Features

A local broadcasting company in Bradford teamed up with the Asian Television and Radio Network to record a series of programmes about the Hajj, which were to be shown on Yorkshire Cable for three hours every night for a month. The programmes were to include reports and discussions as well as interviews with Muslims of different generations who have experienced the Hajj first hand. One will be an interview between Yasin Rahman, the managing director of the Asian Television and Radio Network, and his father Khalifa Haji Abdul Rahman Naqshbandi, a senior Muslim figure in the district. He first went in Hajj in 1967 when it took him nine weeks to make the pilgrimage by road. He said: "I still remember every detail of my first Hajj and there were no facilities, water supplies or medical aid as there is now. It was a very emotional experience and, while I was there, it was like no other feeling I have had." Amanda Hurford, head of communications for Yorkshire Cable, said: "We are delighted to be carrying the Hajj programmes, particularly after the success of the recent Ramadan broadcast. Community-based productions such as this demonstrate the unique variety of programmes available on cable television" (Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 01.03.00). Yasin Rahman wants to use the popularity of this month’s broadcasts, and the Ramadan broadcasts, to bolster his campaign to highlight gaps in national programming. He said: "As Muslims we feel we are offered very little by the BBC. We pay our licence but we don’t feel there are any programmes geared towards our community. We feel we get nothing in return for our money" (Yorkshire Post, 06.03.00).

The Times (11.03.00) carries an article written by Qaisra Shahraz about the significance and rites of the Hajj and the experiences of Muslims who go on the pilgrimage. Similarly, the Gravesend Messenger (08.03.00) writes some historical details about this pillar of Islam, and gives an outline to the rituals performed over the ten day period. For Muslims travelling from Portsmouth, their pilgrimage began in terror in Britain when an airgun was fired at their coach. The drivers window, on the coach carrying 29 pilgrims, was shattered by an air gun pellet, and the driver had to make an emergency stop on the A3 at Petersfield. Barry Talbot was taking the 29 passengers from the Marmion Road mosque in Southsea to Heathrow Airport for their flight, when he heard a loud bang seconds before the window shattered. He said: "Another five inches and it would have gone into my arm and another four or five inches to the other side and it would have hit one gentleman’s head. Everyone was panic-stricken on the bus. They were all alarmed - it was quite frightening. I have been driving all my life and I have never seen anything like this. Everyone on board said: ‘We’ve been shot at.’

The guy behind me was quite shaken up. They were desperate to get to Mecca." After the attack, Mr Talbot phoned his boss, Brian Bucknall, and asked him to alert the police. The pellet left a neat hole in the window but the glass around it was shattered. The glass had to be replaced before police allowed the coach to continue its journey after a 30-minute delay. It still arrived at Heathrow in time for the pilgrims’ flight (The Portsmouth News, 07.03.00).

As previous years, there has been protests over the export of British sheep to France for the ritual slaughter (Qurban) of Eid al-Adha. Thousands of sheep are slaughtered illegally each year in France in what has been described as the "killing fields". The sheep are slaughtered, in what are said to be particularly brutal cases, sometimes not even in strict adherence to Islamic laws on halal slaughter. Animal rights groups are continuing to campaign against the sale of British sheep to the French at this time of year, or for the French authorities to at least impose licensed slaughterhouses so the number of sheep killed each year would be limited (Evening Standard, 07.03.00, Putney & Wimbledon Times, 10.03.00, The Independent, 14.03.00, Birmingham Post, 15.03.00). This year there were protests by animal rights campaigners at various abattoirs in Britain, where they thought cruel ritual slaughters for Eid al-Adha were taking place. But Jane Barber, whose family runs the abattoir near Maldon which was targeted, said: "Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials are here all the time, not just for the festival, and monitor what we do. It is all legally controlled. People have a right to their opinion and they are entitled to demonstrate. If they want to come here that is up to them, but we are doing nothing we have to apologise for." (Burnham & Maldon Standard, 23.03.00, East Anglian Daily Times, 20.03.00).

Also, the government this year allocated abattoirs across the country for Muslims to perform Qurban for this Eid. The decision came after a negotiation between Muslim representatives and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food aimed at resolving the problem of illegal slaughter. The changes in law are now in line with the requirements of European Union legislation and allow animal slaughter to be performed by the Islamic method but only in a licensed slaughterhouse and under official veterinary supervision. The provision of these abattoirs is expected to reduce to the number of animals sacrificed by unlicensed slaughtermen in domestic fields and farmyards. The issue of accurately defining the Islamic method of slaughter was raised at a meeting by Dr Pasha of the Union of Muslim Organisations. Dr Pasha insisted that the words "without stunning" need to be added to the official understanding of Islamic slaughter. As a result, the Ministry’s officials have agreed that a letter confirming the exact definition of Islamic slaughter will be sent to all veterinary officers supervising the Qurban’s. Any queries about the legal requirements of Qurban and any related issues can be addressed by phoning the MAFF Helpline on 0645 33 55 77, or visiting their website on www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/welfare (Q News, No317, 01.03.00, Daily Telegraph, 17.03.00).

Celebrations for Eid al-Adha took place all over the country, with local communities organising various events. Youngsters from Britwell benefited from a workshop on cultural festivals at the Positive Steps Centre, where they coloured in pictures of mosques and painted tattoos on each other using henna and body paints. Henna painting is an important part of the festival of Eid. Sabera Jaffer, project leader, said: "We had a brilliant time. There was glitter everywhere but the children were really good. They’re all asking when we can do it again" (Slough & Langley Observer, 03.03.00). Most of the minicab firms in Dudley were to close for the day to allow Muslims to spend time with their families. Drivers’ representative Omar Ali said most of the private hire firms in Dudley were run by Muslims and would be observing the shut-down, although non-Muslim companies would continue to operate as normal (Dudley Express & Star, 10.03.00, Black Country Evening Mail, 15.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 15.03.00, Bath Chronicle, 15.03.00, Leicester Mercury, 16.03.00).

Rafiq Raja, writing in the Bucks Free Press (17.03.00), tells the story of the Prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his son in the name of God, and why and how Muslims celebrate this event. In Woking, Eid celebrations were shared with the rest of the community with an open invitation to an Eid gathering at Shah Jahan Mosque. The imam of the mosque, Professor Nisar Ahmed Hussain, said: "The Muslim community will specially share with their neighbours" (Woking News & Mail, 16.03.00). In Luton, many shops were closed for the day and taxi and hire-car firms only ran a limited service, as around 7,000 people attended Eid prayers at Luton Central Mosque. A spokesman for the mosque, Mohammed Bashir, said: "People also held social gatherings. It is a great day for us to get together with our families, and have meals together" (Luton News, 22.03.00).

The Muslim Advisor to the Prison Service, Maqsood Ahmed, led the Eid prayers and sermon at Wakefield Prison, where approximately 30 inmates were present. The Muslim Advisor was impressed with the feast provided by Governor Steve Tilley and Race Relations Officer Mick White, which had been cooked by the Muslim inmates (Muslim News, 31.03.00). As at Eid al-Fitr, the leaders of the three main parties sent Eid messages to the Muslim community through the Muslim press (Muslim News, 31.03.00).

In Manchester, six policemen were injured and 20 people were arrested after youths clashed with police during their Eid celebrations. Police blamed the violence on people who had travelled from other parts of the country "hell-bent" on causing trouble. Several shop windows were smashed, and fireworks were fired into the crowd. South Manchester divisional commander Chief Superintendent Lilian King condemned the violence saying: "We need to be clear that last night was about people coming into the city hell-bent on causing disruption. Fortunately the officers weren’t seriously injured and escaped with bumps, bruises and scrapes but this is not the kind of behaviour we are used to here." Of the 20 people arrested, 19 were charged with public order offences and bailed to appear in court on March 22 (Manchester Evening News, 17.03.00, Teletext Services, 17.03.00, Walsall Express & Star, 17.03.00, Sandwell Express & Star, 17.03.00, Wrexham Evening Leader, 17.03.00, Black Country Evening Mail, 17.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 17.03.00, Birmingham Post, 18.03.00). Celebrations in Green Street, Upton Park, were also dampened by violence as youths vandalised vehicles (City of London Recorder, 24.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 1/2]

[back to contents]

The Association of British Hujjaj (ABH), who have been campaigning for the past two years for a British consulate in Makkah, have recently complained that they have been pushed to the side of the project by the Muslim Council of Britain. General secretary of the ABH, Khalid Parvez, said: "All I know is that this project is at grave risk of being totally hijacked. Our mission was to help the 20,000 Muslim pilgrims who make the trip every year but the project is now politicised and going to be used to promote one group and one person. Whatever the MCB wants is on the agenda. In every meeting we see more and more representatives of the MCB." Although disagreements have been going on for some time, this one centres on the make-up of a delegation which the government agreed will be on hand to give consular representation over two weeks in March. The Home Office allocated the ABH £20,000 to fund three Muslim civil servants and eight other Muslims from across the community to kick start the project in Makkah (See British Muslims Monthly Survey for October and November 1999 and February 2000). However, it seemed that the MCB was retaining a substantial composition of the delegation. An agreement reached in December for Lord Ahmed to lead the delegation is claimed to have been broken to allow the MCB general secretary Iqbal Sacranie to be joint head. The ABH believes this is part of a cynical operation by the MCB to grab as many places as possible on the delegation for itself, instead of ensuring it represents the breadth of talent and experience in the Muslim community.

