Abbey Mills Mosque

12

Educational institution

Summary

Subject: Mosque of Mills of Abbey

Content

Introduction

1. Project

2. Concerns

2.1 Size

2.2 Environment

2.3 Funding

2.4 Terrorism

3. Responses

3.1 Petition

3.2 Public relations

3.3 Threats

3.4 Other opposition

References

Introduction

The Abbey Mills Mosque, also known as the London Markaz or Masjid-e-Ilyas, is a proposed mosque and Islamic centre to be built on an 7.3-hectare (18-acre) site in Stratford, East London. It was originally reported that the structure, if built, would have been the largest religious building in Britain and the largest mosque in Europe.[1] For this reason it is often informally referred to in the press as the "mega-mosque".[1]

The mosque would be built by Tablighi Jamaat (a Muslim missionary movement) near the site of the London 2012 Olympic Park. Anjuman-e-Islahul Muslimeen is Tablighi Jamaat's charitable trust and has been the owner of the site since 1996.[2] The Tablighi Jamaat website devoted to the mosque places the maximum capacity at 12,000 worshipers.[3]

The plan has sparked controversy for various reasons including its initially reported size, the possible chemical contamination risk associated with the site[4], the uncertainty as to the sources of funding that will be used by Tablighi Jamaat[5], and alleged links between Tablighi Jamaat and Islamic terrorism.[2] Mosque officials are engaged in resolving the controversies, as well as countering the perception implied by the term "mega-mosque".[6]

Public response to the mosque and associated controversies has included on-line petitions, various public talks, debates, speeches, and websites, and even apparent threats against people opposing the mosque.[7] With the expiration of the permit to use the site,[1] and neither a current plan permission nor application for a mosque,[8] the building's future remains uncertain.

1. Project

In 1996 Anjuman-e-Islahul Muslimeen purchased the Abbey Mills site (the location of a former chemical works)[9] for GB?1.6 million.[10] In 2001, the Tablighi Jamaat was issued a five-year permit to use the site as a place of worship; however, the permit expired before building commenced.[1] As of 2007 the site plan incorporated a mosque capable of accommodating 12,000 people, a visitor and conference centre, substantial parking for cars and facilities for bicycles, a new entrance to the West Ham tube station, a residential school for 500 pupils, a reception center for visiting VIPs--including about 20 guest suites, a plan for the retention of the natural habitat on the island location within the site, and extensive landscaping.[11] The Tablighi Jamaat also stated that they plan to develop the mosque to make full use of natural resources reducing the mosque's energy consumption and increasing the mosque's recycling.[11]

2. Concerns

2.1 Size

Reports as to the size of the mosque have varied considerably. Ali Mangera of Mangera Yvars, one of the architects who submitted a proposal for the design competition, stated that his design would accommodate up to 40,000 visitors simultaneously, with the potential for expanding to contain 70,000 people.[12][13] These figures led to much consternation. London Borough of Newham Councillor Alan Craig, of the Christian Peoples Alliance, has criticized the development plans on the grounds that they would change the character of the local area, making it predominantly Muslim, and has called for a public inquiry into the mosque's development.[14] The Daily Telegraph reported that the Newham planning department would refuse the mosque's application, as a project of that size had the potential to cause damage to community relations in the area.[2]

In apparent response to the public concern about the mosque's size, the mosque's trustees did not choose Mangera's design for the final plan, deciding instead on a scaled-down structure.[15] Mr. Abdul Sattar Shahid, speaking on behalf of the Tablighi Jamaat trustees, announced that the firm of Allies and Morrison was retained to design the mosque.[11]

2.2 Environment

In July 2007 a report by Waterman Environmental was publicized by Councillor Craig, which revealed that the land upon which the Abbey Mills Mosque is supposed to be built is considered have a medium-to-high contamination risk.[4] The site was used as a chemical works for at least 100 years, and was decommissioned as such in the late 1980s.[4] Craig was alleged to have obtained this information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and he called for the Environment Agency to be brought in and for the site to be shut down until an independent report was undertaken.[4] According to Craig, the Waterman Report revealed that the original pre-remediation works had discovered soil and groundwater impact by mercury, lead, arsenic, oil, fuels, and asbestos fibres. There were methane and carbon dioxide land gas readings as well.[4] Mosque officials have stated that allowing the development to proceed would benefit the community, as decontamination of the site is part of their building plan.[16]

