceptions about his religion. He said: "Many people think of pictures of Saddam Hussein when they hear the word Islam. We want to bring home the message that Islam is actually based on peace, harmony and community service." He also said that the centre would help to combat racism: "Too often mistrust and fear begins when people of different beliefs are kept apart. We are looking to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together so they can find they have a lot in common." He added that three of the five charity shop volunteers are non-Muslims. Mr Khan said that one of the priorities for the service was to help the city’s homeless. He revealed the group is negotiating to buy restaurant facilities in the city. He said: "We are hoping to be able to provide the underprivileged people of Aberdeen with good food at a very low cost" (Aberdeen Evening Express, 29.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 8]

London businessman dies

A renowned businessman and entrepreneur from London has died aged 60. Ahmed Din came to England 35 years ago, and settled in Newham. He started a grocery business before opening a restaurant and take-away. His success later encouraged him to open a jewellery business. In the 1970s he was chairman of the pioneering Newham Race Relations Council – set up to promote better understanding among people of all races in the borough. He was one of the founders of the Alliance of Newham Muslim Associations and also founded the Pakistan Association of Newham, and played a leading role in obtaining a plot of land for Muslim burials in the borough. More recently, he was vice-chairman of the Green Street Single Regeneration, chairman of the Green Street Traders and vice-chair of the Jewellers’ Association. As a mark of respect, the Green Street traders lowered their shutters before his funeral passed by. Mr Din was described as a family man devoted to his wife and seven children. His funeral prayers, in which more than a thousand people took part, were held in Jamia Mosque, East Ham (City of London Recorder, 29.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 8]

Radio station back on air

Community radio broadcasts are to be made in Keighley for the third time this year by the team responsible for Radio Ramadan and Festival Radio. The new station will mark the month of Rajab in the Islamic calendar. Most of the programmes between October 11 and November 7 will feature a mix of interviews, talks, quizzes, poetry and music (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 01.10.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 8]

Education

New school opened in Manchester

A new Muslim school was opened in Manchester at a special ceremony in August. The Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys, named after one of the major benefactors who has since died, was officially opened by Imam Shaik Saud Al Shuraim from Makkah. Head teacher of the school, Yousuf Fenn, said: "The importance of the visit of the Imam could be portrayed as the equivalent of the Pope making a private visit to this country to open an new Catholic school" (Manchester Evening News, 11.09.99). The school has been established by the same trustees who set up the highly successful Manchester High School for Girls eight years ago, and later on, the Manchester Muslim Preparatory. Thirty-six eleven year-olds attended the first day at the school on September 13. The school will charge fees of £2,500 per year, and will teach the National Curriculum as well as Arabic, Islamic Studies and the Qur’an (Manchester Evening News, 21.08.99, 31.08.99, 11.09.99 and 14.09.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99, Asian Times, 14.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9]

A-level venture success

The first ever joint A-level venture between the Islamia Girls’ School in Kilburn and the College of North West London has been declared a success (See BMMS for July 1999). Nearly everyone in the upper sixth at the independent school for Muslim girls has won a conditional university place. The school, in Salisbury Road, Kilburn, held an open evening in July for prospective Muslim students and parents, and the list of applicants is growing daily. The pioneering two-year A-level course began when the College of North West London in Willesden, agreed to fund at least a dozen teachers on an outreach basis, because some parents wanted their daughters to attend single-sex schools and be educated in an Islamic environment. Head of the sixth form Parin Kassam said she was surprised at high standard despite the school not being selective. Half the group were already Islamia pupils and half came from other schools in September 1997. Nasrin Qamerdin, Community Liaison Manager at the college, said Islamia School was ethnically very mixed and had a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. This is the first time in England that a school and college are working in partnership for the benefit of a particular group. It has opened many doors for people who felt that after GCSEs there was no possibility of going higher" (Harrow Observer, 26.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9]

School reveals date for move

Walsall’s only independent Muslim school is hoping to move to new premises by next spring (See BMMS for April and July 1999). Palfrey Girls’ School is in the process of buying Palfrey House in Queen Mary Street from Walsall Council. It plans to carry out £150,000 worth of renovations to the rundown building which has been empty for two years. Facilities at the new building will include a library, a computer room, a science laboratory, an art room, an assembly hall and five classrooms. Planning permission for the work was given by councillors in July. The school currently has 78 pupils and has just started providing a sixth form, with 15 students studying in conjunction with Walsall College of Arts and Technology. Mahmood Sacha, the school’s executive manager, said they were scheduled to move to the new premises at Easter. He said: "It will be next year now. It [the building] has been severely vandalised; it will take a lot of time and work." He added that the school was thriving, and that GCSE exam results had increased from 12.5 per cent achieving five passes, to 60 per cent (Walsall Express & Star, 08.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9]

New scheme for Muslim teachers

An inner-city Birmingham school is pioneering a new national scheme to help train Muslim teachers. Golden Hillock Community secondary in Sparkhill is the first state school in the country to join forces on such a project with the Association of Muslim Schools. The school has been selected to take part in the Government’s School Centred Initial Teacher Training initiative. This will involve students from the Cheltenham and Gloucester teacher training college spending about a third of their three-year course work at Golden Hillock. Golden Hillock deputy head teacher, Don Smith, said: "We will be getting Muslim students from the Cheltenham and Gloucester College to train as teachers. But what makes us original is that we are doing this in conjunction with the Association of Muslim Schools. It is a way of attracting more Muslim teachers in to the profession. The students will spend part of their training here, part at a Muslim school and part at the college" (Solihull Evening Mail, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9]

