Plans collapse for Britain's biggest mosque in London

[tyovan]

Plans to build Britain's biggest mosque in east London have collapsed.

The Islamic missionary group Tablighi Jamaat wanted to create a place of worship close to the Olympic site which could have accommodated 12,000 people.

Newham Council said planning permission for land in Abbey Mills expired in 2006 and a January deadline for the group to come up with a masterplan had passed.

Tablighi Jamaat, which has not been available for comment, has been told to leave the Abbey Mills site this week.

Strong opposition

It has been operating an illegal temporary mosque at Abbey Mills, which is just south of the London 2012 Olympics site in Stratford.

There was strong opposition when the group unveiled its plans for the 7.3-hectare (18-acre) site.

More than 48,000 people petitioned the government to prevent it.

A Newham Council spokesperson said: "Temporary planning permission expired on 31 October 2006 and any operations since then have been unlawful.

"The [Tablighi Jamaat] Trust was given until January to submit a masterplan for the site, although failed to meet this deadline."

The spokesman explained that the group had been given until Thursday to leave the land or the council would bring about "formal enforcement action".

He added: "The council will then look at a number of options open to it, which includes the possibility of using compulsory purchase powers.

"However, taking ownership of the land is not currently a consideration."

'Unfair coverage'

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: "We would hope that they will be able to work in co-operation with the local council if they wish to set up a mosque in the area.

"Tablighi Jamaat has no ties to terrorism. They have been subjected to some unfair coverage."

Another Muslim group, Minhaj-ul-Quran International UK, said the mosque should have been a community project rather than a proposal by an individual group.

A spokesman, Shahid Mursaleen, said "If the mosque is built with the consensus of the community then it will appeal to people of different faiths instead of just for Muslims.

"We urge the Newham community to unite and support this as a 'community project' so that it can be ready for 2012."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8465694.stm

A local council not bending over backwards to appease special interests?!
My God, are the British people finally waking up?

[Imp]

A local council not bending over backwards to appease special interests?!
My God, are the British people finally waking up?

I'd say a more accurate statement would be "A local council appeases special interests until overwhelming public opposition puts a stop to it".
The group had been running an illegal mosque since the temporary permission ended in 2006. That is 4 years of appeasement, followed by giving the group yet another chance to file a "masterplan" this month. The appeasement became too ridiculous and opposed to continue.
The 48,000 petition is a good sign for sure.

[JJHH]

Why would 48,000 people deny followers of the religion of peace a place of worship..?

[Lazy Lob]

Alan Craig, the main force against it.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/134/alancraig.jpg

[pg_ord]

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers%5Cpaper80.html

BACKGROUND OF TABLIGHI JAMAAT
Prominent amongst the Wahabi-Deobandi organisations active in the CARs, Chechnya and Dagestan are the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM--formerly known as the Harkat-ul-Ansar), the Markaz Dawa Al Irshad and its militant wing, the Lashkar-e-Toiba.A detailed paper on the HUM was disseminated on March 20,1999,and on the Markaz and its Lashkar on July 26,1998.

This paper deals with the Tablighi Jamaat (TJ), which is the mother of all the Pakistan-based jehadi organisations active not only in the CARs, Chechnya and Dagestan, but also in other parts of the world.
In an investigative report carried by the "News" (February 13,1995), Mr. Kamran Khan, the well-known Pakistani journalist, brought to light for the first time the nexus between the TJ and the HUM and their role in supporting Islamic extremist movements in different countries.

He quoted unidentified office-bearers of the HUM as saying as follows: "Ours is basically a Sunni organisation close to the Deobandi school of thought. Our people are mostly impressed by the TJ. Most of our workers do come from the TJ. We regularly go to its annual meeting at Raiwind. Ours is a truly international network of genuine jehadi Muslims. We believe frontiers can never divide Muslims. They are one nation. They will remain a single entity.

"We try to go wherever our Muslim brothers are terrorised, without any monetary consideration. Our colleagues went and fought against oppressors in Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Burma, the Philippines and, of course, India.

"Although Pakistani members are not participating directly in anti-Government armed resistance in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Jordan, many of the fighters in those Arab States had remained our colleagues during the Afghan war and we know one another very well. We are doing whatever we can to help them install Islamic governments in those States."

The report also quoted the office-bearers as claiming that among foreign volunteers trained by them in their training camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan were 16 African-American Muslims from various cities of the US and that funds for their activities mostly came from Muslim businessmen of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UK.

