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NEWS'
11:00am Tuesday 26th August 2008 in
MUSLIMS have been told ‘no’ for now to their hopes of building a purpose-built mosque in Swindon.
The 3,000-strong community say their cramped mosque in Broad Street is no longer suitable for a congregation of its size.
The Thamesdown Islamic Association had its heart set on a disused site near the North Star roundabout, off Osbourne Street.
But Swindon Council has refused, and says there are no suitable potential sites available at this time.
It says it needs to get full market price for any land sold and cannot make allowances for any groups.
Azim Khan of the Thamesdown Islamic Association said: “Broad Street is no longer sufficient.
“The number of people coming to the mosque is increasing day by day.
“We have built a second floor but it is still not enough.”
Last year worshippers were forced to pray in the street due to lack of room.
But since the extension, everyone can fit inside.
“We manage to hold the service inside but it is very tight,” said Mr Khan.
“We feel let down, as we have a very big population.
“We look after everybody and we get no support.
“They even do not invite us to discuss the problem after we have written several letters.
“We are very disappointed.”
Swindon Council said in a statement: “We are aware of the Thamesdown Islamic Association’s desire to be given land on which to build a new mosque and have been closely liaising with them on this matter.
“Unfortunately we are not in a position to give land away and have a responsibility to get full value for any land sold by achieving the best consideration reasonably obtainable.
“The council cannot therefore make special allowances for particular groups.”
A specialist architect had designed plans of a large, ornate mosque to accommodate 3,000 people for the Thamesdown Islamic Association.
But the plans will remain a dream unless Muslims find a site they can afford.
The council insists it is trying to help.
Its statement continued: “We appreciate the association’s wish for a purpose-built mosque in the borough and will continue to work with them to try and identify a site which they are able to buy.”
Mr Khan said the community’s population continues to grow as people from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia move to the town.
Comments(72)
Malkym
says...
11:35am Tue 26 Aug 08
Malkym
says...
11:48am Tue 26 Aug 08
john c
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12:16pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Malkym
says...
12:28pm Tue 26 Aug 08
nansview
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12:34pm Tue 26 Aug 08
From Swindon And Proud
says...
12:41pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Malkym wrote:What is it with you and Pride??? I'll tell you what i'll speak with the council and ask for a Malkym day ok? Then we can have balloons with your face on and everything!
MMM! At the risk of being seen as controversial one wonders what the response from the council would have been if the personnel connected with the recent PRIDE event had made an application for some land to build premises to provide a permanent base/venue facility for their organisation?
Big Mac
says...
12:48pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Mr Khan said the community’s population continues to grow as people from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia move to the town.
Malkym
says...
1:41pm Tue 26 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
1:46pm Tue 26 Aug 08
From Swindon And Proud
says...
1:47pm Tue 26 Aug 08
PaulD
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1:53pm Tue 26 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
1:59pm Tue 26 Aug 08
yiddo
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3:33pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
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4:26pm Tue 26 Aug 08
yeti
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5:00pm Tue 26 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way wrote:i'm surprised this racist and innacurate post hasn't been removed.
Illegal immigrants, they are like sperm, thousands come but only 1 ever works
Malkym
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5:15pm Tue 26 Aug 08
yeti
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5:23pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Captain T
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5:55pm Tue 26 Aug 08
bulldog
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6:29pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Big Mac
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7:35pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Missdoodauk wrote:No, it's not surprising in the least that Muslims everywhere are donating vast sums to support the Labour party. I'd be surprised if they weren't. You always look afte those who look after you.
Although i understand why people may not agree with the council funding the building of a new Mosque i think its unfair to say that the Muslims of Swindon do not work and i also think for those of you who think this it would be interesting for you to know that a £500,000 donation from a muslim donation was made to the labour party and a further £300,000 from an organisation called 'the muslim friends of labour' i dont see anyone complaining about that.
Missdoodauk
says...
7:52pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Big Mac
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9:30pm Tue 26 Aug 08
does this country not pride itself on promoting equality and freedom of rights
Mum's The Word
says...
9:42pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Always Grumpy
says...
10:24pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
8:36am Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti wrote:How is the post 'racist', yeti - it only mentions 'illegal immigrants' who, of course, could be any colour (many are, in fact, white).
The Mancunian Way wrote:Illegal immigrants, they are like sperm, thousands come but only 1 ever worksi'm surprised this racist and innacurate post hasn't been removed.
Missdoodauk
says...
9:13am Wed 27 Aug 08
Always Grumpy
says...
9:28am Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk wrote:Yes!
always grumpy how are muslims from swindon meant to travel all the way to the middle east etc to pray? are you openly admitting the fact that your not happy with other ethnical backgrounds living amongst you?
