PM criticises 'appalling' campaign against mosque opening
David Cameron has criticised an “appalling” campaign against
the opening of a mosque in his Cotswold constituency
By Georgia Graham, Political Correspondent
The Prime Minister accused opponents of the proposed mosque
of spreading “ludicrous” rumours after “scaremongering” leaflets were delivered
to homes in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He said that “people in Chippy will
see through this sort of nonsense”.
The leaflet was produced by a group called the Nationalist
Alliance and was headed “mosque alert”. It claimed Mr Cameron was supporting
plans to build a mosque and had “set up a special task force to ensure your
children kneel before Allah”.
It also claimed that he supported the “persecution of
Englishmen who speak out about the Islamicification of England” and that it was
a “patriotic duty” to ensure he was not re-elected.
Mr Cameron said he condemned the group for “appalling
behaviour, scaremongering and seeking to divide our community”. He added: “I
support Muslims in Chipping Norton having somewhere to pray. The idea that this
means ensuring 'your children will kneel before Allah’ is ludicrous.”
One of the leaflets was received by Tahirul Hasan, the local
councillor behind the proposal. His previous plan to build a mosque in the
market town was thwarted when the landlord of the shop he had planned to
convert received threats that it would be burnt down.
Mr Hasan approached Mr Cameron at his Witney constituency
surgery about the issue and the Prime Minister said he would do all he could to
support the venture. He said: “So many people have come to me and told me
they’ve received a nasty leaflet. I’m shocked. I think 96 per cent of people
agree with the prayer room.
“I’m worried about the sort of people who work behind the
scenes [to disrupt the plans]. Why can’t they come to ask me what’s going on?”
Mr Hasan’s daughter Khudeza, 22, said that the plan for the
mosque was an attempt to support the small Muslim community in Chipping Norton
and that people were “getting the wrong message”. Mr Cameron indicated last
month that he would support public sector bodies wishing to ban Muslim staff
from wearing a face veil.
Ed: It isn't just for the "small Muslim community in Chipping Norton" as Khudeza claims,Mr Hasan wishes to use the Mosque to expand and bring people from outside the town.
And there's more.....
And there's more.....
Full story: http://www.fofnp.org/chipping-norton-mosque/