The February 1998, issue of the "Newsline", a monthly of Pakistan, quoted workers of the TJ as saying that the TJ had many offices in the US, Russia, the Central Asian Republics, South Africa, Australia and France and that many members of the Chechen Cabinet, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya, were workers of the TJ and participated in its proselytising activities. . One of them, merely identified as Khalil, said: " It is possible that France may become a Muslim state within my lifetime, due to the great momentum of Tablighi activity there. "

According to the "Newsline", the TJ was started in the 1880s to revive and spread Islam. Its annual convention held at Raiwind in Pakistani Punjab in November every year is attended by over one million Muslims from all over the world. This is described by the "Newsline" as the second largest gathering of the Muslims anywhere in the world after the Haj in Saudi Arabia.
Dr.Jassim Taqui, an Islamic scholar, wrote in the "Frontier Post" of Peshawar of January 15,1999, as follows:
* The TJ has been able to establish contacts and centres throughout the Muslim world. (Comment: By "Muslim world" he does not only mean Islamic countries, but all countries where there is a sizable Muslim community)

* It has thousands of dedicated and disciplined workers who never question any order from the high-ups. What has helped the TJ to expand (without creating alarm in the security agencies) is its policy of a deliberate black-out of its activities. It does not interact with the media and does not issue any statements or communiques. It believes in human communication through word of mouth. (Comment: It does not bring out any journals or other propaganda organs to explain its policies and objectives. All explanations to its workers and potential recruits are given orally).

* During its training classes, it claims to have frustrated the efforts of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to penetrate it and succeeded in converting the CIA agents to Islam.

* The TJ claims that it never accepts money from anybody and that all its workers who volunteer to go on preaching mission have to spend their own money.

* Even though the TJ claims to be apolitical and disinterested in political or administrative influence, many of its active members have come to occupy important positions. Examples are Lt.Gen. (retd) Javed Nasir, who was the DG of the ISI during Mr.Nawaz Sharif's first tenure as the Prime Minister, and Mr.Mohammad Rafique Tarar, the President of Pakistan, who has been an active worker of the TJ for many years.

* "Those who are close to the inner circles believe that the Tablighis were the brain who bailed out Nawaz Sharif from the constitutional crisis. Tarar is believed to be the brain behind the Shariat Bill (which could not be passed by the Senate) and the concept of speedy justice through military courts (the military courts were declared unconstitutional by the Pakistan Supreme Court). However, the contacts of the Tablighis had always been with Mr.Mohammad Sharif (father of Mr.Nawaz Sharif) and not with the son. Mr. Nawaz is well aware of the "tariquah" (the path advocated by the TJ). He has been with the Tabligh for a fairly long time. He takes part in their meetings on a regular basis. He donates money to their welfare projects. As usual, the Tablighis never publicise the donors or the projects or the beneficiaries. All are committed to remain silent."
Writing in the "Frontier Post" of January 27, 1999, Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed, another Islamic scholar, said: " Despite its enormous significance as a mass-based religious movement that has influenced Asian, African, Arab and Western Muslims alike, the Tablighi Jamaat has received scant attention in the literature on modern Islam. Maulana Ilyas, the founder of the Tablighi Jamaat, was of the view that the Tablighi movement and politically-oriented Islamic groups, although operating in two different spheres, were complementing each other's work. Hence, there should be no competition and rivalry between them. " (Comment:Maulana Ilyas was not the founder of the TJ as stated in this article. He gave it its present organisational structure in the 1940s).

INVOLVEMENT IN PLOT FOR MILITARY COUP

In September-October,1995, the Pakistani army, acting on a tip-off from the then Maj.Gen.Ali Quli Khan Khattak, who was then the Director-General of Military Intelligence and who was subsequently superseded by Mr.Sharif in October,1998, and forced into retirement, arrested a group of 36 army officers and 20 civilians led by Maj.Gen. Zaheerul Islam Abbasi on a charge of plotting, in association with the TJ and the HUM, to have Mrs.Benazir Bhutto, the then Prime Minister, and senior army officers killed and proclaim the formation of an Islamic state.

It was reported that Lt.Gen.Ghulam Mohammad Malik, Commander of the 10 Corps, who was an active member of the TJ, was prematurely retired by Mrs.Bhutto because of strong suspicion that he was the main inspiration behind the plotters. He was replaced by Maj.Gen.Ali Quli Khan Khattak as the 10 Corps Commander with the rank of Lt.Gen. It was also reported that Lt.Gen.Malik, while admitting his membership of the TJ, strongly denied any involvement in the plot.

The "Takbeer" of October 27,1995, reported that Lt.Gen. Ghulam Mohammad Malik, Maj.Gen.Z.A.Abbasi and Brig. Mustansaar Billah, the deputy leader of the plot, were active members of the TJ centre at Taxila headed by Sufi Iqbal.
In its November,1995, issue, "Herald", the monthly journal of the "Dawn" group of Karachi, reported as follows:
* The religious indoctrination of the group apparently came via Lt.Gen.Malik.Over the years, his views had been a source of inspiration for many officers and other ranks with religious inclinations. He was known to have encouraged religious activities within the units commanded by him.

