Islam week bridges the faith gap (From Surrey Comet)

Islam week bridges the faith gap

11:23am Friday 17th February 2006

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The recently-convicted extremist Abu Hamza may once have preached here, but Muslims in the Royal borough have spoken out this week about the need for moderate voices to be heard on all sides of the religious debate.

Kingston University (KU) is hosting an Islamic Awareness Week to celebrate the rich heritage of the Islamic faith and culture.

Rashid Laher, chairman of Kingston Mosque, said it was important to build bridges between Islam and the wider community in Kingston.

The extremist Abu Hamza, who was jailed last week for inciting murder and racial hatred, preached for a short time at the mosque before moving on to Finsbury Park Mosque. Mr Laher said there was no evidence of any extremist group infiltrating the mosque.

"He did not find any receptive ears here," he said. "It is essential that, as a mosque, we help input the positive message of Islam to all generations and cultures."

Equally, he added that the wider community had to understand how some Muslims felt victimised by the publication of the cartoons of their prophet in a Danish newspaper.

He said: "I thought the publication of the cartoons was unnecessary.

"It is important that Muslim voices and responses are heard, although not in a violent or threatening way.

"The only way to stop this happening is by engaging in peaceful dialogue. Young people have to learn to cope with the challenges of the faith, which is non-violent."

The cartoons of the prophet Mohammed were published in Denmark by the newspaper Jyllandsposten on September 30 last year.

However, it is not the first time images of Mohammed have been created over the centuries. For example a picture of an early Renaissance fresco in Bologna's Church of San Petronio, by Giovanni da Modena, depicts a naked Mohammed being tortured in Hell.

Saqib Sattar, president of Kingston University's Islamic Society, said he hoped a look back at history through the exhibition could break down some barriers.

"The Islamic Society prides itself on its inclusive nature, and openness," he said. "We want to reach out to all sections of the university and the wider community. Through the exhibition, we want to work together and share the rich, diverse culture of Islam across African, Asia and Europe in a celebratory way."

He said although he found the Mohammed cartoons offensive, his attitude was about being positive. He said: "We have to all come together in our shared British-Muslim identity and work in a positive way to move forward.

"We have to find common, peaceful solutions to solve society's problems with respect for different points of view."

Kingston Mayor, Councillor Yogan Yoganathan, officially opened the touring exhibition, Exhibition Islam, yesterday.

It runs until Thursday at the Penrhyn Road campus cafeteria and features examples of Arabic calligraphy and artwork.

Visitors can also sample Asian curries, Moroccan cuisine and Turkish fare during this week, as well as attending several talks including, What Is True Love? Making Poverty History and, Jesus the prophet of Islam.

Mr Laher said: "The exhibition celebrates the acceptance and understanding at the heart of Islam and is intended to show both believers and non-believers, its rich heritage.

"Unless we engage in education, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike will lose perception of this. Islam is about tolerance and living in servitude for all humanity by tapping into the common good."

For more details of the exhibition visit www.exhibition islam.com.

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