Mr Parvez said a seven member Hajj committee put together to form a delegation in December suddenly increased to 17 members, with affiliates of the MCB drafted in to subsequent meetings without prior agreement. According to Q News sources, Lord Ahmed was so infuriated that he stormed out of one of the meetings saying he no longer wanted anything to do with the project. Lord Ahmed told Q News: "The ABH made an application to the Home Office for funding in January but as soon as it was approved the MCB wanted to seize control. Everything has been so underhand. Minutes of meetings have not been made available and decisions were being taken behind the scenes." Lord Ahmed was then persuaded to rejoin the delegation by Foreign Office Minister Baroness Scotland. However, the MCB has denied it was playing politics with the Hajj group. Manzoor Moghul, MCB Midlands representative, said: "While there have been differences this is not a question of jockeying for position. The MCB does not have any representatives on the delegation so far. There is no question of the MCB taking over the whole operation and running it." If this pilot scheme for British representation in Makkah is successful, it will be extended to Madinah next year (Q News, No317, 01.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 2/3]

[back to contents]

West Midlands Police have apologised to the Muslim community after it described a raid on a bookshop and two homes in Birmingham as being linked with alleged Islamic terrorist activity. Muslims had reacted angrily to the way the operation was described and reported, and threatened to hold a demonstration outside the city’s police headquarters. When the story broke on the 1^st March, newspapers reported that police and MI5 officers had raided the Maktabah Al Ansaar Islamic Booksellers and Publishers in Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, in connection with alleged "Islamic extremist terrorist activities" outside the UK. Police spent nine hours searching the bookshop and officers took away bags containing what a spokesman said were documents, a "large amount" of money and "electronic equipment." It was also reported that the window of the shop displayed books with titles such as The Virtues of Jihad, Declaration of War and Defence of the Muslim Lands. At the time, a spokesman said: "A number of search warrants authorised under Prevention of Terrorism legislation were executed in the West Midlands. They were issued in connection with links to terrorist offences committed outside the United Kingdom. Investigations are continuing and may take some time to complete" (Birmingham Evening Mail, 10.03.00). The prevention of terrorism legislation allows police to hold suspects for a longer time than usual without being charged. It was also reported by the Birmingham Post (01.03.00) that local residents had said that the shop had only been open for six months but there had been concerns about its activities. One said: "We heard that the police found a gun there when they went in. No one seems to know much about the place but every time I went there to have a look inside, the shop was shut. People suspected that there was something going on." Another said: "There have been rumours about the people living and working in the premises since they turned up here about six months ago. People have said that guns have been seen coming in and going out and some people have said there is a gun factory above the shop. No one knows a great deal about them as they haven’t been here long and have kept themselves very much to themselves. The whole street was shocked when about five police cars and three vans turned up this morning and everyone has been asking a lot of questions as our lives could have been at risk living next to these people." However, another Islamic bookseller who declined to be named, apparently said that the raids may have been connected to the dispute in Kashmir. He said: "Personally I don’t think the people at the shop are involved in anything but there are young English-born Muslims who are interested in what is going on in Kashmir and there has been talk that some have gone out there because they see it as a Jihad (Islamic war). It’s possible the Indian authorities may have asked the Government to investigate people over here."

West Midlands Police then apologised to Muslims for the description of the raids. A police spokeswoman said: "Following report of this operation we’ve received a small number of complaints from members of the Muslim community. Our intention was to make it quite clear that we were investigating acts of extreme terrorism and not the peaceful activities of the vast majority of followers of Islam. If our use of language has offended anyone, including followers of Islam, we regret that" (Birmingham Post, 02.03.00). Since the raid, the man who was arrested has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. He is a brother of one of the owners of the shop, and was arrested in connection with possessing a firearm, but was actually questioned over a canister of pepper spray found at his home.

The owner of the bookshop said he was baffled as to why the security services had mounted such a huge operation to search the shop. The owner, who did not want to be named, said: "We have absolutely no idea why we were raided as we are just a bookshop that sells Islamic history books. We are a law-abiding, legitimate, tax-paying business and have no links with terrorism anywhere in the world. Since the raid we have sat down and tried to think who may have been spreading lies about what we do and we can’t think of anyone. It’s totally baffling. By making these accusations and raids, the police and MI5 are perpetuating the myth that all Muslims are in some way involved in terrorism. We have been led to think that maybe we are being used as pawns in a crazy witch-hunt to intimidate the Muslim community." The owner refuted claims that the business was a front for a weapons factory. He added: "We would have gladly allowed the police in to look around and search the place, we have nothing to hide. But they came in and wouldn’t even allow us to stay here as they went through everything. Of course, we do sell Islamic literature and we do have personal political beliefs, as everyone does, but that doesn’t make us terrorists. If it wasn’t so serious the situation would be laughable."

Birmingham councillor Amir Khan said the "witch-hunt" of Muslims was being controlled from the Foreign Office and Home Office. He said: "We really think the Government is making a Nazi-style regime to hunt out Muslims as Hitler did the Jews. Muslims are becoming increasingly more sceptical and fearful of the police and the Government and the Home and Foreign Secretaries are fuelling that fear" (Birmingham Post, 08.03.00). A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers were continuing their investigations alongside MI5 and Home Office officials (Walsall Express & Star, 01.03.00, Solihull Evening Mail, 01.03.00, Birmingham Express & Star, 01.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 01.03.00, Birmingham Post, 01.03.00, Yorkshire Post, 01.03.00, Northampton Chronicle, 01.03.00, The Mirror, 01.03.00, Solihull Evening Mail, 02.03.00, Birmingham Post, 02.03.00, Asian Times, 07.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 08.03.00, Black Country Evening Mail, 08.03.00, Birmingham Post, 08.03.00).

The owners have also said they may take legal action against West Midlands Police. Lawyers for the bookstore have written to the force asking for an explanation for the raid on February 29. Most of the items seized from the store, including the business computer, literature, passports and other legal documents, have been returned, but the owners said their publishing business was now suffering because of the operation and said they had not been given any reason for the search. One of the joint-owners of the store, who does not want to be named, said: "Their actions have begun to take their toll on our business. We have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide and simply want to clear our name as supposed international terrorists. The police have returned nearly all of the items they took off of us and they have never charged any of us for terrorist activities, which would suggest they made a mistake. We want the police to make it clear that they are investigating us and have something on us or make it clear that we have never done anything wrong." The solicitor acting on behalf of the bookshop owners, Tariq Ali, said: "We believe that the police’s ongoing investigation into the Maktabah Bookstore is a mess and we have written to them asking them an assortment of questions. We are giving them time to answer and if they do not give full answers we shall be considering definite legal action." A spokeswoman for the West Midlands Police only said that the investigation into the store was continuing in conjunction with MI5 (Birmingham Post, 27.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 27.03.00, Muslim News, 31.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 3/4]

[back to contents]

Q News (No317, 01.03.00) examines the issues relating to the faith communities arising out of the recent Wakeham commission report, which set out suggestions for a new reformed House of Lords (See BMMS for January 2000). In it, the report recommends that religious representation should be separated under two headings: Christian and non-Christian. The level of Christian representation, fixed at 26 in the last century, would remain the same. The Church of England would retain its historical supremacy but it would lose ten seats. Taking their place would be five leaders of other English Christian denominations, along with five other representatives of denominations from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But the most revolutionary change comes in the form of having five permanent seats set aside for the minority religions. Exactly which religions they will be is not specified, but the principle of ‘proportionality’ should ensure that the larger faith groups, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Sikhs, would enjoy a degree of constancy. Although some representation is considered to be better than none, the proposals have met with some dissatisfaction from some senior Muslim figures who claim that it is disproportionate to allot identical power to groups of such varying strength. Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, said: "There has to be some kind of relationship between the size of religious populations and the numbers appointed to represent them. Otherwise it will be seen as a cosmetic appointment. It’s just not physically possible for one person to stand up and represent the large number of interests of a community as big as ours."

Another question is what role the Muslim representative will play. The Commission’s own words suggest that the proposal advocates an ecclesiastical idea of representation. But Dr Zaki Badawi, principal of the Muslim College, said: "If you limit Islam to the views of a committee appointed by the authorities then you are really handing religion on a plate to the political power of the day. Religious authorities should always be independent." Another of Dr Badawi’s fears is that the Muslim community is simply too diverse to be represented by a single figure. He said: "It is a recipe for conflict. Whoever it is, we would be at each other’s throats, exactly as has happened with the Jews. Would you have him as a Sunni or Shi’i, Barelwi or Deobandi, Pakistani or Arab?" Much of this will depend on the process of appointment. Lord Wakeham envisages a "genuinely independent Appointments Commission," one of whose tasks will be to receive nominations from the faith groups and select the best candidate. But as the Prime Minister will have the final say on its membership, it is argued that the selection would simply reflect what is best for the government, not what is best for the community.