* Although no direct link had been established between him and the coup plotters, most of the arrested officers had idolised him because of his Islamic beliefs.

* Most of the arrested officers were followers of Mufti Iqbal (same as Sufi Iqbal), who was also arrested for his involvement in the plot. Col.Amjad, one of the arrested officers, was related to the Mufti. When Lt.Gen.Malik was the 10 Corps Commander, the Mufti was regularly invited to preach at the functions held in the Corps headquarters. The Mufti was an open advocate of jehad in Pakistan and abroad.

* Almost all the arrested officers were members of the TJ, based in Raiwind. The mainstream TJ followed a policy of non-intervention in politics. It was for this reason that serving Government servants and military officers were allowed to join it and the TJ was frequently invited to preach in military functions.

* However, in recent years, a breakaway faction of the TJ, with its headquarters at Taxila, had been advocating active involvement in politics and jehad. Unlike the mainstream group, which believed in "jehad bin nafs" (jehad through conscience) rather than "jehad bis saif " (jehad through the sword), the breakaway group, which was led by Sufi Iqbal, openly advocated a military struggle in the name of Islam. All the arrested officers and Lt.Gen.Malik were members of this Taxila faction of the TJ

* Another religious leader under investigation was Maulana Akram Awan, who was running a religious centre at Minara, near Chakwal, in Punjab. Col.Hamid, one of the arrested officers, was close to him.

[Carib]

Because the Islamists in the UK are breeding hate and contempt for the very society they choose to live in. This would undoubtly bring unsavory characters into the mix. It's about time people in the UK wake up to what is happening all around them.

[ggk]

or the other way around

[heli-cal]

Because the Islamists in the UK are breeding hate and contempt for the very society they choose to live in. This would undoubtly bring unsavory characters into the mix. It's about time people in the UK wake up to what is happening all around them.

Those whom, irrespective of their religious beliefs, "are breeding hate and contempt for the very society they choose to live in" are unsavory characters!

You assume that people in the UK slept through the repeated terrorist bomb attacks which killed and maimed on 7/7, then stayed asleep when subsequent, repeated bomb attacks (which thankfully failed to kill and maim more of us) occurred.

People are awake to what is happening, however, the people rely on those elected, empowered and entrusted to take appropriate action, that's why we have them.

The failure of the authorities to act with integrity and professionalism does not reflect on the people, the consequences of such failure does, however, affect the people!

[G-AWZT]

Finally the UK has woken up. Woot!

[ggk]

TABLIGHI JAMAAT is a peacefull group.. but its members does have an overlaping membership. But i expected there will be 2 cubic tonnes of articles try to relate this group to terrorism. Nothing i can do about that. By the way im a member,,,....expecting black heli in 5...4...3..2...

by the way pg_ord Tabligh is not influenced by Wahhabism and furthermore the Saudi does not support the effort, either morally or financially..

..how sad the so called illegal markaz were actually bought legally by the group...and were sold off because of the site have zero values , due to its land posed a toxic threat.

[pg_ord]

TABLIGHI JAMAAT is a peacefull group.. but its members does have an overlaping membership. But i expected there will be 2 cubic tonnes of articles try to relate this group to terrorism. Nothing i can do about that. By the way im a member,,,....expecting black heli in 5...4...3..2...

by the way pg_ord Tabligh is not influenced by Wahhabism and furthermore the Saudi does not support the effort, either morally or financially..

..how sad the so called illegal markaz were actually bought legally by the group...and were sold off because of the site have zero values , due to its land posed a toxic threat.
I would rather believe the guy who wrote the paper. ;) I do know the difference between Deobandi, Barelvi and Wahhabism.
Deobandi islam took shape in UP in India. You would find them to be mostly peaceful lot. Not the one being peddled by the Pakistani terror groups which claim affiliation to Deobandi islam ;)

[ggk]

I would rather believe the guy who wrote the paper. ;) I do know the difference between Deobandi, Barelvi and Wahhabism.
Deobandi islam took shape in UP in India. You would find them to be mostly peaceful lot. Not the one being peddled by the Pakistani terror groups which claim affiliation to Deobandi islam ;)

the markaz in hyderabad is the centre of tabligh... there are no other version of tabligh..we simply dont support wahabism or being suported and financed by wahabism

[Universal_Soldier]

About time..........