Missdoodauk
says...
9:47am Wed 27 Aug 08
yiddo
says...
10:07am Wed 27 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
10:20am Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
10:20am Wed 27 Aug 08
ourtone
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10:36am Wed 27 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
10:47am Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti
says...
11:21am Wed 27 Aug 08
Big Mac wrote:it was a sweeping innacurate statement, which to some i'm sure is offensive.also it has nothing to do with the article whatsoever.
yeti wrote:The Mancunian Way wrote:Illegal immigrants, they are like sperm, thousands come but only 1 ever worksi'm surprised this racist and innacurate post hasn't been removed.How is the post 'racist', yeti - it only mentions 'illegal immigrants' who, of course, could be any colour (many are, in fact, white).The truth is that you simply saw 'racism' and where there was none (like so many people do these days) and wanted to get the word 'racist' into your argument in order to believe you'd somehow won the debate and to try and have other people's views censored.Well done to the Web team for recognising a boy who cried wolf and for not removing a post that never was 'racist' in the first place.
Big Mac
says...
11:26am Wed 27 Aug 08
ourtone
says...
11:28am Wed 27 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
11:44am Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti
says...
12:04pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Big Mac wrote:saying "only one works" is further from the truth than anything else posted in the thread.if we are dealing with facts like?
Yet again people are quite happy to ignore reality here.The figures show that around 70,000 Somali immigrants have relocated to the UK in the past 10 years. Of those, 81% are unemployed.It may have been a fairly poor taste joke, but The Mancunian Way's post was actually not very far from the truth at all.These are simply facts - they see no colour. Just because you may not like the facts does not make them 'racist'.
Missdoodauk
says...
12:21pm Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti
says...
12:28pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
12:51pm Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti wrote:Er, you do know how jokes work, right?
Big Mac wrote:Yet again people are quite happy to ignore reality here.The figures show that around 70,000 Somali immigrants have relocated to the UK in the past 10 years. Of those, 81% are unemployed.It may have been a fairly poor taste joke, but The Mancunian Way's post was actually not very far from the truth at all.These are simply facts - they see no colour. Just because you may not like the facts does not make them 'racist'.saying "only one works" is further from the truth than anything else posted in the thread.if we are dealing with facts like?
ourtone
says...
1:13pm Wed 27 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way
says...
1:20pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
2:07pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
2:07pm Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti
says...
2:58pm Wed 27 Aug 08
yeti
says...
3:08pm Wed 27 Aug 08
The Mancunian Way wrote:i've not asked for its removal.i dont care.i said that i was surprised that it wasn't removed.
F.F.Sake I have asked can it be removed Yeti get ouver it will you it was a joke ok, I get it you dont have a sense of humour. How may jokes have been made after a tragedy occurs etc come on can you honetsly hand on heart tell me you have never told one of these jokes our laughed at them if so boswellocks. That is the British way laugh and the world laughs with you come on people is it really that important is your life so dull..?
ourtone
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3:18pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
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3:39pm Wed 27 Aug 08
ourtone
says...
3:54pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Big Mac
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4:36pm Wed 27 Aug 08
ourtone, do you think that the muslims who were born here and pay their national insurance and work for this country should be punished becuse of immigrants?
Missdoodauk
says...
4:40pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
4:47pm Wed 27 Aug 08
ourtone
says...
7:42pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
7:51pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
8:18pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Always Grumpy
says...
10:39pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Missdoodauk wrote:I'm neither ignorant or narrow minded.
Well then you're clearly a very narrow minded old man, but hey atleast your proud to be ignorant and a racist congrats
Mansoor the sec
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12:17am Thu 28 Aug 08
Bobfm
says...
8:26am Thu 28 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
9:18am Thu 28 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
10:43am Thu 28 Aug 08
Islam is a religion that promotes and teaches peace, purity, submission and obedience
Malkym
says...
11:43am Thu 28 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
11:53am Thu 28 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
12:15pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Big Mac, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and the reason for this is because of its message
Bobfm
says...
12:16pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Missdoodauk
says...
12:24pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Big Mac
says...
12:57pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Always Grumpy
says...
2:55pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Missdoodauk wrote:"Islam is a religion that promotes and teaches peace, purity, submission and obedience, its extremists that take it too far, ok."
although i respect both your views my religion is and should be a private thing, i honestly didnt come into this to talk about my faith, so il end it here, thank you for your comments.
ourtone
says...
4:25pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Mavis
says...
6:15pm Thu 28 Aug 08
Old Town
says...
4:07pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Geekzilla
says...
10:15am Tue 2 Sep 08
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