Mosque peace plan is 'impractical'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AN 'upstairs-downstairs' peace plan aimed at ending confrontation between rival Muslim factions at a Bedfordshire mosque has proved 'completely impractical', the High Court was told yesterday.
The compromise formula, which proposed that the rival religious factions conduct separate prayer meetings on the ground and first floors of Luton Central Mosque, was drawn up to ease tension when a 'raging dispute' erupted over control of the building last May.
One faction, claiming it was voted in charge after a ballot of mosque members, ousted a second group which has the support of trustees of the charity responsible for the running of the building. Both groups claim to be the rightful managers of the mosque in Westbourne Road.
The trustees claim that the new management committee, led by Haji Mohammad Suleiman, was elected unlawfully and took over the mosque by force, and that the religious leader, Iman Qazi Abdul Aziz Chisti, was punched and kicked and thrown out of the mosque by a mob supporting the new committee.
After the takeover, the trustees successfully sought a High Court injunction to regain access, and the 'upstairs-downstairs' compromise was struck. But Hubert Picarda QC, for the trustees, told Mr Justice Ferris that his clients were prevented from entering. 'The upstairs-downstairs arrangement unfortunately . . . is plainly impractical,' he said.
The trustees now want the new management committee banned from holding meetings at the mosque and from interfering with the administration of the mosque charity, or the conduct of religious ceremonies. The injunctions, if granted, would run until the dispute was settled lawfully.
The court was told that police had to be called to maintain peace at the mosque when trouble began. The new committee suspended the religious leader, and claims that there would be a 'risk of serious public disorder' if he is allowed to enter the building.
Earlier, Mr Justice Ferris dismissed a contempt motion calling for Mr Suleiman to be jailed for allegedly refusing to allow the trustees into the mosque in defiance of a High Court order.
It was alleged that attempts by the old management committee and its supporters to gain access to the first floor were blocked four times, with Mr Suleiman shouting abuse from behind a closed door.
Mr Justice Ferris said that this decision should not be regarded as a 'great victory on anybody's part'. There was evidence of a 'considerable collective disobedience' of a High Court order.
The hearing continues today.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments