Memories of a similar debate...

Dear Messenger,

The recent debate over Umar Mosque/Madressa on Barnsley Road reminded me of a similar debate and complaints by local residents (including Muslims) against a Mosque (Prayer House) during the Ramadan in 1997-98 when the local Muslim community had converted a house on Abbeyfield Road into a Prayer House and Educational centre. So, planning permission was sought and was granted (after support from a local Councillor) and strict conditions were imposed to keep number of worshippers/students to a maximum of 40. This centre mainly catered for elderly Muslims, children and women. Eventually, the house reverted back to residential use.

From 1998-99, some members from the former Abbeyfield Road Islamic centre began to attend/support Umar Mosque. After a difficult struggle the Mosque developed a good reputation, and recruited a high calibre Imam. Umar Mosque began to thrive and some Muslims were well aware of the future possibilities of complaints from residents (as the Mosque/Madressa was mainly located in a residential area).

However, prior to the Imam’s appointment, a cross-section of Muslims (including myself and two Muslim Councillors from Burngreave and Firth Park) from within Burngreave attended meetings between July 2000 and October 2000 at the Sheffield Medical Centre (Dr. Q. Zaman’s Surgery), Spital Street. These meetings came about as a result of broad agreement for the proposed project at the BNDfC roadshow meeting on 10th April 2000 and the SHWAM report’s mention of ‘…Muslim School…’ (Dr Zaman had previously floated the idea to build a Mosque/Islamic Centre on the land adjacent to Handley/Spital Street, in 1997). The group drafted a terms of reference and Architectural Feasibility Study by Burnell Briercliffe Architects estimated at a cost of £40k for the Islamic Cultural Centre – which was later called ‘Burngreave Community Well-Being Centre’ (BCWC) with a letter to BNDfC (Theme Groups) and Sheffield First. The group did not receive a response from BNDfC & Sheffield City Council.

Unfortunately, the BCWC Steering Group was unaware that this proposed plan would later transpire into the Multicultural centre in the form of Forum House on Spital Hill under the auspices of the Black Community Forum (BCF) by early 2001.

The BCWC development was further compounded by world events after 9/11 atrocities turned against Muslims across the world and Burngreave wasn't exempt from it. Although within Burngreave we tried to ‘build bridges via the Burngreave Messenger’s coverage of Radio Ramadan in November/December 2001-2002 and positive articles on the Islamic faith. Hence, the Muslim community was conveniently forgotten and some facts/events were ignored. Unsurprisingly, the Black Community Forum (BCF) and the Burngreave Community Action Trust (BCAT) have both collapsed due to the lack of foresight, honesty and dedication. In conclusion, my own involvement with BCAT & BCAF was curtailed from February 2003 onwards when I announced my intentions to train as a Journalist and later set up my own Management Consultancy Services. My interest in Community Radio broadcasting and Free-lance Journalism is well known in Burngreave. The bringing up of young children is time-consuming and due to the lack places at Umar Mosque and my own concerns over their road safety, therefore, they attend Islamic Educational classes held by Saalik Education project via the Al-Noor Mosque at Norbury Hall (Army Cadets Barracks) site on Barnsley Road.

Had the BCWC development gone ahead it would have been better for the Muslim community, it would have brought people together and the problems being faced by Umar Mosque would have been avoided.

MATLOUB HUSAYN ALI KHAN