Dr Badawi also believes that if a single representative is going to be selected in this way, she/he will lack legitimacy and therefore will be unnecessary. He believes that the Muslim community should be strong enough to resist official attempts to fashion its leadership. He said: "The government wants to model our religion on the pattern of the church. There is no need. If politicians want a religious opinion they can approach a scholar. If they want advise on another specialised area, they can approach an expert. It goes back to the old principle, the scholars advise and the rulers listen." He added: "We need members of the Muslim community to be in Parliament as citizens, not as citizens who happen to be Muslims. A grand mufti will just create more problems. Just look at the mufti in Egypt, the poor man is having a terrible time." [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 4/5]

[back to contents]

The debate over plans to abolish Section 28 continues with many Muslim leaders and parents threatening to withdraw their children from state schools, and claiming Labour could lose a lot of its ethnic vote if the act is repealed (See BMMS for January and February 2000). In Scotland, Mazhar Malik of the Ethnic Community Resource Centre in Glasgow, said that First Minister Donald Dewar had been elected to "strengthen society, not destroy it." He warned: "There will be 2.3 million British Moslems who will view Britain and Scotland as a society rushing towards destroying family values and society itself. I must emphasise it is the absolute right of parents to decide what their children are learning in schools. The parents believe they are being betrayed by Labour" (Daily Record, 07.03.00). Commenting on the threat to boycott state schools, Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "It is now very clear that this is a very serious option for parents. I believe this view is held very widely, and not just by Moslem parents. Certainly, from the letters I have been receiving, Christian parents will also be considering whether their children should continue to attend some schools. If homosexual values are being imposed on children, what else can parents do but consider removing them from school?" (Daily Mail, 07.03.00, Scottish Daily Mail, 07.03.00, Scottish Express, 07.03.00, Dundee Courier & Advertiser, 07.03.00, Aberdeen Press & Journal, 07.03.00, Glasgow Evening Times, 07.03.00, Bradford Telegraph Argus, 08.03.00, Asian Age, 09.03.00, Leicester Mercury, 09.03.00, Pink Paper, 10.03.00, The Express, 10.03.00).

In Luton, president of the Central Mosque Mohammed Sulaiman said: "Getting rid of Section 28 could have a really bad effect on our children, especially the girls. I can tell you now that our people don’t want such things in the schools and if necessary, parents in our community are prepared to boycott the schools. We are going to talk about this in the whole community" (Luton on Sunday, 12.03.00). In Aylesbury, MP David Lidington has said he supports the clause and will back the campaign in the Muslim community. Zahid Hussain Khan, chairman of the Aylesbury Mosque Committee, wrote to the MP asking him to back their campaign. Mr Lidington said: "I am sure the views of my Muslim constituents are shared by millions of other people, from all religious traditions and all parts of the political spectrum. I cannot understand why the government persists in trying to railroad this measure through parliament in the face of huge public hostility" (Bucks Herald, 22.02.00, The Daily Telegraph, 17.03.00, Dundee Courier & Advertiser, 28.03.00, Muslim News, 31.03.00).

Many newspapers also reported that Yusuf Islam had entered the debate by voicing his disapproval of the government’s plans. He said the clause was needed for the campaign against spiritual regeneration, and its repeal was "part of the deterioration of the moral statutes that we are witnessing day by day." He added: "We are very grateful that the House of Lords seem to represent a bulwark, a wall of protection, for great moral principles against the overrun of the state. Yes, we believe it is part of that overall problem we are facing - the deterioration of morality in education" (Dudley Express & Star, 22.03.00). Mr Islam was speaking at the launch of his new book A is for Allah at the House of Lords, which was overshadowed in the news by his views on the clause (The Independent, 22.02.00, The Guardian, 22.03.00, Liverpool Daily Post, 22.03.00, Rugby Evening Telegraph, 22.03.00, The Times, 22.03.00, Eastern Daily Press, 22.03.00, Birmingham Post, 22.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 5]

[back to contents]

Reports

Community

Religious discrimination reports
Q News reports on two reports recently launched looking into the highly debated issue of religious discrimination (See BMMS for February 2000). The first is the interim report published by the University of Derby, which is carrying out a government sponsored research project into the nature and extent of religious discrimination. The report just now is limited to a literature review, and the next stage will include information using formal research instruments such as a structured questionnaire, formal consultative meetings with local and national religious bodies and local fieldwork. The report is expected to be published in October. The second report in one carried out by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) entitled Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Hostility in the United Kingdom 2000. The IHRC has spent most of its efforts lobbying against political injustice outside the UK, but increasingly it has found itself supporting domestic victims. It is from this that the present report took form, as one of its questionnaires was appended to include a section on peoples experiences on religious discrimination. According to the survey, 45 per cent of all respondents questioned last year said they or a member of their immediate family had "experienced discrimination or hostility for being a Muslim." The figure was up ten per cent on the previous year. The Commission acknowledges the dangers of extrapolation (200 forms were completed this year and just 98 in 1999), and knows the findings might not satisfy the rule of scientific inquiry, but it says that the figures indicate to "tens of thousands - or even hundreds of thousands - of cases of discrimination and/or hostility against Muslims each year." Women and the young were bearing the brunt of the discrimination. In 1999 only 25 per cent of males but 49 per cent of females reported discrimination or hostility. In 2000 the figures were 35 and 51 per cent respectively. Equally disturbing in the report is the qualitative data presented. Several cases are mentioned, one being the story of a girl in Yorkshire who was refused permission by her private school headmistress to wear a headscarf even though Sikh students could wear turbans. It says: "For two months the girl was threatened with exclusion, victimised and mocked by teachers who even encouraged other pupils to do the same...The campaign was orchestrated by a headmistress who hated Arabs because of her experiences working in the Gulf. The level of harassment reminds one of the days when Jewish students were forced to wear the Star of David, and sit in a corner of the class in the schools of Nazi Germany." Anthony McRoy, writing about the IHRC’s report in the Third Way (01.03.00), cites examples from the report of various accounts of discrimination, from the girl victimised by teachers to the advertisement for work in Bradford which read "Muslims need not bother apply." He says that the IHRC’s research "is an impressive and persuasive document - in fact, more convincing than the Runnymede Trust’s. It is characterised by scholarly objectivity, and it is difficult to avoid its conclusion that legislation against sectarian discrimination is essential. It is, indeed, perfectly feasible to extend Northern Ireland’s anti-sectarian laws to the mainland, producing a uniform code for the whole country." The report concludes by saying: "Discrimination against, and hostility towards, Muslims - for no other reason than being Muslim - in the United Kingdom is widespread, deep-rooted and insidious. And the evidence suggests strongly that the situation is deteriorating" (Q News, No317, 01.03.00, Third Way, 01.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 6]

Centre extension bid
The Barking Muslim Social and Cultural Society are awaiting planning permission for an extension to their centre in Tanner Street. President of the Society, Abdul Khokhar, said the extension is badly needed for the Muslim centre which was first opened in 1988 (Barking & Dagenham Post, 23.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 6]

Centre in Old Trafford approved
Plans for a community centre which were to be refused, have now been approved by planning officers in Manchester thanks to Manchester United Football Club. Planning officers had felt that an application by the Hiddiatul-Muslimeen Society to build a centre in Humphrey Road, Old Trafford, would create a significant increase in traffic. But the group pointed out that nearby Manchester United had been granted permission to extend their ground and had had 64,000 at their last home game. Councillor Pauleen Lane said: "If the same parking standards applied to United as other applicants they would have a home capacity that wouldn’t qualify them to play in the Nationwide Conference." She added that while it was not ideal, the centre would be a valuable community facility and would be an improvement on leaving the site undeveloped (Area News Today, 25.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 6]

