Masjids have been central to the development of the Muslim community ever since our fathers and mothers generation came to the UK. They were constructed with the sweat and dedication of hard working immigrants who valued their adherence to Islam, their heritage, and their values. These Masjids were built independently, financed out of the pockets of labourers and wives who sold their gold and jewellery to witness the continuation of their Islam which they bought with them from the sub-continent.
However, over the years to come, the Government has began to play a more increasing role in the affairs of Masjids, seeing them central and pivotal to tackling community affairs. After enjoying decades of independance, the cards seemed to have switched.After 7/7, the government called upon Masjids to root out extremism and play their role in supporting the Government.
Plans were rolled out for imam Training to be ‘re-cultured’ in discussing only certain aspects of Islam which tow a secular line. Madrassah curriculum’s have been worked on and been re-defined to make Muslims apolitical, pacifist and cheer leaders of a bankrupt British Foreign Policy. Politicians have asked for Parents to play increasing roles on spying on other Muslims. Agendas and discussions have been rolled out by the government on camping Muslims into a moderate Muslim and extremist Muslim branch.
Responding in accordance with these measures, Masjids have slowly began to loose out on their independence and decision making procedures. These pressure on Masjids to conform has been witnessed by all- through Politicians, press, programmes like Panorama and Dispatches and hand-picked people from their own communities (and this is the unfortunately the case for Rochdale too) to spear head government agendas on Masjids despite their fallacy and corruption.
Rhetoric from government ministers including Blair, Kelly, Blears, Reid, Clarke equates an approach no similar from brutal Arab dictatorships who have used the masjids to spill out government agendas- khutbas tailored to tow particular lines and monitored by intelligence services to reprimand anyone who oversteps the barrier.
What is laughable is how the debate of loyalty is being pitched onto whose side Muslims want to be as deliberated by a MP in Bradford.
Towing the government agenda on Masjids is instrumental to the governments position to internalise the debate and blame the Muslim community of problems spawned out of colonial mis-adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is more disturbing is the use of Muslim personalities to achieve these objectives for Masjids in Rochdale. Rochdale has already had its share- now no more are excusable.