No government funding for Batley school

The Zakaria Girls High School in Batley has published it’s annual report, in which it addresses questions as to whether there has been any progress towards achieving Government funding for the school, with a negative response. The report states that several meetings have taken place between represent atives from the school and the Local Education Authority of Kirklees but to date no constructive progress has been made. It states: "It has not even reached the form filling stage and even if it is completed and submitted it will take years before it can reach the Education Secretary." The school has progressed tremendously since its founding in 1981, keeping to the same level of achievement as in previous years, with 28 per cent of girls gaining A-C grades in the 1998 examinations (Muslim News, 24.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9]

Improved performance in Muslim schools

This year’s GCSE results in schools shows that there has been a marked improvement in most Muslim schools, despite the fact that most Muslim schools are operating on a budget a third smaller than that of state schools. Manchester Muslim High School for Girls achieved 97 per cent A-C passes and Bolton Muslim Girls’ School achieved 46 per cent. At Feversham College in Bradford, 40 per cent achieved an A-C pass. This result was higher than that achieved by Local Education Authority schools in the locality last year. Zakaria Girls’ School in Batley had an 89 per cent pass rate with 26 per cent gaining A-C grades. Islamic Girls’ School in north London had an 85.7 per cent A-C pass rate, an improvement of more than nine per cent on the pervious year. The Al Sadiq and Al Zahra Schools, part of the Al Khoei Foundation, had 23 students passing GCSEs, with less than five pupils’ grades falling out of the A-C range in certain subjects. King Fahd Academy achieved a 76 per cent pass rate at A-C, and the exam co-ordinator was pleased to say that the boys’ upper school matched the girls’ in excellence, where usually the girls outdo the boys. In the Midlands, Leicester Islamic Academy scored a higher pass rate at GCSE than state schools in the city with 90 per cent A-C passes. Al Furqan Community College in Birmingham has not had a chance to analyse its pupils’ results and is still awaiting its percentage from the DfEE (Muslim News, 24.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 9/10]

Politics

Sarwar re-election

Glasgow Govan MP Mohammed Sarwar has been successfully re-selected by his local party to fight the next General Election. Labour members decided by a clear majority that Mr Sarwar should continue to represent the party despite a troubled first term. Sarwar was acquitted of charges of electoral fraud at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year (See BMMS for January, February, March and April 1999) (Dundee Evening Telegraph, 27.08.99, The Times, 28.08.99, The Independent, 28.08.99, Birmingham Evening Mail, 28.08.99, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 28.08.99, Southern Daily Echo, 28.08.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 10]

Muslims will lead prayers in Scottish Parliament

Muslims will get a chance to lead prayers in the Scottish Parliament under plans recently disclosed. The four-minute weekly prayer session will be on a rota basis with numbers of slots based on support for each faith throughout the country. The plan, agreed unanimously by the cross-party Parliamentary Bureau, will go to the full parliament for approval. Prayer would take place in the chamber each Wednesday afternoon and would be public, unlike Westmin ster where MPs pray in private. Sir David Steel, the Presiding Officer, said no list had been drawn up on how many times each religion would be represent ed but all beliefs would be taken into account. Mohammed Shaheen of the Glasgow Islamic Centre said Muslims would be only too happy to participate. There are approximately 60,000 Muslims in Scotland, making it the country’s second biggest religion (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 10]

Sabeeha Mannan interview

Q News (No311, 01.09.99) carries an interview with Sabeeha Mannan, the newly appointed Head of the Cultural Unit at the Conservative Party Central Office which was to be launched on 22 September. The Unit aims to encourage people from minority communities to get more involved with the party. Ms Mannan briefly talks about the aims of the Cultural Unit, what it will do for British Muslims, and what the Conservative Party can offer British Muslims, who generally tend to be loyal Labour supporters. [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 10]

Racism

Army offers soldier money to drop tribunal

The Army has offered a former soldier £10,000 to prevent him from becoming the first serviceman to use the civil courts to bring a claim for racial discrimination. Nasar Khan, 34, a former Lance Bombardier with the Royal Artillery, has refused the offer which he described as paltry. His case will now be heard by an employment tribunal next month. Mr Khan claims racial and religious discrimination occurred over his 10-year career in the Royal Artillery, beginning in 1989. During that period, he claims, he was forced to endure taunts such as "Muslim shite", "raghead" and "black bastard", and ordered to do menial work in front of his subordinates. In June last, a civil tribunal decided that Mr Khan’s complaint could be heard by an employment tribunal under the Armed Forces Act. The Act, which came into force in 1997, gives military personnel the same employment rights as civilian workers. Mr Khan, who is married with three children, has accused the Army of hypocrisy in trying to prevent his action coming before a civilian court. The Army’s internal Equal Opportunities Investigative Team completed its own inquiry into Mr Khan’s complaint in July, and Mr Khan claims it found enough witnesses to support his claims that he was subjected to frequent racial abuse. In the Gulf War, Mr Khan’s knowledge of Arabic, picked up during an earlier two-year stint with the French Foreign Legion, was used to interrogate Iraqi prisoners of war. Mr Khan says that during that time he was taunted: "You’re on the wrong side, you raghead, you should be in Pakistan." And when he applied to join the SAS, he said his application form was returned with the remark: "They don’t take Pakis in the special forces." Mr Khan said; "They don’t want the truth to come out because they’ve got too much to lose. With what’s happened in the last year concerning racism in the police and the fire service, they have got to be seen to be cleaning up their act as well." A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that the case was a personal matter between them and the former soldier and would not comment (The Independent, 18.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 10]