Iqra Trust prison conference
Q News (No317, 01.03.00) reports on a conference organised by the Iqra Trust on Muslims in the Criminal Justice System, looking into why they now make up 17 per cent of the male prison population in Britain and what can be done to reverse the current trend. The day was divided into three parts dealing with in turn, diagnosis, treatment of offenders and enforcement. Rasjid Skinner, a senior psychologist, welcomed the "healthy change" in approach to Muslims crime from ten years ago when the "constant drone was that what a wonderful community we are even when we knew crime was taking place." Mr Skinner highlighted two factors: accelerated cultural change and alienation from the criminal justice system. He said that artificially accelerated cultural change - the imposition of indigenous values - is likely to produce social breakdown and make people, particularly the young, more susceptible to crime. Alienation occurred because large numbers of younger, educated Muslims perceive the police as encouraging prostitution and drugs to "deliberately rot the community." One example he gave of this was police using informers not to help in crime related issues but to identify people who took part in political and religious activities. The Chief Probation Officer, John Walters, picked up in the issue of social breakdown. Acknowledging the extreme marginalisation of Muslims he reminded his peers of the close relation between crime and social exclusion; prisons are filled with the poor and socially disadvantaged. The probation service’s role is to stop convicts re-offending. If social exclusion was the reason the turned to crime then re-integration was an obvious solution. This is something that requires a lot of commitment from those in advantaged positions to reach out to the less fortunate, in the shape of education and employment opportunities. But also needed is a debate on community values to find out why cultural traditions were breaking down and leading to moral uncertainty. Rejection of community values was a common theme that ran through the speeches during the day. Len Justin, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, spoke of his service’s experience of the Bangladeshi commun ity in London’s Tower Hamlets where there was a clear picture of social breakdown, intensified by the easy availability of hard drugs. The Iqra Trust’s Saleh el-Hassan, director of prisoners’ welfare, said: "It was refreshing to see such a positive attitude among participants, we just hope they will take into account some of the policy concerns raised in the conference. On the back of this we have a meeting coming up with the probation service to discuss the needs of Muslim prisoners." [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 6/7]

Academic receives international prize
Professor Muhammed Mohar Ali has expressed is delight at being the winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies for his lifetime’s academic work. Winners receive US$200,000 (about £124,640), a 22-carat, 200 gram gold medal and acertificate summarising their work. His work includes a book on the life of the Prophet Muhammad and a four-volume history of the Muslims of Bengal. He said: "To receive an award like this is an honour and a privilege. I knew I had been nominated by one of the universities I worked at but to win was fantastic." Prof. Ali graduated from Dhaka University, and then came to Britain in 1960 where he gained a Ph.D. in Modern South Asian History at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He then qualified as a barrister in 1964. He later returned to Bangladesh where he held several college posts, before moving on to Saudi Arabia in 1976 where he became Professor of Islamic History at universities in Riyadh and Madinah. He returned to Britain in 1996 after retiring and is now working on a translation of the Qur’an into English. He said: "What makes it unique is the fact that it contains literal explanations and there is no room for my own opinion to come through, unlike other translations. I hope to have it finished within the next two years" (Barking & Dagenham Recorder, 02.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 7]

Welfare Association host conference
The Muslim Welfare Association was to hold a conference on issues such as domestic violence, forced marriage and sexual abuse. The conference was to be held at the Waltham Forest Theatre, Walthamstow, on April 12 (Chingford Guardian, 02.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 7]

Walsall community raises money for charity
Walsall’s Muslim community raised money for two charities over the Ramadan period. £12,000 was raised for Kashmir Aid and another £11,000 for the Kosovo Relief Fund (KRF). The KRF is hoping to raise a total of £30,000 to rebuild one of three mosques which were destroyed in the northern Kosovan town of Vushtrii. Mohammed Arif, from the KRF, said: "It has been a great effort by everyone in the community but we are still hoping to raise more money in the coming weeks and months" (Walsall Express & Star, 03.03.00, Wolverhampton Express & Star, 03.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 7]

Case Histories exhibition at museum
A retired Burton stationmaster has his own exhibition display case at the town’s Bass Museum as part of it’s Case Histories exhibition. In it is a collection of personal items which belonged to Sardar Ali which tell a story of his life achievements and voluntary work in England. Among the items on display is a milk bottle he used to roll out his first chappattis when he arrived in 1961, with an explanation reading: "I found English bread hard to eat and I longed for chappati. My first attempt with a milk bottle to roll it out was very thick and burnt, but it tasted wonderful." There is also the British Empire Medal he received for his ethnic minority community work and a letter of congratulation from the Queen; an oath of allegiance he swore in 1987 when he was appointed the first Asian magistrate in Burton and Staffordshire; a money box to represent all the fund-raising he has done; photographs of the Victoria Road Primary School of which he is a governor; and a ‘topi’, a hat which is traditionally worn for prayer. Mr Ali is one of six people featured in the ‘Case Histories’ touring exhibition which ends on April 24 (Burton & South Derbyshire Advertiser, 08.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 7]

Police officer suspended
A police officer attending a training course in Barkingside has been suspended after he was alleged to have made a racist remark. London detective constable, Tom Hassell, 50, who was on a race relations training course, was reported by an Asian colleague after he mispronounced the word Shi’ite. Two other officers, including the instructor, were also suspended following the incident but have since been reinstated (Wanstead & Woodford Guardian, 09.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 7]

Fears expressed about Derby meeting
A meeting held by Al-Muhajiroun in Derby is reported to have passed peacefully, despite initials fears when it emerged the speaker was currently under investigation for terrorism. The main speaker was Sheikh Abu Hamza Al-Misry, and concern was also expressed over the wording of the advertising poster which said "And kill them wherever you find them." Al Muhajiroun leader, Omar Bakri Mohammed, said: "The quote ‘and kill them wherever you find them’ comes directly from the Koran and refers to the enemies of Islam. But now we do not intend it to mean killing people but rather to kill the injustice and oppression heaped upon Muslims across the world in places such as Bosnia and Chechnya. Sheikh Abu Hamza is being investigated by people who suspect him of terrorism but, as we know, many people are accused of crimes they have not committed. This will be a peaceful academic discussion of the difficulties facing Muslims in the world and we do not intend to offend people."

The Revd Michael Futers of St James’ Church, next to the centre where the talk is being held, is involved with organising which groups meet at the centre. He said: "This group has met before in private at the centre and we have not had any problems. But suddenly this is to be a public and high profile meeting with a very controversial speaker. We have spoken to the police and the Racial Equality Council and both have advised us to allow the meeting to go ahead. Most Muslims in the area are not supportive of the group which is well known for having some very extreme views" (Derby Telegraph, 11.03.00). However, their fears that the meeting may turn violent were unfounded as the event passed peacefully. Abu Hamza gave a talk on The Virtues of Jihad in Islam, during which he urged people to take up swords and fight against non-believers in violent situations such as the ones facing Muslims in Bosnia and Grozny. He added: "Allah, in the Koran, tells us to fight against those who do not believe and he tells us to incite others to fight. Yet I am labelled a terrorist for inciting people to fight for their beliefs" (Derby Evening Telegraph, 13.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 8]

Smethwick centre dispute
Muslims in Smethwick have accused Sandwell Council of going back on their word after plans for a welfare centre were rejected (See BMMS for February 2000). The Capehill Muslim Welfare Association are angry that the project planned for Shireland Road has been turned down, after an earlier planning application was given the go-ahead 18 months ago. The association originally applied for planning permission at 36 Shireland Road in October 1998. Sand well’s finance and resources committee then offered the group a different site and authorised a ‘land exchange’ in May 1999, to move the premises further along the road. But now the planning committee has turned down the plans for the new site over concerns for traffic congestion and pedestrian safety, despite recommendation from council officers, who recently visited the site, to approve the plans.

Spokesman for the Muslim association, Afzal Qureshi, said the decision had caused the Muslim community a lot of distress. He said: "We were about to start work when the council offered us a different site. I feel so let down. We have spent £2,000 drawing up the plans. I wish I had gone ahead with the plans in the first place. I think there is definitely something fishy going on and I want to expose it." The two-storey building would have included a meeting room, prayer section, toilets and a 10-space car park. The centre would have provided teaching facilities for children and support for women in the community. Planning committee chairman Councillor Roger Page said he is calling for a full investigation into the matter. He said: "The planning committee can only determine applications on planning grounds and by law and are not allowed to take into consideration other matters, like details of land ownership. The site in this particular part of Shireland Road - near a busy shopping centre and very close to a major five-road junction - is already recognised as a dangerous stretch where there have been several accidents involving children" (Sandwell Chronicle, 24.03.00, Walsall Express & Star, 13.03.00, Sandwell Express & Star, 13.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 8]

Burnley Islamic society exhibition
The Burnley College Islamic Society organised a successful programme of events for their Islamic awareness week. It included an exhibition of artefacts, lectures and a charity dinner where a video called ‘The Wonders of Islamic Science’ was shown. The two lectures given were about the status of women in Islam and, being a Muslim in a western society. The second lecture by Dr Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari from Nottingham and was attended by Jamil Khan, from the Pakistan High Commission (Burnley Express, 10.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 8]

Mosque at hospital
A new mosque has been constructed at Ashworth Hospital in Liverpool to provide a place of worship for Muslim patients and staff. A former vestry on the hospital’s north site was converted into the mosque over a six month period. Patients in the joinery workshop worked on the project giving the room wooden panels complete with furniture, mosaic tiling, carpets and an intricately carved Mihrab. Sheikh Mohammed Qadri of the Liverpool Islamic Cultural Centre will lead prayers in the room every Friday afternoon. He said: "It has boosted the morale of the patients tremendously. They are proud that the management has taken this crucial step of providing this Mosque, which caters for their spiritual needs" (Maghull Advertiser, 16.03.00, Liverpool Echo, 17.03.00, Eastern Eye, 31.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 8]

