Outcry Over Olympic Mega-Mosque Sets Stage for First Public Debate
LONDON – For the first time supporters and opponents of the proposed mega-mosque in East London will meet to debate the key issues surrounding the proposals.
Following the recent petition against the mosque that attracted over 250,000 signatures on the website of the prime minister's office, a tense atmosphere will be expected this Friday as both sides put forward their arguments head-to-head in front of an open audience.
Support for the mosque will be led by Abdul Khaliq Mian, a former mega-mosque project manager and spokesman as well as a former parliamentary candidate and local council candidate for George Galloway's Respect party.
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Leading those opposing the mega mosque plans will be Councilor Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Newham Council.
The debate has been organized by Newham Muslim voluntary sector group Islamic Circles and is open to the public.
"I'm delighted we are to debate the mega-mosque issue face-to-face at last," said Craig, who has been the leading East London opponent of the project. "I first asked for discussions with mosque promoters Tablighi Jamaat over a year ago but they have always refused to meet. This is the first real opportunity to do democracy, and I expect the debate to be hard-hitting but civilized."
Craig also criticized the stance taken by London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, over the mega-mosque.
"This debate will also serve to publicly discredit the mayor's offensive and unfounded slur that opposition to the mosque is by nature Islamophobic and BNP (British National Party)-inspired," said Craig. "It isn't. Many Muslims oppose the Tablighi Jamaat mega-mosque, and non-Islamic local opposition is rational, reasoned and based on respect for our Muslim fellow citizens. We stand against BNP hate-mongering."
According to the Christian People Alliance, the mayor's "unreasoned biased" backing for the mega-mosque "simply strengthens the cause of all opponents."
"Fortunately he has no planning powers over the Olympic zone, so he cannot directly impact the final planning decision about the mosque," group leaders concluded.
The debate is to be held at 6:15 p.m. (local time) on Friday, Sept. 7, at Ithaca House in Stratford, East London.