Women

Forced marriages

With the news that the Home Office has begun an investigation into forced marriages amongst Asian Muslims, the Brighton Evening Argus (13.09.99) reports on the story of one girl who left home to escape a forced marriage (See BMMS for February, May, June, July and August 1999). Sarina [not her real name] was born and raised in Brighton with her Bangladeshi family. She was one of six children, but says she realised from an early age that she did not fit in with her family’s traditional beliefs. Sarina said: "It was like being brought up in a bubble. All around me was an exciting and vibrant world yet my parents were wary of western culture and refused to let me be a part of it. I was allowed to leave the house once a day to attend school and then I had to return home and help run the family business. I could not play in the street with other children or go to any of my friends’ birthday parties. I felt alienated and alone."

During her early teenage years, Sarina began to express her unhappiness through bad behaviour at school, which met with harsh punishment at home. Her father would repeatedly beat her until she was too scared to speak or say a word out of place. When Sarina was 16 she witnessed the arranged mar riages of her elder sister and brother, and as she was the third eldest, she knew she would be next. She said: "My parents told me I would bring shame on the family and be banished from the Muslim community if I did not follow their wishes. But I was not going to allow my parents to control my life. I felt physically ill when I thought of myself marrying a stranger. But there was no place to turn for help. I had no contact with the outside world and felt trapped and imprisoned by my own parents." As Sarina’s parents knew she did not want to have an arranged marriage, they did not involve her in the selection of her husband and carried on with wedding preparations without her consent. She said she did not know her rights and was scared when her parents ignored her opinions against the forced marriage. Sarina then decided to leave her family, and with her younger sister, devised a plan that would give them both freedom. She said: "My sister was ill and regularly visited the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. She had a good relationship with her doctor and one day she asked to see him alone. She told him about the beatings my father gave me and how I was being forced to marry against my will. He contacted a social worker and my school head teacher. It took us months, but even tually we managed to collect enough evidence to go to court. We wanted a judge to make my sister and I wards of court and to put us in a foster home until we were 18."

Sarina and her sister were taken to Brighton County Court where their case was heard, and the judge agreed that they should be placed in a foster home until they were 18. He also instructed them not to return to Brighton until that time. Sarina said: "My social worker visited my parents to break the news. The court case was a secret and they had no idea anything was going on. It must have been a big shock to them but I will never know for sure because December 20, 1985 was the last time I ever saw them." Her parents tried to make contact with her, but she refused to speak to them. Her father has since died and her mother has contacted her again to arrange a visit, but Sarina says she will not see her. She said: "No child should want to leave their family. I was 16 years old and full of life. Yet my enthusiasm for the world was beaten out of me and my parents tried to control my future by forcing me to marry…I grew up in a silent world, miserable and frightened. I cannot forgive my parents for doing that to me. I have tried but it is just not possible…I had to fight for what I believed in and that is what made me the person I am today. I only hope someone reads this and realises that they do have the choice to say no and should never be forced into marriage. They can make the same choices I did and be free." The article also gives contact numbers of various organisations for women to contact for advice, including the An-Nisa Society and the Muslim Women’s Association. [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 10/11]

Fit for the millennium

Muslim women in Preston have pledged to get fit in time for the new millennium. More than 100 women turned up at a taster session at West View Leisure Centre, which was the first of its kind. During the day, the women tried their hand at a variety of activities from swimming to yoga. The event was a joint initiative between Preston Muslim Forum, Sahara, Lifeline and leisure bosses, and was aimed at encouraging ethnic minority women to adopt a healthier lifestyle by eating healthier food and taking up exercise. Memuna Avam, the female community development officer at the Preston Muslim Forum, said: "The day was a great success. The women had a great day and really enjoyed the activities. By making the exercise fun, it helps to encourage women to take part" (Lancashire Evening Post, 13.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 11]

Interfaith

Seminar at Islamic Foundation

Bishop Kenneth Cragg was due to hold a seminar at the Islamic Foundation on October 6. The talk was to be entitled "Reflections on Sura al-A’raf 7:172 ‘…am I not your Lord?’" Bishop Cragg was a bishop in Beirut, Jerusalem and Cairo. He is also an author and Arabist (Leicester Mercury, 30.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 11]

Irish President meets community leaders

The Irish President, Mrs Mary McAleese, met with Muslim and Jewish leaders on September 2, to discuss interfaith issues. She met with Dr Zaki Badawi, Professor Eric Moonman and Sir Sigmund Sternberg. Dr Badawi, who was co-founder of the Three Faiths Forum with Sir Sigmund, explained its work to the President and stressed the importance they attached to the Dublin branch. Professor Moonman, whose presence signified the interest of the Board of Deputies of which he is vice-president, in Christian-Muslim-Jewish dialogue, explained the work of the Board and its close connections with the Irish Republic (Muslim News, 24.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 11]

Halal

First meat shop in Bath

A new halal meat shop which has opened in Bath will mean that local Muslims will no longer have to travel to Bristol to buy their meat. Tajura Halal and Spice has been opened by Lufti Breakah and his wife Susan, and has been welcomed by the local Muslim community. Mrs Breakah said: "We decided to open the business because there are thousands of Muslims in the Bath area who, like us, used to have to travel to Bristol to go get their meats. We thought that if we could provide it here in Bath, people wouldn’t have to travel so far. Halal meat is to Muslims what kosher is to the Jews. We are also trying to stock the spices and rices that everyone wants (Bath Chronicle, 21.08.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 11/12]