2.3 Funding

In September 2006 The Guardian reported on concerns regarding funding for the Tablighi Jamaat's construction project. Documentation filed with the Charity Commission indicated that Anjuman-E-Islahul Muslimeen's annual donations were on the order of only GB?500,000, suggesting the need for significant extra financial support to fund the building project.[5] Allegations were made that the project would be funded by Saudi fundamentalist groups. The allegations were based on Tablighi Jamaat's being a Deobandi Muslim organization that has close links with the form of the religion practiced by the Saudi royal family.[5]

The Tablighi Jamaat website lists that it intends to raise the money predominantly via small donations from Muslims in the London area, that they have no links nor made contact with the Saudi royal family,[17] and clearly states that the Tablighi Jamaat are neither actively seeking overseas money nor public money.[10]

2.4 Terrorism

The New York Times quoted Michael J. Heimbach, a deputy chief of Federal Bureau of Investigation's international terrorism section, saying that the FBI has found that the Tablighi Jamaat was used for recruiting by Al-Qaeda.[18] The group has also been referred to as "a key influence on terrorists targeting Britain" and "a common link to a string of attacks and conspiracies".[19]

The Tablighi Jamaat website clearly states that it refrains from political or controversial activities and stands for democracy and freedom.[20] The group describes itself as a non-political group and categorically rejects any links to terrorism or terrorists;[21] however, its website does make clear that it cannot take responsibility for the actions of every individual who has ever attended their mosques or services.[22]

Yoginder Sikand, who studied and wrote about the Tablighi Jamaat in South Asia, said that any fringe elements do not reflect the peacefulness of the movement.[19] Although the group has a very loose organizational structure, Sikand says that it would be "simply wrong to describe Tablighi Jamaat as a terrorist recruiting organisation."[19]

3. Responses

3.1 Petition

An online petition was formed in response to the concerns raised about the planned mosque, calling on the Prime Minister to prevent the building of the mosque; the petition closed with over 250,000 signatures and was at the time the most signed petition on the site.[23] Her Majesty's Government responded that the local planning authorities are responsible for general control of development in their areas and are required to take into consideration the views of interested persons and particularly local communities.[8] In regard to this specific proposal, the government was informed by the Newham Council that there is neither a current planning permission or application for a mosque, nor is one expected in the near future.[8]

Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, issued a statement protesting what he called the "the particularly vicious nature of the campaign against a possible Muslim place of worship in East London", stating that it should be "condemned by all of those who support the long established right of freedom of religion in this country, and all the more so as it is based on information which has long been established to be factually untrue."[24]

3.2 Public relations

In 2007 the Tablighi Jamaat retained the public relations firm Indigo Public Affairs, which specializes in difficult major planning situations.[25] The firm's efforts to enhance the organization's image include setting up a website for the mosque and creating YouTube videos discussing the various concerns.[25]

In September 2007 a public discussion between supporters and opponents of the mosque plan was held at Ithaca House in Stratford.[26] Issues discussed included the legitimacy of the concerns about the mosque, the extent of the conservative view of Islam taught by Tablighi Jamaat, their unwillingness to engage in public discourse, the extent that racism plays a role in the mosque's opposition, and the demand for larger facilities in the West Ham area to support the needs of the community.[26]

3.3 Threats

In apparent response to the opposition to the mosque, Alan Craig has been the subject of a video showing his purported obituary, together with that of his wife and two children.[7] The video was posted by a 23-year-old man from Stevenage named Muhammad, better known by his online moniker of "Abdullah1425". There was a link to the video from the mosque's website, through links to pages supporting the mosque, until November 2007.[7] Nick Kilby, speaking on behalf of Tablighi Jamaat, said: "We found out about the video last night and it has been removed. We don't take responsibility for other people's sites that we don't control." He added that if Abdullah1425 was found to be a member of the organization, it would be dealt with very seriously.[7]

