"If it was an attack it's a sad thing but it's more a sad thing for the people who did it because if they have caused some serious damage to personal property then that's a huge emotional loss."
Source/Credit: Wandsworth Guardian
By Louisa Clarence-Smith | September 29, 2015
The Baitul Futuh Mosque, in London Road, Morden, where 70 firefighters tackled a blaze which started close to midday on Saturday, has remained closed while police investigate the cause of the fire, which started in admin offices and destroyed a community hall.
The prayer area of the mosque, described as the largest in western Europe, was untouched by the blaze, as was the motto emblazoned on its wall: "Love For All, Hatred For None".
Police have bailed a 14-year-old boy who had been arrested on suspicion of arson. A 16-year-old man who had also been arrested on suspicion of arson was released with no further action.
A Metropolitan Police statement released yesterday morning said the attack was not being treated as a "hate crime".
Farooq Aftab, 35, general secretary of the Ahmadiyya Youth Association, said the community was waiting to hear more from police about what they believe to be the nature of the attack before they decide if it will be safe to hold prayers at the mosque on Friday.
More than 200 people gathered for prayers at nearby Southfields mosque in Gressenhall Road yesterday afternoon, led by His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, international leader of the estimated 10 million-strong worldwide community.
Ahmadi Muslims are a minority sect within Islamic communities and are regarded as non-Muslims in Pakistan, where their forms of worship are criminalised.
Speaking after the service, Surfarz Mustapha, 18, said: "I think the community has shown in the past that the best way to react to these kind of acts is to come together as we did before when the mosque was attacked and the community came together and stayed strong and prayed to God. That's all we can do."
The mosque has previously received threats from extremists - in 2013 police were deployed to guard the 5.2 acre grounds after threats to "burn it to the ground" appeared on social media days after the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
In 2001, in an anonymous letter, a person threatened to "flatten" the mosque, blaming its members for terrorism attacks in America.
Mr Mustapha, of Gressenhall Road in Southfields, was on his way to take part in a debate on extremism and radicalisation at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
No known Ahmadi Muslims have been radicalised, Mr Aftab said.
Jonathan Butterworth, 29, of Skeena Hill, Southfields, said: "If it was an attack it's a sad thing but it's more a sad thing for the people who did it because if they have caused some serious damage to personal property then that's a huge emotional loss.
"It's not something to be worried about, it's sad for those who perpetrated it."
Mr Ahmed, 51, who also lives in Southfields said: "There's some sort of emotional attachment the community has with the mosque as the community centre as people have with a church or synagogue.
"I feel sad but fortunately no-one lost their life and the positive thing is seeing the community come together."
Share article
Mr Aftab said: "It's been great to see the local MP, firefighters and community come together irrespective of their faith.
"It's not nice having a fire at a place of worship but the positive thing has been everybody coming together."
Read original post here: UK: 'Huge emotional loss' - Worshippers unite as police investigate suspected arson attack at Morden mosque
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times. Ahmadiyya Times is not an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.