Oxford centre delay
A final decision for the new Oxford Islamic Centre building has again been delayed, with the city’s planning committee deferring the application to further study the east side of the façade (See BMMS for June, August, September, October and November 1999). The council has already carried out a landscape survey of the area which showed the £20 million building would have little impact from a distance and the general character of the area would not change. Many residents have objected to the plans which include a 104-foot tower and 71-foot dome, as well as accommodation for 57 students, a lecture theatre and a prayer room. The scheme is to be funded by the Saudi royal family and has won backing from the Royal Fine Art Commission and the Oxford Preservation Trust (Oxford Mail, 16.03.00, Oxford Times, 17.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 8/9]

Religious self-help group in Stafford
A new Muslim self-help group set up in Stafford hopes to provide a forum for children and adults to discuss religious topics, and also to provide support and structured religious education for children. A spokesman for the group said: "Muslim families have been living in Stafford for many years and although they have felt part of the local community, opportunities for their children to have religious education have been limited." The group is also keen to establish links with groups from other faiths to promote debate and find area of common interest (Staffordshire Newsletter, 16.03.00, Stafford Post, 16.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

Arts of Islam CD-ROM
A Malaysian artist has produced an Arts of Islam CD-ROM which will be available for reference in schools and libraries in Newham. Nusrat Mohammed, of Forest Gate, London, devised the CD in an attempt to combat Islamophobia. She said: "In this society there is a problem with racism. By doing a CD-ROM of art, I thought everyone would appreciate it and share a common interest. The aim of this project is to promote harmony among us all, whatever our religion." The project was funded by the Peabody Trust Millen nium Awards Scheme, Newham Leisure Services and the Mayor’s Office (City of London Recorder, 17.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

Elderly centre plan
Muslims in Sparkhill are planning to open a day centre for the elderly to stop them becoming prisoners in their own home. A spokesman for the Muslim community said they feared many pensioners were trapped at home because they had nowhere to go, which resulted in depression and feelings of isolation. Mohammed Suleman said the local community has bought an empty building next to the Paigham-e-Islam Centre on Stratford Road, but they still need to find £20,000 to carry out the work. Mr Suleman said he hoped Birmingham City Council would help them get the project running by providing some funding. He said: "These elderly people have spent their lives working hard in Birmingham’s factories and foundries. Now many of them are stuck at home and have nothing to do. It would make a big difference to their lives and health." A spokesman for the council said there were many avenues which could be tried for funding including the government’s Single Regeneration Budget for the area and the council’s Local Involvement Local Action grants scheme for community projects (Solihull Evening Mail, 17.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

Islamic Relief in Leicester
The Leicester Mercury (17.03.00) has printed an article about the work of the Leicester-based charity Islamic Relief. The article highlights their recent work in Chechnya, where they claim to be the only British relief agency working to help stranded refugees. The charity began providing aid in Chechnya in 1995. Salim Ingar, the charity’s East-Midlands area fund-raiser, said: "To go to these places is mind-boggling. You really don’t know what you are going to meet along the way. But once you get out there, you just want to help everybody. It doesn’t matter who they are, it is a humanitarian aid effort." The article also outlines other countries where the charity has provided humanitarian aid. [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

Lecture on Islam and the West
A lecture was to be held at Leicester University on April 3 exploring the relationship between Islam and the West. The university was to stage the first annual World Humanities lecture, and Cambridge academic Tim Winter was to deliver the lecture entitled Islam and the Threat of the West (Leicester Mercury, 21.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

Islamic finance online
A new internet company has been launched which aims to provide financial products and news on investments that are in accordance with Islamic principles. IslamiQ.com has already raised $6 million (£3.7m) to launch the service which offers information on banking and personal finance products, as well as allowing Muslims to pay their zakat online. The service has three elements: IslamiQMoney.com, which provides financial products; IslamiQStocks.com, which will allow the trading of approved shares; and IslamiQDaily.com, an Islamic financial news services. Co-founder and chief executive, Hasnita Dato Hashim, explained that the site is designed to help Muslim investors comply with Islamic values, which bans investing in companies that are involved in gambling, alcoholic drinks, porn ography and banking. She said: "General financial web sites fail to appreciate the Islamic values the Muslim investor requires if he or she is to feel comfortable accessing inform ation and trading online." The company hopes to raise a further $50 million and aims to list in London or on Nasdaq within the next year (Financial Times, 27.03.00, The Independent, 27.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9]

New bid for Leeds Islamic centre
The Yorkshire Evening Post (28.03.00) reports that a ‘fundamentalist’ Islamic centre may be built in the Shadwell area of Leeds, two years after residents opposed original plans. Residents in the area rejected the plans for the development of a community centre in a house on Shadwell Lane by the Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri Muslim group in 1997. Following their objections, the planning application was put on hold and the residents thought the plans had been dropped. However, new plans and drawings have recently been submitted to Leeds City Council by the same group, causing anger among some of the locals. Iain Ferguson, who lives next door to the property and acts as a spokesman for the residents, said: "The building is in a residential area and Shadwell is already well developed. It is totally inappropriate to use it as a centre. The plans include a proposal to turn the rear of the property into a car park and local people do not want the extra disturbance of cars coming and going at all hours and headlights shining into their windows." A spokesman for the council said: "The application does have approval for a community centre and car park and revised plans have been submitted this year and are being carefully considered. We are aware of the feelings of local residents." [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 9/10]

Mosque teacher ran heroin gang
A mosque teacher is being hunted by police in Oldham after being identified as a "Fagin-style" heroin baron at a trial in which his young drug-runners were jailed. Manchester Crown Court heard that Mohammed Tufail, 27, who taught at a mosque in Werneth, Oldham, recruited youths for his "thriving business" and is still on the run from the police. The court also heard that police had launched a four-month surveillance operation last year when heroin was sold to undercover officers. Judge Adrian Smith praised the police, who were attacked as they left the court, for their bravery in bringing the gang to justice. The court jailed a number of Tufail’s accomplices for a total of more than 20 years. Saleem Akhtar, 18, pleaded guilty to supplying the drugs and was sentenced to five years in jail. Fiaz Ahmed, 18, also pleaded guilty to supplying and was jailed for four years. Riaz Khan, 18, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply heroin and was sentenced to three years, nine months. Usman Khan, 19, and Niaz Ahmed, 27, both pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and were jailed for two years, six months and four years, three months respectively. Bilal Khan, 22, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and was sentenced to three years. Two others had already been jailed for heroin dealing for five and four years. The judge told the gang: "You were the footsoldiers, the ones to take the risks. Those higher up in the ranks of command are not before me today." He added that their actions had brought misery to the lives of desperate people. Defence solicitors said their clients had been influenced by a well-respected member of the community. The men, many of them teenagers at the time, had been taught by Tufail and looked up to him as mentor. Zafar Ali, defending Usman Khan, said: "Tufail was a Fagin-type character who preyed on the young Asians he taught" (Asian Times, 28.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 10]

Yusuf Islam launches new book
Yusuf Islam has launched his new CD and book at a high profile reception at the House of Lords. The children’s book A is for Allah uses the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet as keys to describing the fundamentals of Islamic faith. He said: "From day one in the classroom children are taught ‘A’ stands for ‘Apple’. Maybe if faith and its morality are taught from the start...we can prevent tragic incidents like the recent fatal shooting of a six-year old." The double CD consists of children’s songs about Islam and recitations from the Qur’an. Mr Islam also commented on the Section 28 debate, which dominated most of the reporting of newspapers of this event [see Section 28 debate story] (The Independent, 22.03.00, Huddersfield Examiner, 28.03.00).

The former pop star, famous in the 70s as Cat Stevens, embraced Islam in that decade and is said to be meeting with the producers of the US television show "Behind the Music" to discuss a programme about his life and his conversion in 1978 (Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 08.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 10]

HSBC Islamic mortgage plan
HSBC is looking to market mortgages tailored for Muslim customers. An HSBC source said of the Muslim home financing plan: "The product will not be based on interest. Rather than borrowing money to buy a property, it’s the bank that buys the property and lends it to the tenant. But over the years the tenant will put aside part of the price of the property over and above the rent - and that will slowly build up capital and gradually purchase the property." Mushtaq Parker, editor of Islamic Banking magazine, said: "British Moslems have a very limited choice of personal finance products. The demand for products such as home financing is rapidly increasing." But he warned: "British Moslems will take up these products only if they are competitive and commensurate with the conventional market. Moslems have every right to expect products which comply with their ethical beliefs but are also competitive - they should not pay a premium for being religious." An HSBC spokeswoman confirmed that the idea had been discussed, but no product had been developed yet (The Express, 29.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 10]

Abdullah Quilliam Society reception
The Abdullah Quilliam Society Media Committee held a reception in Liverpool on January 28 to highlight the work of the society and promote good relations between the Muslim community, the media and the numerous community groups in the society. Patricia Gordon, Shaikh Abdullah’s grand daughter attended the reception, chaired by Zia Chaudhry chairman of the society. Also in attendance were the Deputy Lord Mayor, Edwin Clein and BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips, who spoke on the public perception and media coverage of Islam and Muslims. There was also an exhibition of Quilliam artefacts including archive photographs, texts, Islamic arts and crafts and literature (Muslim News, 31.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 10]

