The Muslim News - UK in brief

Issue 236, Friday 19 December 2008 - 21 Dhu al-Hijjah 1429

UK in brief

Triumph for Muslim over mosque

A Muslim has won a long-fought battle with Havering Council and has been granted permission to continue using his bungalow as a mosque. A public inquiry has ruled that Kamal Siddiqui, 57, should be allowed to use the home in Lessington Road, Romford, for Friday prayers. Three Conservative councillors - Robert Benham, Fred Osborne and Barry Tebbutt - declared in their 2006 election manifesto that they wanted the mosque shut down. But two-and-a-half years on and external inspector Katie Peerless has decided the bungalow can be used for worship. Siddiqui is allowed to hold Friday prayer for an hour between 1pm and 2pm, in addition to an hour on each day during Ramadan, ‘Id and Hajj.

Teenager banned from wearing Christian chastity ring at school

A 12-year-old girl has been banned from wearing a silver chastity ring at school.
The item of jewellery owned by Kioni Lansbury represents her intention to stay a virgin until she marries. But her school has deemed it dangerous and against uniform rules. Kioni, of Devon, said, “If people can wear head scarves, why can’t I wear a ring?.” She added that she would continue to wear the ring at school but remove it when appropriate. “I will take it off if I think it’s dangerous but I’m going to carry on wearing it.” Kioni was banned from wearing the ring at The King’s School in Ottery St Mary after a teaching assistant reported it to head teacher Faith Jarrett. Jarrett defended the ban and said, “The ring would be extremely dangerous in PE, technology or science lessons. It’s great that young people have this commitment. I think purity rings are a great idea. But she should keep it in her pocket or purse; it would be a health and safety issue if she wears it on her hand. It’s not a case of being religious or anti-religious. We take the view that it's potentially dangerous.”

Mum denies race charges

A West Reading mum has been charged with encouraging her children to stone members of an Asian Muslim family. Melissa Little who denied the accusations at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Nov 28, is also accused of calling the family’s four-year-old daughter “a tart”. Little allegedly carried out the campaign of violence between June 29 and Aug 27. She is accused of a number of counts which caused Saimah Khalid and Bushra Hanif to fear violence would be used against them. The case was adjourned until Jan 23, and Little was bailed on the condition she does not contact any of the family directly or indirectly or go within 100 meters of the homes of the alleged victims.

BME recruitment to police halves in 5 years

The number of recruits from ethnic minorities to British police forces has almost halved in the past five years, amid concern about discrimination in the service.
Official figures obtained by the Tories have revealed that the total of black and ethnic minority (BME) entrants into the 43 forces in England and Wales fell from 795 in 2003-04 to 430 in the last financial year. The revelation undermines the Government’s claim that there had been “significant success in increasing overall minority ethnic representation”. It comes amid renewed concerns over racism in the service after the suspension of PC Steve Bettley, from Merseyside, whose name was included among those of thousands of BNP supporters leaked on an internet blog. The Met saw BME recruits plunge from 500 to 193 over the period. Huge metropolitan forces including Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the West Midlands were also among 31 that have reported a fall in BME recruits since 2003. Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, said the figures were “worrying”, but also condemned the Black Police Association’s “highly irresponsible” call for a boycott of ethnic recruitment.

Comedy classes stopped at prison

A convicted terrorist who planned an attack in London took part in comedy classes while in prison, it emerged on November 21. Zia Ul Haq, 29, serving 18 years for his part in the failed terror bid, signed up for the eight-day course with 17 other inmates.
But Justice Secretary Jack Straw halted the comedy workshop at top security Whitemoor jail in Cambridgeshire, branding the scheme “totally unacceptable”.
He warned prison governors to “take account of the public acceptability test” when approving courses. The Director of high security prisons has now launched an inquiry to consider whether further action is needed. The course began on November 17 and ran for three days before Straw intervened. Prison sources said those taking part were to be given lessons in stand-up comedy, improvisation, visual arts and creative writing. On completing the course, the prisoners were to be awarded a certificate and put on a comedy show for fellow inmates.