Halal baby food in new deal

A woman from Birmingham, who is believed to have created the world’s first halal baby food company, has celebrated her first anniversary with three new deals (See BMMS for September and October 1998). Supermarket giant Asda has agreed to stock Gazala Saleem’s Mother Nature Baby Foods at their stores in Small Heath and Wembley. This coincides with the announcement of two investment deals worth £60,000. Birmingham Investment Fund has agreed to invest £50,000 in the company and Enterprise Link Birmingham will invest a further £10,000. Gazala, 32, said: "It is like having three wishes come true at once. It is a fantastic opportunity to break through into a really big market." The company was launched last year after a screening programme by North Birmingham Health Visitors found high levels of iron deficiency in infants below two years of age. Gazala found many Muslim mothers were opting for sweet baby foods rather than giving them non-halal meats, leading to poor nutrition among Asian babies. The deal with Asda will see the baby food trialled at the two stores for a month. If they prove popular they could be stocked in branches across the country (Birmingham Evening Mail, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 12]

Investigation launched into slaughter

An investigation has been launched in Birmingham following the discovery of two dead goats believed to have been illegally slaughtered for religious purposes. The skins of the animals were found dumped in a street in Sparkbrook, and Birmingham City Council’s animal welfare team believes that the animals were probably killed by Muslims for halal meat. Saeed Moughal, the chairman of the Overseas Muslim Council in Birmingham, condemned the slaughter. He said: "If this has happened to provide halal meat it should not have and we condemn it. It is a very bad practice. This sort of thing reflects badly on the whole community. But in every community there are good and bad people. We have been given legal facilities to prepare Halal meat by the City Council and that is what people should be using" (Birmingham Evening Mail, 25.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 12]

Health

Demand for free circumcisions

Muslims in Walsall have launched a campaign for circumcision to be provided on the NHS after learning that the service is free for Muslims in neighbouring Sandwell. Pressure is mounting on Walsall Health Authority after a poster campaign in Sandwell which advertised that the operation is free when performed for religious reasons. Walsall Muslims visiting that area began to wonder why they had to pay £60 while family members living a few streets away did not pay. Dr Sam Ramaiah, Walsall’s director of public health, said Sandwell was almost unique in allowing free circumcisions on religious grounds. He said: "I would like to see a similar situation here and intend to make the health authority aware of the feelings of the Muslims community" (Walsall Express & Star, 21.08.99, Wolverhampton Express & Star, 23.08.99, Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 12]

New scheme for safer operations

Muslims in Leicester are delighted at the decision to provide a circumcision clinic in the city. The clinic, run from St Peter’s Health Centre in Leicester, will mean safer operations and better follow-up care for boys. Manzoor Moghul, chairman of the Federation of Muslim Organisations in Leicester, said he was delighted as he had been personally involved in negotiations to secure the service. He said: "We have been negotiating with Leicestershire Health Authority for a year-and-a-half to persuade them to provide a circumcision service for Muslim males in Leicester. These moves are coming to fruition, they have agreed to provide a service." He explained that until now, parents had to make arrangements with private doctors, who came from other areas, performed the service in their homes and sometimes charged a considerable amount of money: "It is not always very safe to have operations performed in homes, and some people have taken their sons to private hospitals where the fees are quite exorbitant." Doctors from outside the area are charging between £75 and £100 for the service. Leicestershire Health Authority will also impose a charge for the operations, but it will not be as much as private doctors were charging. Mr Moghul added: "I have taken the matter up with the health authority and I will be asking them to provide the service free of charge because there are one or two other health authorities who do provide the service free. At the moment there is no aftercare, and if any complications develop parents then have to rush their children to NHS hospitals" (Leicester Mercury, 20.09.99 and 22.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 12]

Employment

Muslims at foot of employment ladder

A survey of ethnic minority communities has placed Muslims at the foot of the employment ladder. The report, entitled Profiling the Minority Community, points out that Watford contains three of the most deprived areas in Hertfordshire. The Central, Holywell and Vicarage areas are home to most of the town’s predominantly Pakistani Muslims. The profiling, carried out in 1997, showed that up to 40 per cent of the African Caribbean, Hindu and Sikh communities were in full-time employment compared to only 21.8 per cent in the Pakistani community. Councillor Rashid Choudhrey said he was shocked by the findings. He said: "This is terrible and shows something is wrong; these people are not getting the best" (Q News, No311, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 12/13]

Mosques & Burials

Aylesbury burials

More graves are to be provided for Muslim burials in a small section of Aylesbury cemetery, which already has 12 Muslim graves. Aylesbury Vale District Council has now agreed to allow five adult and five children’s graves to be prepared in advance. Local councillor, Nazar Mohammad, said Muslims in the community increasingly wanted themselves or family members to be buried in the town cemetery and that showed how much the community now felt itself to be part of Aylesbury. He said: "The Moslem community is now a sizeable one and the fact that there is a place in the cemetery is an indication that the community doesn’t regard itself as less British than anyone else." Aylesbury deputy mayor Raj Khan said that at present people took their dead relatives home to their country of origin for burial. The expenses of that, which could run into thousands of pounds, were met by other members of the Muslim community. He said: "There has been a difficulty in the past to get people to regard Aylesbury as their home. They felt they had to take relatives back to their country of origin." But he said that he welcomed the idea that local members of the ethnic minority community should be buried in Aylesbury as it fitted in with the teachings of the Qur’an, that people should be buried where they died. The graves are to be in a row and as one is used, it will be replaced with another. Initial costs will be met by the council and the families will pay for a grave at the time of the funeral, which will be £500 for an adult grave and £450 for a child (Bucks Herald, 22.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 13]