Muslim police policy advisor appointed
One of the first police policy advisors has been appointed, who will have direct responsibility for advising on policing a multi-cultural and diverse community. Mohammed Dhalech, from Gloucester, will advise the South Wales Police national spokesman Chief Constable Burden, on race issues. He will also advise other chief officers and senior management on multi-cultural and community issues. Mr Dhalech said: "This post will be continually evolving and will challenge me in many ways over the years to bring about a new culture in the new century. My role will enable me to ensure that South Wales Police is corporately and strategically moving towards becoming an organisation committed to and acting in a fair and equal manner and one which treats it’s staff and the people of South Wales with dignity and respect." Mr Dhalech said that the police force is taking positive steps in recruiting Muslims. They use a whole range of recruiting methods and are looking at sensitivities such as meeting the needs of Muslim women, including dress codes. Muslim women still cannot wear headscarves, but Mr Dhalech said this issue is currently under review (Muslim News, 31.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 10/11]

Islamic Helpline in London
A new advice line has been set up in London to serve the Muslim community based on "prophetic traditions and pious scholars." The Islamic Helpline is a free service which has been running for four months. The supervisor of the helpline is Mufti Barakatullah, who is also senior imam at London’s Finchley Mosque. He believes that this service is important as it overcomes the deficiencies of some mosques, imams and social advisory systems. The advisors deal with the calls in English, Arabic and Urdu, with topics ranging from Hajj and Umra matters, to mortgages, inheritances, and alcohol and drug abuse. However, the majority of callers ask for advice on matrimonial issues. Imam Barakatullah said that sometimes the problems need lengthy replies so sometimes issues are resolved in writing. He said: "We prefer lengthy issues to be put to us in writing, because sometimes answers can be misinter preted and misrepresented" (Muslim News, 31.03.00). (Sandwell Express & Star, 25.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

[back to contents]

Education

Education centre plan refused
Councillors in Bolton have refused permission for a terraced house to be converted into an Islamic Education Centre. The application was to create an establishment for ten children at the house on Starcliffe Street. Two letters of objection were received by Bolton Council, and planning control sub committee councillors decided to refuse the scheme. Burnden Ward councillor Prentice Howarth said: "This is just an ordinary terraced house and I don’t think it is a suitable use" (Bolton Journal, 24.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

Extended use for centre rejected
An Islamic Centre in Bolton has been refused permission to extend the madrasa for children to be used by adults as well. A planning application was put in for additional use of Sharples Islamic Centre between Ramsey Street and Pemberton Street. But councillors were told that 13 letters of objection had been received from residents who feared that it would lead to an increase in traffic in the area (Bolton Evening News, 13.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

Nottingham education centre approved
Plans for a former printing works to be converted into a Muslim education centre have been approved by members of Broxtowe Borough Council’s planning committee. The plans were drawn up by the Ghousia Education Trust which bought the property in Evelyn Street, Beeston, for £95,000 last June. The plans include demolishing the single-storey rear part of the building to create a new car park. Around 45 families in Beeston are expected to use the premises, which will be known as the Beeston Muslim Centre. Two local businesses and one resident wrote letters objecting to the plans, and 12 residents signed a petition. Concerns of the residents included congestion and on-street parking in Evelyn Street and Humber Road, loss of an employment site, noise and disturbance. Derek Clack, borough director of planning and development said that the issues were finely balanced but he did not perceive the proposed development would create any problems. To prevent late night noise, the centre will have its opening times limited to between 9am and 8:30pm (Nottingham Evening Post, 01.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

Pupils visit Scunthorpe Islamic centre
Pupils from Eastoft Primary School in Scunthorpe visited the Islamic Cultural and Social Centre. They learnt about the Islamic way of life from project worker Abid Khan as part of their school project on religions of the world (Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph, 04.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

Plans submitted to extend school
Plans have been submitted to Brent Council for permission to extend the Muslim Al Sadiq and Al Zahra School in Brondesbury. The extension will include more space for an office, a library and laboratory plus a separate gym for girls. Planners say the authority is asking for £3,000 "planning gain" from the school to improve safety in the area (Wembley Observer, 09.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11]

[back to contents]

Politics

Blair interview with Muslim News
The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has given an in-depth interview to the Muslim News, covering social issues, politics and foreign policy. Mr Blair was asked about Christian and religious values, and how they fit into his government’s policies, and if he takes inspiration from any other faiths. He replied that he had read about Islam and found it a "deeply reflective, peaceful" religion and others would benefit from knowing about it. He also said he had read the Qur’an and found it interesting "how similar the values were that underpin the different faiths." They also talked about family values and the repeal of Section 28, which, said Mr Blair, was an issue that had been misunderstood in the newspapers; the election of more Muslim MPs, which Mr Blair said would be encouraged even if targets for the number of Muslims to be elected were not set; exclusion and discrimination; education; and the role of Muslims in a multi-faith, multi-cultural community. The full interview can be read in the Muslim News (31.03.00).

Many newspapers reported on Mr Blair’s statement that he has read a translation of the Qur’an and even owns two copies. He is said to be studying the Qur’an and other religious texts as part of a personal ecumenical drive to include Britain’s multi-faith community in policymaking. The Prime Minister is said to have already read the Qur’an three times, and has impressed the British Muslim community by the depth of his knowledge and understanding of their faith. Mr Blair is the first Prime Minister to routinely send messages of support and friendship to minority faith leaders during their festivals or holy days. He has also held private discus sions with leaders of the Muslim and other communities about their beliefs and culture. Iqbal Sacranie, secretary- general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he had been impressed by the lengths to which the Prime Minister has gone to try to understand the beliefs and culture of Britain’s Muslim community. He said that under the present government the first Muslim life peers had been appointed, the Health Department had agreed to provide "chaplaincies" for minority faiths in hospitals, and the first Muslim advisor had been appointed to look at the conditions of Muslim prisoners. Dr Zaki Badawi, of the Muslim College, London, was not as impressed with Mr Blair’s understanding of Islam. He did say, however, that it seemed that new Labour policies have been influenced by the teachings of the Qur’an. He said: "The Third Way is a very Muslim concept - the idea that you need to find a middle path between rampant capitalism and communism. That is something that he has borrowed from us" (The Times, 10.03.00, Asian Age, 11.03.00, Church Times, 17.03.00, Leicester Mercury, 29.03.00, Teletext Services, 29.03.00, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 29.03.00, Wigan Evening post, 29.03.00, Nottingham Evening Post, 29.03.00, Darlington & South West Durham Northern Echo, 30.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 11/12]

Fatwa against Dobson for mayor
The Jewish Chronicle (31.03.00) reports on a fatwa issued by members of Al-Muhajiroun against mayoral candidate Frank Dobson who suggest he will be a ‘Mayor for Jews.’ Leaflets distributed in London by Al-Muhajiroun apparently ask whether Mr Dobson will be "Mayor for London or Mayor for Israel [and] Friend of Zionists and enemy of Muslims. Mayor for [the] people or Mayor for the Jews." The pamphlets also state that Muslims should not vote for any of the candidates in May’s election. A spokesman for Mr Dobson said that he was determined to be a mayor "for all Londoners," no matter what their ethnic or religious background. He added: "We have both Jewish and Muslim candidates on our list for the London assembly." Lord Ahmed, who backs Mr Dobson, dismissed the leaflet saying it was the work of a "tiny minority" of Muslims. He said that the source of the anti-election fatwa was a "self-appointed group of about 150 ‘rentaquote’ young people who are fed up with the system and searching for their identity." He added that he believed the vast majority of London Muslims would back the Labour candidate. [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 12]

[back to contents]

Racism

Race relations initiative in Glasgow
Police in Glasgow have spent eight weeks working with Muslim youths in the city’s south side as part of a new initiative to improve race relations. The youngsters, aged between 13 and 17, were given an insight into operational methods and training techniques as part of a drive to build up trust between the police and Muslim youths. At the end of the programme, the 24 teenagers were presented with certificates of achievement (Glasgow Evening Times, 22.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 12]

[back to contents]

Women

Award for community worker
The founder of a Muslim women’s centre in Nottingham has been awarded one of the government’s Active Comm unity Awards for the work she has done for her community. Sultana Syed, 52, set up the Nottingham Muslim Women’s Centre in Ilkeston Road in 1987, and helps develop child care, training and arts events for Asian women. When she was nominated for the award, she said: "It was a complete surprise. I love my community and want to help as much as I can. It is nice to feel that someone has appreciated that and recognised my hard work." Ms Syed picked up her award from the Prime Minister Tony Blair, at a star-studded event held at the Millennium Dome, London. Ms Syed has already been given a Citizen of Honour Award by the Lord Mayor. A spokesperson for the event organisers said; "Mrs Syed is a role model for many, bringing to her work an immeasurable amount of experience and a profound understanding of the needs of ethnic women" (Nottingham Evening Post, 03.03.00, Nottingham Recorder, 24.02.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 12]