Islamic Societies raise Ł330,000 for Charity Week

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) in the UK and Eire announced on November 24 that Islamic Societies raised Ł330,000 for Charity Week 2008, proceeds of which will go towards orphans worldwide. Qasim Rafiq, spokesman for FOSIS, said “This clearly demonstrates that despite the pressure and undue criticism experienced following the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7, Islamic Societies continue to provide excellent opportunities, skills and experiences and are an integral component of student life in university. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the students and Islamic Societies that took part in this initiative and we hope that Charity Week 2009 will see a further increase in the total amount raised.”

Key Islamic finance seminar held

The Islamic Foundation and the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE) in conjunction with the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Research & Training Institute (IRTI), Saudi Arabia held an orientation workshop and research seminar under the theme of Asset-based and Mortgage-based Financial Products from an Islamic Perspective starting on November 10. This programme was in continuation of the earlier training programmes that were held in the 1990s and was revived to address some of the financial challenges that the world was facing at the present time with the objective of identifying alternative solutions that Islamic finance may be able to offer. The programme comprised of a two-day intensive training workshop and one day seminar which was opened out to a wider invited audience.

Schoolboy jailed for race attack

A school boy who was in a howling gang of yobs that attacked two Muslim boys in a park has been jailed for two years for stabbing one with a broken bottle on November 25. Jake Salter, 17, twice jabbed the glass into Umair Alam’s back as he was being set upon by a mob of drunken school leavers in a “hateful attack” which police said could easily have resulted in someone being killed. The teenagers threw bottles and rained punches and kicks on Alam and Shuhal Amjad in a sickening and “disgraceful” attack in broad daylight on Town Fields. A 60-strong group had gathered in the park, on May 17 2007, after obtaining booze from local off licences. By the time two Muslim schoolboys crossed Town Fields on their way home many were very drunk. Baird said Daniel Machin, now aged 20, ran towards the pair shouting racist abuse and they fled. One of the boys phoned his brother and four Asian men attended the park. One of them, Alam, spoke to the group of teenagers but Machin, who was clearly very drunk, yelled abuse and when the man turned to walk away bottles were thrown, the court heard. Someone jumped on Alam’s back with an arm round his neck, three or four people were punching him and he felt a pain in his lower back from the broken bottled wielded by Jake Salter.

Young Muslim dentist short-listed for top award

Dr Komal Suri of Smile Design Dental Practice has been short-listed for the South East Dentist of The Year award in the prestigious Dentistry Awards 2008.
Dr Suri, who at 33 is one of the youngest ever contenders for the award, has built up her seven year old practice to be one of the major cosmetic dentistry clinics in the south east through her dedication to continuous training with some of the world’s leading dental surgeons in Europe and the UK. The Buckinghamshire-based dentist specialty is complex restorative and aesthetic dentistry. The winners will be announced at a black-tie event in London on December 12 hosted by Olympic gold medallist Kriss Akabussi.

Terrorism charges: Trial begins in Grimsby

The trial of a Grimsby man accused of possessing items for terrorism, including manuals and equipment for making explosives, was due to begin at Grimsby Crown Court on Dec 2. Nathan Worrell 35 denies the charge and another involving an allegation that he placed racist stickers. He’s accused of possessing articles for terrorism purposes, between April, 2006, and Jan 25, this year, including documents for making explosives and incendiary devices, 171 match heads, a large quantity of matches, several tubs of sodium chlorate, a quantity of fireworks containing black powder, and containers of lighter fluid. Worrell, who is in custody, is also charged with a racially aggravated public order offence between Jan 1, last year, and January 3, this year, by displaying racist stickers with intent to cause mixed-race couple Mohammed Chowdhery and Susan Crofts harassment, alarm or distress. A jury of seven men and five women were sworn in yesterday, but were sent home until today while a range of legal discussions took place.

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