Addressing Issues of Poverty in the Current Economic Climate :

A Joint Perspective

If you are a faith leader or take a leadership role in your faith community and would like to attend please give me, the Network officer, Gillian, a call on 01834 267415 and leave your name and your faith group. It would be good to see you.

I am settling in here at DBIN and want to thank the team at Dudley CVS and the Interfaith Board for making me so welcome.

Just to let you know that Interfaith week is coming up November 20-26.  Here at DBIN we are celebrating it with a Story Telling event called Sharing Faith and Food.  This is at Wellington Rd Community Centre on Wednesday 23rd November 7.00-9.00 pm.  You are very welcome but please let us know you are coming so there will be enough food for everyone.  Email me at interfaith@dudleycvs.org.uk.

We would love you to come along prepared to share a simple story from your holy book or your Faith  tradition.  This way we can get to know more about each other’s faiths and learn the stories that your particular faith knows so well. It cannot be long – 3 minutes max but it would be lovely to hear from you.

Sukha said:   “There are hundreds of  thousands of children  in  the UK  living with  long-standing  illness or disability. By cycling  in  aid  of WellChild  I  hope  I  can  help  them  in  their  aim  of  improving  the  lives  of  as many  sick children as possible,”

You can sponsor Suka here, and watch his video below for more infomation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NChsnRCGGIc

Following Andrew Stunell’s speech last night, and the difficulties which led to us not being able to have a time for questions, a number of people expressed concern and disappointment that they weren’t able to have that opportunity.

Andrew offered to ensure that he heard and responded to questions if we bought them to him after the event, so this is your opportunity.  Leave a comment on this post below, and on Monday afternoon we’ll collate responses, together with email responses, and send them to the minister for a response.  if you want to email directly to me, do respond to the email sending you this link.

In February we’ll be celebrating 30 years of achievements in building a strong and peaceful Borough, connecting communities and supporting faith communities in acting and interacting together.

Look out for more details very shortly, and join us for an evening to celebrate the last 30, and next 30 years of working together in Dudley.

On Saturday 17th the Interfaith Network led a joint ‘Big Lunch’ community event in central Dudley, some distance from the EDL protest.

A short time before the planned date of the English Defence League planned return to Dudley, The Interfaith Network, at the request of the Police and in conversation with DMBC opened a conversation with UAF to suggest an Interfaith led community celebration and diversionary event, instead of a full UAF counter-protest, for reasons of safety and to minimise disruption to the local community and traders.  UAF willingly agreed to run a joint community event, together with CFED, and on Saturday 17th we delivered a ‘Big Lunch’ community celebration event, providing a diversion for those who chose to be in Dudley, and an opportunity for local people to recognise the unity which exists in Dudley.  The Big Lunch event was as expected entirely peaceful and calm, and delivered on the Network’s aim of providing a alternative event, with minimal disruption to local people and business.  We acted in full co-operation with the WM Police and Dudley Council both in planning and delivering the event, with a majority of those attending local people.

EDL Protest

On the 17th July the EDL once again travelled to Dudley to protest.  Those listening to one of their leaders on Radio WM on the morning of their arrival could be forgiven for not knowing why exactly they were protesting in Dudley, and what they hoped to achieve, and the day itself didn’t clarify matters, it’s main marker being public disorder by EDL supporters.  While EDL leaders had been assuring police and media of their intentions for a peaceful and confined protest, reports indicate that their supporters started almost immediately to attack the police in an attempt to roam freely across Dudley, and for a period of time during the day EDL supporters caused violence and damage in Dudley Town Centre and the surrounding areas.  This included attacking a local temple (with community members inside) and elsewhere EDL supporters were reportedly involved in conflicts resulting in a number of injuries, and further damage and cost to local people.  West Midlands Police and Dudley Council did an excellent job in managing a very difficult situation, which was bought within control as soon as possible, and EDL protesters removed back to their transport.  Some pictures here.