[pg_ord]

the markaz in hyderabad is the centre of tabligh... there are no other version of tabligh..we simply dont support wahabism or being suported and financed by wahabism
Your claim of Tablighi Jamaat being peaceful is joke. Let me start me Lt. Gen Javid Nasir (Former head of ISI), he used to recruit the cadre from them for their jihad in kashmir. He still attends their meetings even now. Many of PA/ISI Generals, retired and serving, still openly attend the meetings in large numbers. These same Generals have no shame in supporting terror groups against India and now US. Any peaceful "muslim" group would expel these members, but not tablighi jamaat. :roll:

[ggk]

Your claim of Tablighi Jamaat being peaceful is joke. Let me start me Lt. Gen Javid Nasir (Former head of ISI), he used to recruit the cadre from them for their jihad in kashmir. He still attends their meetings even now. Many of PA/ISI Generals, retired and serving, still openly attend the meetings in large numbers. These same Generals have no shame in supporting terror groups against India and now US. Any peaceful "muslim" group would expel these members, but not tablighi jamaat. :roll:

as i said it have members with overlapping membership.... its a huge organisation, its apolitical...it doesnt question the background of its members....

[pg_ord]

as i said it have members with overlapping membership.... its a huge organisation, its apolitical...it doesnt question the background of its members....
Right a religious organization which does not question the actions of its members. Must be a new one.

[ggk]

Right a religious organization which does not question the actions of its members. Must be a new one.

oh it does question the action of its members.... it just doesnt question the the background.




OK fine... we are 80 million terrorist strong and we demand a mosque.

[pg_ord]

oh it does question the action of its members.... it just doesnt question the the background.
ggk, stop defending the indefensible by word play. At least a few in UK population are finally trying to do the right thing after years of neglect. Wish them luck. :)

[IconOfEvi]

There may just be hope for the Britons yet...maybe.

[Blue P]

Your claim of Tablighi Jamaat being peaceful is joke. Let me start me Lt. Gen Javid Nasir (Former head of ISI), he used to recruit the cadre from them for their jihad in kashmir. He still attends their meetings even now. Many of PA/ISI Generals, retired and serving, still openly attend the meetings in large numbers. These same Generals have no shame in supporting terror groups against India and now US. Any peaceful "muslim" group would expel these members, but not tablighi jamaat. :roll:

or, we may call them the freedom fighters against indian illegal occupation of kashmir.

i found that some indians are pretty good at labelling whoever they don't like them a terrorist.

[happyslapper]

I love how so many people on this forum are 'experts' on UK Islamic issues.

[Panchito12]

I'd love for the Jews to build the biggest synagoge in its place. Sort of a "f**k you" to the radical islamists.

[JBH22]

or, we may call them the freedom fighters against indian illegal occupation of kashmir.

i found that some indians are pretty good at labelling whoever they don't like them a terrorist.

Then its applies to Chinese also labels uighurs as terrorist?? are they freedom fighters.

[hulaku]

Then its applies to Chinese also labels uighurs as terrorist?? are they freedom fighters.

Thy shall not feed a troll.

[Xaito]

I'd love for the Jews to build the biggest synagoge in its place. Sort of a "f**k you" to the radical islamists.

would be more of a "**** you" to the locals who want to preserve their culture...

[MaNiC]

WTF? No permit since 2006? Is there anyway the local government can get back taxes from them for operating illegally?

[futurepilot2004]

I'd love for the Jews to build the biggest synagoge in its place. Sort of a "f**k you" to the radical islamists.
yeah..........:roll:

[Panchito12]

would be more of a "**** you" to the locals who want to preserve their culture...

The Western European culture of the locals (re: THE BRITISH) goes in quite nicely with Judaism. Pakistani/Arab militant Islamo-fascism does not.

[MaNiC]

The Western European culture of the locals (re: THE BRITISH) goes in quite nicely with Judaism. Pakistani/Arab militant Islamo-fascism does not.

LOL, did you just call the British, Jews? =P

Debating whether or not I should report you for racism. ;) p-)

[gazell]

The Western European culture of the locals (re: THE BRITISH) goes in quite nicely with Judaism. Pakistani/Arab militant Islamo-fascism does not.

Oh, as it were, they are both barking at the UK, in case you missed.:grin:

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

A local council not bending over backwards to appease special interests?!
My God, are the British people finally waking up?Looks more like a planning consent failure community accompanied by a complete lack of support from the local Muslim rather than an anti-Islam backlash. We don't have to wake to anything we are fully aware of our situation.

[Lazy Lob]

The Western European culture of the locals (re: THE BRITISH) goes in quite nicely with Judaism. Pakistani/Arab militant Islamo-fascism does not.

Does it............?

[Panchito12]

Does it............?

Oh yes it does.