There are around 1,600 mosques in Britain. Well over half do not allow women access to worship and hardly any allow women a say on how the mosques are managed and run. Journalist Tazeen Ahmad follows a group of young Muslim women from the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPACUK) who are waging a determined campaign to force these mosques to open up.
Great Cause , shame it was done in the way it was. Confrontation doesn't cause change it just builds up walls as this documentay proved. This it seems was a media exercise to shame the mosques and promote Mpac case so tell me Mpac how does this type of campaign make you different from the likes of the Saviour Sect,Al Guraab,Al Muhaijaroun etc?
One a more serious note some mosques simply cannot cope with the number of males praying at anyone time. Surely a compromise is needed the area shown in the documentary there are alternatives in vicinitys close to these mosques where women can pray use these mosques.
I wonder why these Mosques let in condi rice who has the blood of hundreds of thousands yet refuse entry to Muslim girls? i wonder what the interpretation of islam says about that?
well done mpacuk, i didt see this documentary but now i have i would like to give my congratulations to the brave girls who took on this mammoth path against the current muslim establishment.
it is funny that no matter what is thrown at you, those gits in Blackburn voted in jack Straw and those in Ilford Mike Gapes, they deserve everything they get.
if the men have failed to protect the Ummah about time the women took countrol.
well doen and remember in the face of an evil your faith of standing up to it is the strongest.
In our mosque in Leicester (Leicster Central Mosque) the situation is the opposite...our Imam encourages the women to come to the mosque yet his calls tend to be largely ignored. We have a ladies gallery which overlooks the main prayer hall (yet gives them 100% privacy) so that they can attend any function within the mosque and can attend the daily prayers if they wish to do so. So any sisters that happen to be in Leicester and need somewhere to pray you know where to go..the masjid is near the railway station..ask any local and they'll direct you inshallah...
My first point is what is the point of this documentary? some of you might be thinking what a stupid question. but before everyone goes of the handle hear me out. I am for the women who want to pray in mosques or in evens houses attached to mosques. Please all remember that all the new beautiful mosques that have been built have been done over many years, they all started in terrace end houses where there was no hot water or heating so the women to complain about the house not cleaning enough was absurd. The other point is that the tactics used were disgraceful. Which bright spark thought of the idea to turn up at a busy mosque on the most busiest day where there is no space for the men to pray in the mosque itself and have to pray in the compound asking questions, where is the common sense in this, I am sure we play tactiful games when we need something when it's to do with our worldly gains why not for this situation. Do you really think that what was displayed in the documentary would bring people closer to Islam and to accept Islam so they attain paradise, isn't that the actual goal.
The third point is that women do not need to pray their prayers at the same time as the men.
BY large, most mosques in my opinon first and foremost lack the physical space to accomdate, women for prayers. The Central Mosque, in glasgow, accomdates good space for the ladies,however the trade-off is that, those ladies bring many kids with them, and it becomes impossible to concentrate on Salat, when those little kids cry and scream. Perhaps Nursery needs must be also meet.
Nevertheless, mosques should have facilities for women to pray, regardless of the above fact, efforts must be made to accomdate their needs proactively. Funds should be raised by the brit ummah, to address these gaps.
However MPAC,your attitude is too confrontational, and its intimidating and provokotive. Furthermore, this kind of strategy you have chosen to address such an issue, really reflects a bad and very negative perception of the Muslim community. You gotta change your approach, potentially find a new approach. I mean find out who are the largest financial donors of these mosques, and then exhert influence on them. This can have positive impact. Use the "behind" door, your org strategy is very poor.
What is needed is a platform, where issues can be raised, and then solutions are discussed and implemented, and binding.
You need to change your strategy. Why Not do a survey analysis, to find out from those in Management positions in the Mosques to identify what are the real problems the mosques experience. Is it funding ? Is it Space ?
On the other hand, on a positive note, What has prevented the ladies from setting up their own establishments for prayers ? . I mean, if the "narrow minded" mosque committes are NOT communicating and facilitating your needs why not be proactive and build and setup mosques for women ?.
I didnt like the documentary presenter, her concern isnt genuinue, she is "fake", just a "coconut". She is only doing it for the "buck" ! ha !