As Dudley returns to normality

Our experience as people of many faiths and none living in Dudley is that Dudley is a warm, welcoming and wonderful place to live and work.  We’re proud to be a part of a community which is respectful, safe and fair for everyone.  We believe that matters of local concern can and will be dealt with without the intervention of those from far away, whose intervention has on two occasions proved violent and disruptive.  We join with others in urging the English Defence League not to inflict further fear and likely violence on the people of Dudley, and to stay away from this peaceful town.

As always we are very happy to engage with any local people of all faiths and none who are willing to enter peaceful dialogue on matters of interest, which are of relevance to the network.  You can make contact here, and we’d be very happy to hear from you.

You can read about our One Borough Pledge, celebrating the strength of our local community here.

Why is a new Mosque needed?

The current Dudley Central Mosque has been in use for thirty years, and is now too small for the population, with a capacity of 470 worshippers when full.  The new Mosque will increase the capacity to 750 worshippers, with a separate area for women accommodating an additional 300 worshippers in the balcony.  During times such as Eid, the current Mosque operates well beyond it’s capacity, and at times has to hold up to three separate prayer sessions.  As such, the proposed new Mosque is intended simply to meet these needs, rather than expanding attendance.  The current building would either be sold to raise funds, or used for community activities.

How does the Mosque compare to others in the West Midlands?

The Mosque would be one of many in the West Midlands, and would not be the biggest Mosque in the Black Country, let alone the West Midlands.  In the Black Country, Wolverhampton has a significantly larger Mosque than the proposed building, with Walsall also boasting a good sized building.  The West Midlands, Birmingham in particular has a number of larger Mosques.

The Mosque is intended to serve the local community only, and given the other Mosques in local cities is not expected to draw attendees from outside of the current catchment area.

How would the Mosque be funded

The Mosque has never received any public money, and will not receive any.  Islamic practice means Mosques can not be built with public funds, and so it would be against Islamic principles to accept donations from public sources or sources incompatible with Islamic principles.

No money has been offered, or would be accepted from Saudi Arabia.  The denomination of Islam practiced in Dudley Central Mosque  is a different one from that practiced in Saudi, and so there is no likelihood of any offers being made.  Funding will be raised primarily from local Muslims, who will make pledges to pay annually towards the cost of the Mosque in the same way that many other faiths, including churches may raise funds for a new project.  Sponsorship via donation of materials etc. will also be sought from Muslim businesses.

Local Impact

Following initial consultation with local residents, including church groups, it was agreed to lower the height of the single Minaret to 65 foot.  This is both lower, and considerably shorter than the height of the local civic church, St Thomas and St Luke.  There will be no outdoor call to prayer, and the Mosque would feature substantial parking.  The ground on which the proposed Mosque would be built is an old factory, which has stood derelict for 20 years, with no interest from developers prior to the purchase of the site by the Dudley Muslim Association.  There is no suggestion of an ‘Islamic Village’, and never has been.

What sort of Islam would be practiced at the Mosque?

Dudley Mosque practices mainstream Sunni Islam.  Leaders and members from Dudley Mosque have for many years worked with the local community, council and police to build relationships and open their doors to the local community.

Dudley Central Mosque is a strong and active member of Dudley Borough Interfaith Network, working alongside people of many faiths and backgrounds to make a positive impact in our community.  The recent ‘One Borough’ pledge was formed through work with Dudley Central Mosque, as a joint declaration of peace and recognition of our work together towards this.  The Mosque welcomes anyone who wishes to better understand their beliefs or practices, and as an Interfaith Network we can support in visits to the Mosque, or meetings with members of the Mosque community.

What’s happened with planning permission?

The application for outline planning permission for the Mosque was recommend by approval on planning grounds by council officers, but then rejected by the elected officials of Dudley Council’s development control committee in 2007.  The following year outline planning was granted on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.  Dudley Council appealed against the decision and the case was heard at the High Court in July 2009.1 The judge rejected the argument of Dudley Council under planning law, and outline planning permission is now in effect.  Outline planning permission enables the applicant to make fuller, more detailed plans for submission.  Dudley Muslim Association is now free to submit an application for full planning permission, which would again follow planning law.

Conversation is ongoing between Dudley Muslim Association and Dudley Council, both of whom hope a way forward may be found shortly.

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