3. Other opposition

In March 2008 Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, co-founder of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, publicly opposed the construction of the mosque, stating that "We have too many mosques. I think it should not be built. What we need first is more integration between the existing mosques and the wider community."[27] Siddiqui's opposition joins that of Craig, together with that of Irfan Al-Alawi, the director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism Europe, who expressed extreme concern about the spread of Tablighi Jamaat.[27]

References

1. a b c d Law, Peter (7 November 2006). "Mega-mosque planning deadline missed". This is Local London. http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1006186.0.megamosque_planning_deadline_missed.php. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

2. a b c Leapman, Ben; Wynne-Jones, Jonathan (21 February 2007). "Supermosque for 70,000 'will be blocked'". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1542995/Supermosque-for-70%2C000-%27will-be-blocked%27.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

3. "The current plans". Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PCN_Plans.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

4. a b c d e Blake, Daniel (31 July 2007). "Calls to Close London 'Mega-Mosque' Site amid 'Contamination' Revelations". Society. Christian Today. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/calls.to.close.london.megamosque.site.amid.contamination.revelations/11983.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

5. a b c Doward, Jamie (4 September 2006). "Battle to block massive mosque". Special report:Religious affairs. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2006/sep/24/communities.religion. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

6. (ASX) Mosque plans downsized. [Television production]. London, England: BBC News. 2007-03-27. Event occurs at 00:00:15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6490000/newsid_6499900/6499935.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=62&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2. Retrieved 2008-04-29.

7. a b c d Sugden, Joanna (6 November 2007). "Video threat to opponent of Olympic 'mega-mosque'". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2820684.ece. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

8. a b c "ScrapMegaMosque - epetition reply". Her Majesty's Government. 19 July 2007. http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page12552.asp. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

9. Sugden, Joanna (29 May 2007). "Setback for Muslim sect's 'mega-mosque' in London". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1853589.ece. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

10. a b "Fact #5". Top 10 facts about Abbeymills Mosque. Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_73.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

11. a b c "World class architects appointed". Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_58.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

12. "Mangera Yvars". Building Design. 3 November 2006. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=601&storycode=3076646&c=2&encCode=0000000001123d2a. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

13. Glancey, Jonathan (30 October 2006). "Dome sweet dome". Arts. The Guardian. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1934985,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

14. Trench, Zia (2006-10-14). "Case for a mega mosque". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6040892.stm. Retrieved 2007-07-11.

15. "Mosque drops Mangera". Building Design. 30 March 2007. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3084034&c=1. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

16. "Major benefit to development of Abbeymills - decontamination of the site". Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_65.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

17. "Q: Will the Saudi Royal Family be paying for this mosque?". Some myths explored. Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_48.html#saudi. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

18. Sachs, Susan (14 July 2003). "A Muslim Missionary Group Draws New Scrutiny in U.S.". U.S.. The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E5D7163CF937A25754C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

19. a b c Johnston, Philip; Foster, Peter (11 July 2007). "The 'peaceful' group linked to radical Muslims". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557111/The-%27peaceful%27-group-linked-to-radical-Muslims.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

20. "Tablighi Jamaat - a brief overview". Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PBN_TablighiJamaatHome.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

21. "NO link with Riyadh ul Haq". Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_67.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

22. "Do you have connections to any suicide bombers?". Some myths explored. Abbey Mills Mosque. 2007. http://www.abbeymillsmosque.com/AMILLS/cache_PID_48.html#suicide. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

23. BBC News

24. "Statement on untrue reports suggesting that the Mayor plans to fund a mosque". Mayor of London. Greater London Authority. 17 July 2007. http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/statement_170707.jsp. Retrieved 2008-01-14.

25. a b O'Neill, Sean (21 May 2007). "Sect hires PR firm to win support for giant mosque". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1816451.ece. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

26. a b Saini, Angela (7 September 2007). "Debating the Abbey Mills Mosque". Community Life. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/09/10/newham_abbeymills_mosque_video_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2008-01-15.

27. a b Barney, Katherine (4 March 2008). "'We don't need this Olympics mosque'". News. Evening Standard. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23447906-details/'We+don't+need+this+Olympics+mosque'/article.do. Retrieved 2008-04-29