Birmingham, Sydenham Rd

The Sparkbrook Islamic Centre in Birmingham has been given the go-ahead for revised plans for a mosque and community centre. Plans for the mosque in Sydenham Road, Sparkbrook, had been approved previously but Birmingham planners were told the changes were needed (Solihull Evening Mail, 26.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 13]

Bishop’s Stortford, The Causeway

Worshippers at a mosque in Bishop’s Stortford have said that they will not be deterred by the repeated attacks of vandalism on the mosque (See BMMS for February and April 1999). Dilwar Ahmed, the president of the Herts and Essex Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, spoke out after vandals smashed three windows at the mosque over the August Bank Holiday. He believes the latest act of vandalism was carried out by one or two racially motivated people, but said it would not affect the centre’s activities. He said: "These attacks may be due to a very small minority of people who did not agree to the mosque from the very beginning. They might have told young kids to bother us, but this does not affect us. The damage is costing us a lot of money and we’ve had to board up a lot of the windows but this is a house of God and God will save it." He added: "Ninety-nine per cent of people in Bishop’s Stortford were really welcoming and accepted us when we got here and all the churches gave us their best wishes, so these few incidents do not bother us." The Islamic centre is currently refurbishing the former library premises, and Mr Ahmed said that as well as boarding up the windows, it will be installing metal bars onto the mosque which is due to be officially opened later in the year. An East Herts police spokeswoman said: "This is an on-going problem and unfortunately we haven’t yet caught these culprits. These are certainly being treated as racial incidents and although they have not been serious attacks, they are of enough concern to work with the mosque to prevent them recurring" (Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth & Stansted Citizen, 08.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 13]

Blackpool

Police in Blackpool have been investigating a suspected arson attack on the proposed site of a new mosque in central Blackpool (See BMMS for June and July 1999). Muslim leaders had been given planning permission for the mosque to be built on the site just days before the attack, after a two-year planning battle. Many residents have objected to the plans, saying it is a bad place for a mosque and will create horrendous traffic problems. It is thought that arsonists squirted lighter fluid through the letterbox and ignited it. Firefighter Pete Ashworth said: "Some local residents came out while we attended the scene and expressed concerns about whether the building would be targeted by arsonists again in the future. They are very worried. It seems highly likely that this was a deliberate fire. The flames were dangerously close to igniting a large gas cylinder. If that had gone up, we could have had the death of firefighters and major damage on our hands. It was a potential bomb." The fire caused severe damage to the décor and contents of the building’s reception area and the rest of the ground floor area was heavily smoke-logged (Blackpool Evening Gazette, 30.09.99).

Muslim leaders have since said that they will not be deterred by attack. Ismail Rawat, of project architects Aamir Design, said: "It is devastating news and racism can be the only motive for this arson attack. This incident could mean that the Muslim community in Blackpool now feel they are under siege. At the end of the day things like this promote racial hatred instead of racial harmony. This will not deter us from going ahead with plans for the mosque – you cannot make progress by running away from this sort of attitude. I have spoken to my clients, and they are devastated. The fire damage will make the conversion of the site more expensive." Tyldesley ward councillor Norman Hardy said: "I am disgusted. This cowardly attack will achieve nothing. It is too early to say whether more racial attacks will follow, but it is a concern. In my deliberations with the residents the issue of racism was never, ever mentioned. The fire has made me very angry and sad." Many home owners who were against the proposals said they were appalled at the attack, saying it could have endangered the lives of residents and children in a nearby school (Blackpool Evening Gazette, 01.10.99, Blackpool Citizen, 23.09.99, Blackpool Evening Gazette, 23.09.99 and 29.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 13/14]

Burnley, Burns St

Objectors to a mosque in Burnley say the mosque with a large dome will dominate the skyline and will be out of proportion to the terraced homes it would tower above. Now Burnley councillors want to have talks about reducing the size of the proposed £1 million development. Planning officer David Ellis said a condition of planning permission would have to be that the applicants have to take measures to ensure that the TV reception to the houses was maintained. Councillor Enid Tate commented: "We were all aware at the last meeting about the size of it. The idea of any place of worship is that it should be a big and imposing landmark. We should not go against the decision we made last time." By nine votes to three, the committee decided to have further discussions about reducing the size of the project. As it stands now, the building has a proposed dome of 100ft and a minaret which will reach 112ft, which would make this the biggest mosque in East Lancashire (Burnley Citizen, 26.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 14]