[back to contents]

Youth

Youth competition day
More than 100 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association recently took part in the first Annual Youth Competition Day at Hounslow Mission House. The event involved competitions based on both literary and physical excellence. Prize winners will now be entered into the national contest which will be held in Farnham in August. A youth leader for the group in Hounslow said: "The annual compet ition day has been held for many years and has been attracting more and more participants. This has led us to begin a local event, not only to provide an opportunity for all participants to actively compete, but also to act as a self-assessment in the preparation that they may require in order to succeed further" (Hounslow & Chiswick Informer, 10.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 12]

[back to contents]

Interfaith

Bishop says Lent should be shared, like Ramadan
The Bishop of Worcester has told churches that more people are aware of the Muslim tradition of fasting than they are of the practice of Lent. In a three minute message read out to parishioners in Worcestershire and Dudley, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby urged people to keep the discipline and practice of Lent in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. In the address he said: "Have you noticed that people are much more aware of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan than they are of Lent? That’s mainly because for Muslims it is a shared observance, something they are conscious of doing as a community. Politicians and negotiators have to take account of it. It’s a real force in the world. So don’t let Lent become a private and secret observance" (Kidderminster Express & Star, 06.03.00, Black Country Evening Mail, 06.03.00, Birmingham Evening Mail, 06.03.00, Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 10.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 12/13]

[back to contents]

Halal

Anger at high price of meat
A Muslim in Huddersfield has criticised the increase in prices for halal meat around the time of Eid Al-Adha. Iqbal Javid from Birkby said: "Each Eid we have to celebrate the festival with halal meat. The suppliers sometimes raise the price of an animal you could buy from a farmer for £35 to as much as £100. That is passed on to the customer when they buy meat in the shops." But a supplier hit back at the criticisms. Shabbir Daji, a partner at Dara Traders at Spen borough Abattoir, said prices for whole lambs were set to rise by only around £5 per animal. He said the increase on normal prices of £45 to £70 per animal, depending on weight, was driven by demand for Eid, coupled with short supply. He added: "We don’t control the prices. Laws mean we can only keep an animal for 72 hours before slaughter, so we cannot buy them earlier and store them. Everyone wants lambs for the festival day, but at the moment many British lambs are being exported and supply is short" (Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 14.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 13]

Halal Chinese food for Birmingham
A Birmingham restaurant owner is extending his business by opening the city’s first halal Chinese restaurant. Mohammed Yaqubali, owner of The Lahore Karahi in Sparkbrook, is converting a former pub into the restaurant which is due to open in July and will employ specialist Chinese chefs. He decided to branch out since seeing how popular Chinese food had become in his home city of Lahore in Pakistan. Mr Yaqubali, 50, said: "There are about 30 very large halal Chinese restaurants in Lahore. I believe ours will be the first in Britain. I am sure it will be very well received. Devout Muslims will be able to eat any of the dishes on the menu. We will be offering a full choice of Chinese food for everyone - not just Muslims. It will be no more expensive. Non-Muslims will notice no difference. Meat served in balti restaurants is halal" (Sunday Mercury, 19.03.00, Daily Star, 20.03.00, Birmingham Post, 20.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 13]

New rules for chicken slaughter
Animal welfare officers in Birmingham have said new rules are to be introduced which will ban religious slaughter of animals at home. Chickens which have been sold to Muslims are often taken home and slaughtered there, but it is hoped new regulations which will make it an offence to slaughter animals at home for religious purposes, will discourage people from buying the birds. A spokesman for the Environmental Services department said: "We take the view that this trade is not something that should be happening within Birmingham in the year 2000. The trade has been subject of our concern for many years but there is nothing we can do to stop it as it is not illegal. Hopefully this will discourage people from buying the chickens as they will not be able to slaughter them according to their religious beliefs." The spokesman added that a seminar detailing the new regulations was attended by members of the Muslim community who offered their support to the rules. Local councillor Mohammed Kazi said: "There is temptation when people come round selling cheap chickens. These new regulations will offer protection for the public because I don’t think this trade can be healthy. People will not be deprived because there are many outlets where they can get properly slaughtered, safe halal meat." Anyone breaching the new regulations could be fined £5,000 or face three months imprisonment (Birmingham Evening Mail, 24.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 13]

[back to contents]

Health

Conference to tackle transplant issue
A major conference is to be held in West Yorkshire to discuss the organ donation crisis. Over 300 delegates - including top surgeons and religious leaders - are expected to attend the event in Bradford. One of the key issues will be the lack of organ donation among the Asian community, despite the fact that many of the 6,000 people awaiting organ donations in the UK are from the ethnic minorities. The conference, organised jointly by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, aims to spread awareness of the problem which costs dozens of lives each year. Because kidney transplants rely on matching tissues, not just blood types, it is extremely rare that an organ from a white person can be successfully transplanted into someone of black or Asian origin. Many Muslims who refuse to donate their organs do so with the belief that their religion prevents them from donating their organs, but a fatwa issued by the Muslim Shariah Council in 1995 is said to have removed religious objection to organ donation. Yorkshire region transplant co-ordinator Steve Bell said: "This event is not promotional, it’s more about trying to educate people about transplants and about the problems we are currently facing. We want to know how different religions feel about transplantation and how we can tackle this. And we want the religious leaders to take our messages back to our communities. One of the topics we will also be discussing is the prospect of live donation of organs" (Yorkshire Evening Post, 11.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 13]

[back to contents]

Employment

Chef wins unfair dismissal tribunal
A former QE2 chef has won £1,042 for his unfair dismissal claim against All Saints Church in Northampton, but claims of racial discrimination have been dismissed. Khalid Nawaz, 42, claimed he had been made redundant from his £11,000-a-year job as coffee shop manager, and was not considered for the shop’s new administrator role, because he was Asian. Speaking after the tribunal, Mr Nawaz said: "I am disappointed we did not get the racial discrimination because I feel there was enough evidence. I think they were a bit mean with the unfair dismissal award and I’ll be talking to my solicitors about an appeal." Mr Nawaz was manager of the All Saints’ Church coffee shop for nearly two years, until he was made redundant last September. The church claimed it could no longer afford to keep Mr Nawaz on and planned a new administrator role to look after the coffee shop. Mr Nawaz told the hearing: "I believe I wasn’t offered the job because I am Asian. I cannot think of any other reason. The church committee is made up totally of white people. I never felt I was even considered. There was never any complaint about my standard of work. All the time I have shown respect for the church. My religious beliefs have never interfered." Revd Simon Godfrey, who has been at the church for ten years, said Mr Nawaz was not considered for the administrator post because he felt it could only be done by someone of Christian faith. He said: "That an individual given the trust of the Christian community could make such allegations has been met by shock and disbelief in the church. The job specification for the post has still not been decided but, as well as doing the accounts, fund-raising and looking after the coffee shop, we would require them to attend services and assist in divine worship. I would rather a priest took on the role." Tribunal chairman Jeremy McMullen ruled the church was justified in wanting a practising Christian in the new role, so it could not consider Mr Nawaz. He added that the unfair dismissal stood because Mr Nawaz was not consulted properly about the redundancy (Northampton Chronicle, 15.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 14]

[back to contents]

Mosques and Burials

East London, Mulberry Way
A mosque in east London was set on fire on the night of March 16 after Isha (night prayer). The arsonists broke through the back door of the mosque around 10:30pm and set the fire. It took more than an hour for fire-fighters to put the fire out. One room of the mosque was completely damaged and the rest of the buildings and carpets were damaged by smoke. Kaisar Malik, a trustee of the Qur’an Murkuz Trust Centre in Mulberry Way, said: "Luckily no one was hurt." He said that attacks on mosque were quite common: "Bricks and stones have been thrown at the building. Racist graffiti, like "Pakis out," has been written on the walls." Also, BNP literature has been distri buted in the area and cars have been smashed, the worst damage being done during the middle and end of Ramadan earlier this year. He said that the police had not done anything about these incidents except log them, but he had noted that the Metropolitan Police had warned, during this period, for people to be vigilant against "possible threat from Islamic extremist groups." The police are treating the recent attack on the mosque as racist, but denied there have been other incidents in the area. A police spokesperson told the Muslim News: "We have not got any crime reports except the March 16 arson" (Muslim News, 31.03.00). However, Det Supt Angela Allgood, who is leading the investigation, said: "It was deliberate. We’re treating this as a racist attack owing to the nature of the building. We’re appealing for witnesses and urge anyone who may have seen anything or anybody near the centre on Friday, to come forward." Laiq Khan, another centre trustee, said the centre managers would be approaching their MPs over concerns following the attack. He added: "As a result of this, the Muslim community needs reassurance of better protection of their lives and properties" (Wanstead & Woodford Guardian, 23.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 14]

