| |
Sound levels of prayers a factor in centre plans
Move comes as bishop says call to prayer ‘imposes’ Islam on public
THE sound levels of praying in a community centre has been measured ahead of a crunch planning application for Queen’s Park Muslims.
The North Westminster Muslim Cultural Association (NWMCA) is hoping to secure another year at its Lancifeld Street headquarters, which it is uses as a temporary prayer centre.
Following an inspection in February, loudspeakers, used for the call to prayer five times a day, were removed and the charity was told it would have to reapply to use the space.
Shamsu Miah, a member of the NWMCA who has filed the new application, said: “The windows and doors will be closed while prayers are taking place. Prayers last no longer than 15 minutes.”
He added: “The amplifier will not be reinstalled.”
The sound of Muslim prayers was raised this week in controversial comments from Church of England bishop Dr Michael Nazir-Ali.
Dr Nazir-Ali said on Saturday that using amplification for the call to prayer from mosques was an attempt to impose Islam on an area and should be banned.
This, he said, raised the question of “whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker.”
Councillor Mustaq Qureshi, a practising Muslim, said: “There is a lot of misunderstanding about multiculturalism today. The people who use this centre are mostly elderly Muslims who are setting an example of behaviour to the younger Muslims living in the area.
“We have for some time now been looking for a permanent place to pray and when the right site becomes available the NWMCA will apply to build a permanent centre.
“We are looking for something along the lines of the Regent’s Park Mosque – but much smaller.”
The NWMCA had also applied to run a children’s centre, teaching the Qur’an to 30 7-14 year-olds, in the building.
Paul Dimoldenberg, Queen’s Park councillor and leader of the Labour Group, is supporting the application.
“Both uses provide important facilities for the Queen’s Park Muslim community,” he said.
|
 |
|
| |
| |