Cardiff burials

Plans to allocate Muslims separate burial plots in Neath Port Talbot cemeteries will mean Muslims will have to relax some of their "more stringent requirements". Council officers have held talks with the Muslim Welfare Association and councillors are now being recommended to approve the principle of establishing two Muslim burial sections at Llantwit and Margam cemeteries. Vivian Thomas, director of education, leisure and lifelong learning, said that although further discussion is necessary, bodies would have to be washed somewhere other than at the graveside. He said: "With regard to the requirement for burial before sunset on the day of death, the Muslim Associa tion accepts that there may be problems meeting these requirements – particular ly if the time of death is late in the day and also at weekends and bank holidays. It would, however, be possible to predig graves within an area identified for Muslim burials especially as Muslims only require a grave for one interment." There are around 200-300 Muslims living in the borough of Neath Port Talbot and most are below the age of 40. The council therefore anticipates that there would be a need for just one or two burials a year, so burial sections accommodating 20 graves are being recommended for each of the two suggested cemeteries. Mr Thomas added: "From these discussions it appears that we can accommodate for Muslim graves within our cemeteries. There will, however, be a need for further detailed discussions to be held to agree the finer points with regard to the allocation of space within the cemeteries and also the details regard ing the burials themselves" (Cardiff Western Mail, 15.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 14]

Cheltenham, High St

Cheltenham Borough Council’s planning committee has given permission for a replacement mosque to be built in lower High Street. The current building used by Muslims will be converted into two self-contained flats and a new mosque. A minaret will also be put on the front of the three-storey building up to roof level, but will not be used for calls to prayer. The planning committee voted 12 to 2 in favour of the project, which was put forward by the Cheltenham Muslim Association. Councillor Elizabeth Clarke said: "I think it is absolutely excellent and I am in full support of the application. Our ethnic community live and work in that area and the mosque situated here is in the right place" (Gloucestershire Echo, 11.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 14]

Chesham, Bellingdon Rd

A new mosque for Muslims in Chesham has been given permission to be built, following unanimous support from Chiltern District Council (See BMMS for February and August 1999). The new premises, on the same road as the previous mosque, will be converted from the existing two-storey building to an education and cultural centre. The centre will be equipped with a library, classrooms, reception area and office. The plans, submitted by the Anjuman Islamic Centre, also include a car park with nine spaces, and a 13-metre dome will top the building. Councillor Steve James said: "I believe they have found the right site and put together an appropriate plan. It is not abutting any residential development. I welcome it but I do hear the concerns of local residents about the parking. There is minimal parking on the site, so I hope the community take notice, do not park on the pavement and conform to parking regulations." Mohammed Saleem, head of the local Muslim community was delighted at the result. He thanked both district and town councillors who had given their support. Mr Saleem could not say when the mosque would be completed as that depended on funds, but there was enough money to buy the site. There have been concerns that the mosque would create parking problems in the neighbourhood but Mr Saleem said that those using the mosque lived nearby and would be able to walk. He added: "We will certainly be keeping an eye on it. We do not want to misuse the facilities people have given us." Chiltern District and Chesham Town councillor Mohammed Bhatti also praised the decision to grant a new mosque. He said: "This is a landmark decision. It is a good millennium present for the entire Muslim community. We have been struggling to have a proper mosque for three decades. This is the first step towards ensuring that the community really do feel at home in Chesham. Our roots are here and our needs are here. England is our home. I would like to thank the community of Chesham, who have always welcomed the Asian community" (Bucks Examiner, 17.09.99) [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 14/15]

Chorley burials

Plans for Muslim burial plots in a Chorley cemetery look set to be delayed. A meeting of Chorley Council’s ethnic minorities consultative committee earlier this year saw calls made for a small area of land to be set aside for Muslim burials. But head of leisure services, David Jones, said he now thought it was unlikely that they will be able to accommodate plots in the near future. He said his department were looking at two or three possible locations around the borough to be used for burials in the first decades of the millennium, and when a new site was chosen, plots would be set aside for Muslims (Chorley Guardian, 01.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15]

Cradley Heath, Plant St

Families in Cradley Heath have won a fight against a proposed £100,000 extension to a mosque near their homes. Residents had fought long and hard to defeat the plans for improvements to the Plant Street mosque. A petition signed by 240 residents and 36 letters of objection had been sent to Sandwell Council, prompting councillors to visit the site. Later at a meeting of the planning committee the scheme was rejected by the narrowest of margins – just one vote – following an hour-long debate. Residents had objected to the plans claiming the development would cause further traffic problems and that neighbours would suffer loss of privacy. Spokesman for the objectors, David Bolton, told the meeting: "We believe the proposed extension is not an extension but a brand new building. It would be used for both local and national events creating more traffic in Plant Street – a narrow cul-de-sac with no pavement that is already over-congested" (Sandwell Express & Star, 23.09.99, Dudley Express & Star, 23.09.99). A spokesman for the Cradley Heath Muslim Association had said that the work was being carried out because the roof of their building was leaking. They also said that the new mosque would encourage young Muslim people to learn more about their faith and keep them off the streets (Black Country Evening Mail, 18.09.99, Wolver hampton Express & Star, 20.09.99, Sandwell Express & Star, 22.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15]

Epsom burials

The Islamic Society in Surrey has asked Epsom and Ewell Borough Council to allow for Muslim burials in Epsom Cemetery as the one they currently use in Woking is nearly full. But a report to the council’s health liaison board says that setting aside a separate space would cause problems in the management of the cemetery. It also says that other visitors to the cemetery could find the process of Muslim burial rites distressing and it would be very difficult to screen it from general view (Epsom & Banstead Guardian, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15]