Exeter, York Rd
A planning application is to be submitted to Exeter County Council to build the West Country’s first purpose-built mosque. The building is expected to cost around £1 million and will be situated at the Exeter Islamic Centre in York Road. An appeal for raise money is expected to be launched once the plans are approved. Imam of the centre, Mohammed Saeid, said: "Plans have been drawn up and there are discussions with the planning officers. It’s almost ready and we are just waiting to submit it finally, I hope within the next few weeks or so." Local Muslims recently bought the new premises from Devon County Council following a refusal to extend a converted house in the same street. Mr Saeid said they want to demolish two buildings on the recently purchased site so they can build the new mosque and other community facilities. He said there was a need for the improved facilities particularly for women and young people, and better disabled access. He added that the dome and the outside of the building would not spoil the landscape as it would not be built higher than surrounding buildings. Exeter Mayor Roy Hill welcomed the project saying: "It will be a place of worship for the Muslim community within the city. I understand their premises at the moment are too small" (Devon Western Morning News, 20.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 14]

Hackney, Shacklewell Lane
A mosque in Hackney which was recently damaged by a firebomb attack has been dealt another blow after Hackney Council made a decision to sell off the mosque’s car park to the highest bidder on 27 March (See BMMS for February 2000). The council also sugg ested that the mosque would be subject to a yearly rent of almost £10,000 if they wanted to continue using it. The car park is being sold by the council as a "freehold commercial investment" with "potential to substantially increase" the annual rent. Suttons, the auctioneers, told one enquirer that a rent of £2 per square foot would be appropriate for the whole 4,950 square feet of the park, increasing the annual rent nearly 1,000 per cent to £9,900. The mosque’s basis for the occupation of the land as a car park goes back to 1983 when the then Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine handed over £60,000 of taxpayers money to Hackney Council for the landscaping of the site as a car park for the mosque. The mosque owners now feel that the council’s decision to repossess the property goes against what the Department of the Environment had initially intended. The Friends of Shacklewell Lane Mosque, an ad hoc group set up by Mahmoud Norrington, have organised a petition to stop the auction going ahead while they try to work out alternative arrangements between the mosque and the council. Tezel Asana, of the UK Turkish Islamic Trust which owns the mosque, said that if the land is sold it would be damaging to the local community and the mosque users. He said: "It will make the parking problem much worse, and badly affect the old and disabled who need to leave their vehicles accessibly in the mosque compound" (Muslim News, 31.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 14/15]

Keighley, Emily St
Work started on a new mosque in Keighley when a small ceremony was held to bless the laying of the foundation stone. The mosque is being funded by the local Muslim community and is expected to take two years to complete (See BMMs for August 1999, January and February 2000). It is being built to replace Keighley’s first purpose built mosque which was built in 1971. Pir Allaudin Siddiqui performed an identical ceremony 30 years ago when the original Jamia mosque was built in Emily Street. Javed Bashir, spokesman for the Keighley Muslim Association, said: "At that time it was built for the men who would have been coming over as immigrant workers to earn money. The community was much smaller then, about two to three thousand. Now families have settled and it is much bigger. The new mosque has been designed to be a showpiece for the 21^st century. It will have facilities for the disabled and purpose-built facilities for women, which were not included in the building 30 years ago" (Yorkshire Post, 09.03.00, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 10.03.00, Keighley News, 10.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 15]

Keighley, Spencer St
A new mosque which recently opened in Keighley attracted a crowd of 400 at its official opening ceremony. Muslims from all over Britain went to see the new mosque on the site of an old Baptist church, opened by the UK Islamic Mission following a ten-month refur bishment programme. The Mission established itself in Keighley 11 years ago when it converted two small properties in Belgrave Road into a mosque. Spokesman Mohammed Sajid said: "We quickly outgrew the premises and started to look around for a new home. We heard that the old Baptist Church was up for sale, and with a lot of help from the local community we managed to raise enough finance to buy it. There was considerable refurb ishment work to be done, but we had tremendous support from tradesmen and the community generally. It was a wonderful effort." The new mosque includes teaching rooms, a hall, a community centre and prayer area, and the Mission hopes the building will become a focus for the local community. There is now also provision for women and girls. Mr Sajid added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support and we are very proud of the new facilities" (Keighley News, 17.03.00, Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 21.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 15]

Llandudno burials
The first Muslim burial ground is set to be created in a cemetery near Llandudno in Conwy county. Conwy County Council is following the example already set by Gwynedd and Denbighshire County Councils. The space will be made as part of a larger extension to Llanrhos cemetery and comes after a request made for burial spaces from the chairman of the Llandudno Junction Iman Centre (North Wales Pioneer, 15.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 15]

Newcastle, Wingrove Gds
Local residents in Fenham, Newcastle, have been divided by the news that a planning application has been submitted to the council for a purpose-built mosque in the area (See BMMS for February 2000). Some residents fear that the £500,000 will not fit in with the rest of Wingrove Gardens and will lead to an increase in traffic and vandalism. The issue led to the organisation of a public meeting to discuss the plans before they are given the go-ahead. Tom Lamb, of Wingrove Road, Fenham, said: "It’s a public building that has no place in the area. I’ve looked at the plans and I reckon this mosque could hold up to 400 people. It is going to be a huge white building on a red - brick street."

However, Mubashar Khwaja, secretary of the mosque committee and a retired teacher, said these fears were unfounded. He said: "We are proposing to replace derelict, run-down garages with a beautiful, purpose-built mosque - the first in Newcastle. We now use three houses on Wingrove Road and there is no problem with parking. Elderly people and children are unable to worship because the mosque in Elswick is too far away for them. Most people will walk there and won’t use cars. It is for local people and isn’t intended for the whole of Newcastle" (Newcastle Journal, 06.03.00). A city council spokesman said: "Officials from the planning department were at the meeting and discussed the plan. There was a suggestion that the design of the building might need to be changed, so it could be a couple of months before it comes before our development panel" (Newcastle Herald & Post, 08.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 15]

Southampton, St Andrews Rd
A half-finished mosque in Southampton may be repossessed by the council if the Medina Mosque Trust does not pay the £20,000 rent it owes to the council. The £750,000 mosque project was begun four years ago when civic chiefs agreed to sell the half-acre site to the mosque trust for £56,000 - a quarter of its market value. Builders have been working on the project on and off while the Muslim community raises the funds needed to complete the mosque. The trust accepts that it owes the council the money but says it needs more time to pay it back. Mohammed Aslam, chair of the Medina Mosque Trust, said: "People have gone through a lot of hardship to get this far and we have done our utmost to fulfil our obligations. It’s not a big shopping development, we haven’t got lots of money" (Southampton Daily Echo, 07.03.00). He also objected to the way in which council chiefs had voted in secret to move towards repossession of the mosque. He said: "The first we knew of the decision of the council was when we were told about it by the Daily Echo. We are not going to stop, and I am not going to stop. It is part of our life. I feel humbled but thankful that we have received so much support from other denominations. But the council should have discussed the problems with us rather than deal with things in this manner. Whatever their politics, the city council should be promoting unity within the community between all creeds and religions. A threat like this does nothing to promote good relations with the ethnic community." Members of the Hindu and Sikh communities have backed the mosque trust and are even giving financial support for the mosque. Harjip Singh, a leading spokesman of the city’s Sikh community, said: "If they can attack this mosque now, at this late stage, then they can do it to everyone else next. The ethnic communities in this city are still young, but they have done a lot for this city in terms of work and the taxes we pay. The council needs to know that the Moslem community is doing its best to raise this money. The men here are working in their own time, giving their own labour and paying their own money to get this finished. To the council £20,000 is not a lot of money. Why have they taken this course of action?" (Southampton Daily Echo, 13.03.00). Councillor Richard Bates, head of the council committee that voted in secret to move towards repossession of the mosque, said: "It has dragged on for years and we need to be assured the building can be completed this year. If they don’t pay us the £20,000 by April 19 then we are legally entitled to take it back." The trust is now desperate to raise the money it owes the council (Southampton Daily Echo, 07.03.00, 08.03.00 and 13.03.00). [BMMS March 2000 Vol. VIII, No. 3, p. 15/16]

Wolverhampton burials
The Muslim community in Wolverhampton has welcomed proposals to introduce a trial period of weekend burials and cremations (See BMMS for September and October 1999, and January 2000). A standby service is now set to operate on Saturdays with staff on call to test the level of demand. Bernadette Pope, spokeswoman for the organisation Citizens, which had been supporting the religious groups, said they had been working with the Council of Mosques and the Islamic Society of Britain to put pressure in the council. She said: "The most favoured option was providing a Saturday and Sunday stand-by service but this is the next best thing. We are quite pleased and just hope the recommendation will go through." Wolverhampton Council was under pressure to provide the service after monitoring the provision of local authorities. Walsall Council already provides Saturday burials for the Muslim community but no cremations and Dudley Council is approaching the end of a trial period for Saturday burials (Wolverhampton Express & Star, 27.03.00, Kidderminster Express & Star, 27.03.00, Dudley Express & Star, 24.03.00).

[back to contents]