Halifax, Gibbet St

Plans to build a new glass dome and prayer room at the Madni Mosque in Gibbet Street have been approved by Calderdale Council’s planning committee. Mosque leaders also applied for permission to create a new first floor two-storey extension and extend the existing minaret by 10ft. Councillor Mohammed Najib said everyone would benefit from the extension. He said: "we have a community of 15,000 people who use the mosque and with the extra room we would be able to provide a worship room for women. Objectors have said the extension would mean the prices of nearby houses would fall but that is untrue. Prices would only go up because people do want to live near the mosque." Councillor Patricia Abrahams said she looked forward to seeing the new plans implemented at the mosque. She said: "It has long been my opinion that the mosque is one of the nicest buildings in Calderdale. This will be a wonderful extension to it. I think everybody should back the plans. Councillors were also told that the plans for the dome and minaret were so specialist that workers would have to come from abroad to complete the work (Halifax Evening Courier, 15.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15]

Harrow, Station Rd

Plans to build a new mosque for up to 1,000 worshippers have been criticised by neighbours who fear the project will create traffic chaos (See BMMS for September and December 1998 and April 1999). Administration worker Helen Webster is spearheading opposi tion to the plans, and more than 100 people had signed her petition calling on Harrow Council to review its plan ning approval for the mosque which is expanding and moving from its site next door. Ms Webster said: "It’s a ridiculous situation. The parking is going to be horrendous. I find it unbe lievable they got permission." However, mosque chairman Ilyas Khan argues that any problems will be averted if he gets permission to build a multi-storey car park on land behind. He said: "We only have people coming for two hours on a Friday. The new car park would have about 300 spaces. Everyone would be able to use it, not just people going to the mosque." Council deputy leader Keith Toms said: "Our planners wouldn’t have given permission for the mosque if it wasn’t viable. Such people have a right to a place of worship and they have the full support of the Labour Party" (Harrow Observer, 26.08.99).

Ms Webster has written to the Environment Secretary John Prescott and asked him to review how planning permission has been granted for the mosque, claiming Harrow Council agreed the scheme on the basis of inaccurate information and say the decision should be reversed. Ms Webster, who wrote to her local government ombudsman and to John Prescott, says many residents were not informed of the scheme. Councillors gave the go-ahead in March for the new mosque, which is expected to cost around £5 million (Harrow Observer, 16.09.99, Stanmore Times, 16.09.99, Harrow Times, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15]

Leeds, Brooklyn Terrace

Councillors in Leeds have called for more consultation over plans to build a dome and two 34ft-high minarets at a mosque in Brooklyn Terrace. The council has received 26 letters from people claiming the minarets would be too high and would not be in keeping with the residential character of the area. Plan ners have also received a petition signed by 300 people supporting the application from the Mosque Committee. A report to the council’s develop ment Control Panel said the six-year-old mosque was built in red brick and the surrounding terrace and back-to-back houses were built around 1900. It said: "This is a modern building not specifically designed in the manner of a mosque. The local community has col lected finance itself to build these small extensions aiming to give it more the appearance of a religious building." Recommending that approval be granted, the report acknowledged that the minarets were tall but not "massive in dimension." Panel chairman, Councillor Jim McKenna, said: "Cer tainly more discussions are needed. In its present form panel members may think about refusing permission. We are trying to achieve something suitable for all concerned" (Yorkshire Evening Post, 24.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 15/16]

Leyton, Leyton High Rd

The Al-Tawhid Mosque in Leyton High Road was to be officially opened on September 11. Special guest at the opening was to be Dr Abdullah Abdul Muhsin al-Turki, advisor to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia (Leyton Guardian, 09.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 16]

Preston burials

Councillors in Preston have voted against selling a former athletics track to be converted into a Muslim burial ground, saying they want to keep the land and rent it out to the Preston Jazz Baseball Club (See BMMS for June 1999). The Preston Muslim Burial and Welfare Society had wanted permission to carry out a feasibility study to see if the site would be suitable. But councillors said there was no point in allowing the study because the athletics track is not for sale. The Muslim community has been looking for a new burial ground for years, and felt the London Road track would be ideal for their needs. Conservative Geoff Driver said it would be wrong to allow a study as long as the council wanted to keep the land for leisure use. He said: "It’s like getting an engineer to do a structural survey on a house that isn’t for sale. It’s daft. I don’t have a problem with a Muslim burial ground. I think we ought to be bending over backwards to find land for the Muslim community. But it would be very irresponsible and unfair on the Muslim Burial Society to build up their hopes and let them incur abortive [sic] expenditure. What we should be doing first is deciding as a council whether that land is surplus to requirements or not, and if it is let the Muslim Burial Society go ahead then." But Vali Patel, chairman of the society, said: "Youths are screaming out for kickabout facilities. Money raised by the sale of this land could actually fund this need but the council and its officers are systematically ignoring this. Their thinking is very parochial and the Muslim community will not forgive them. We have councillors who believe that there should be no separate area for burials of any community – that Christians, Jews and Muslims should be buried together. Unfortunately, that is not what communities want but the councillors are not listening. Shame" (Lancashire Evening Post, 01.10.99, Preston Reporter, 16.09.99, Leyland Citizen, 16.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 16]

Sheffield, Wolseley Rd

Community leaders in Sheffield have called for council action to break a deadlock over plans to extend their mosque in Wolseley Road, Sharrow. Planning permission was given for the extension a year ago, but a bid to close a road to allow the development to go ahead was blocked by other members of the community (See BMMS for September, October and November 1998). Residents took the issue to the courts and won their case. Zulfquar Razaq, treasurer of the Asian Welfare Association, told the area panel for Sharrow, Nether Edge and Broomhill that despite being given planning permission a year ago, they were still trying to find out when they could build the extension. One of the residents said that the Wolseley Road site was unsuitable because it was on a major road junction and the mosque attracted considerable extra traffic. He suggested a site on Little London Road, but Mr Razaq said that was not feasible. He said; "In our religion it says you cannot ever leave a mosque, or close it up and move it elsewhere. There’s no question of us moving to Little London Road. We’ve been here 20 years. We have 2,000 Muslims in this area and we have a right to pray. This building is far too small for our purposes. This building will regenerate the area and it will not cost the council anything." David Whitfield, the council’s area officer for Sharrow, Nether Edge and Broomhill, said the council was discussing its next step on the issue (Barnsley Star, 30.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 16]

Tooting, Gatton Rd

A new mosque in Wandsworth has been officially opened. The two-storey mosque in Tooting will be used for prayers and as a community centre. More than 250 people went to the opening ceremony, including guests from America, the Caribbean and all over the UK. Councillor Sadiq Khan, in his address to the guests, said: "The new building is a fantastic landmark development which will mean that Muslims locally and from afar will be able to pray in a mosque which is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also functional and respects the local environment." Founder of the mosque, Mozamil Ouhla, said: "The new mosque finally being built is like a dream come true for me. It should serve the needs of the entire community and will be an asset to Tooting" (Wimble don News, 20.08.99, Wandsworth Borough News, 20.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 16]

Waltham Forest, Leyton High Rd

Hundreds of people turned up to see a new mosque in Leyton High Road finally open its doors, after a three-year building project. Councillor Peter Dawe, the mayor of Waltham Forest, went to the inauguration ceremony of the Masjid Al-Tawd mosque, which was built by the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith organisation. The building houses a large prayer hall for men and a smaller one for women on the first floor. On the ground floor there is a meeting hall, kitchen, library and offices. Mr Dawe said that the mosque played an important part in the community. Guest speaker at the ceremony was Dr Hamad Al-Majid, director of the Islamic Cultural Centre (Waltham Forest Independent, 17.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 16/17]

Walthamstow burials

A row has erupted between local Liberal Democrats and the Labour group in Walthamstow over plans for a Muslim burial site (See BMMS for January 1999). The council has agreed to hand over part of a play area off Foley Lane to the Muslim Burial Trust for use as a cemetery. But local residents along with Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors say this would cause too much traffic in the area and take away much needed recreational ground. But in a Labour circular, members claimed they were surprised that the Lib Dems who "courted the Muslim vote" were not prepared to support the cemetery plans. Their remarks have angered the Lib Dems and in a local newsletter, said they were shocked at Labour’s tactics over the issue. They said: "We never thought the day would come when two Labour councillors on the High Street ward would try to use the race card when dealing with residents’ problems." Councillor Bob Wheatley said: "As a Liberal Democrat I have always consulted all residents, be they Asian, black or white, and dealt with their problems at their merits. At no time would I suggest or indicate that I would support one section of the community against another. The Liberal Democrats are worried about what the people of the area think, we are not going to support one group because someone thinks that we have to." Commenting on the row, Labour leader Councillor Tony Buckley said: "What we have pointed out in our newsletter is that the Liberal Democrats, and Cllr Wheatley, have shown their hypocrisy over this issue. In one committee they decided to vote for the burial ground and in the full council they went against the plans. Cllr Wheatley claims that he is the champion of everyone but this is clearly not the case here" (Chingford Guardian, 19.08.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 17]

West Ham, Canning Rd

The Muslim community in east London are aiming to build the largest mosque in Europe, and the development could bring 1,000 jobs to the area in West Ham. The Muslim group behind the venture is asking Newham Council for outline planning permission for the mosque, which would hold 2,500 worshippers. The development would be built on the site of an old chemical works and would contain separate multi-purpose blocks for men and women, including study and teaching centres. If the mosque is built, it will hold twice as many worshippers as the Central Mosque in Regent’s Park (Evening Standard, 23.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 17]

Wolverhampton burials

It has been claimed that ethnic minority groups in Wolverhampton are prepared to pay for a weekend burial service in a bid to adhere to religious beliefs. Sikh councillor, Milkinderpal Jaspal, said a number of groups would be willing to pay up to £500 each to help Wolverhampton Council provide the facility. The proposal comes after communities in the town called for a weekend burial service which would allow them to bury their dead within 24 hours. The local Council of Mosques has already claimed it is being forced to break Islamic rules and is angry that other areas, including Dudley and Walsall, already allow the practice. Spokesman Zahid Parvez said: "It is a religious and cultural problem. When someone dies, the whole community feels it and it creates pressure because the house becomes the heart of the grief. People travel from other cities and the lack of weekend burials means they have to stay for longer than necessary" (Wolverhampton Express & Star, 15.09.99). Cllr Jaspal said that he hoped financial contributions by voluntary groups would sway the authority. He said; "A number of groups say they would be willing to pay for the service on a Saturday to help the local authority. They could pay a deposit into a bank account which would easily amount to around £10,000 so the service could be used as needed." He said that it was unfair for families to delay their burials, and transforming the current operation would assist those who worked during the week. He said: "It should be provided for every community. They all pay their council taxes and income taxes and I don’t see why people should be restricted." Nick Edwards, head of environmental services, said the idea would be considered but the costs would be expensive (Walsall Express & Star, 16.09.99 and 18.09.99). [BMMS September 1999 Vol. VII, No. 9, p. 17]

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