https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/city-mosque-battle-save-2m-27616491
The Government has withheld a £2.2 million grant to a city mosque for a vital youth centre project after a social media clip of a preacher discussing 'stoning women' went viral. Leaders at Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre are now battling to overturn the decision by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to 'pause' the grant award.
Mosque leaders said the edited clip was out-of-context and misleading, and had triggered a deluge of hatemail and threats. Police had offered to step up patrols around the venue as a result, it said.
The DCMS confirmed it had 'paused' handing over £2.175 million from its Youth Investment Fund to the mosque, based in Green Lane because of the highlighted clip. It was seeking more reassurance about safeguarding and investigating online allegations.
READ MORE: New youth centre plan as Green Lane Masjid gets £2.2m investment
The row kicked off after a 25-second clip was aired on social media platforms showing a local imam discussing historic punishments meted out to women under Sharia law, including stoning them to death. The clip was part of a 45-minute discussion about the history of the law, said the mosque.
The imam, a regular preacher at the mosque, was 'in no way' advocating violence or supporting the punishment, said a mosque spokesperson. "At no point did the imam call for sharia law or suggest this was advocated, never. We believe it was deliberately taken out of context, an attempt to put us in our place."
POLL: Are you worried about crime in Birmingham?
They added: "We feel there is an insidious nature to the targeted social media campaign against us (timed to coincide) with the award of the grant. It appears like a deliberate attack on the mosque, coming after the announcement of the youth investment fund grant.
"It has now become a risk and a threat to the mosque, we are receiving hate mail and threats, as well as jeopardising a desperately needed project."
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
They added: "There have been mistakes in the past. But we have gone through a lot of changes in personnel and approach, and have strict procedures that aim to support and raise up the community. We would never incite or allow others to incite violence."
On the back of the 'stoning' clip, other historic clips were shared across social media, some long deleted by the mosque, exposing comments made by other visiting imams. Among them was controversial Shayk Abu Usamah, who tours mosques across the country delivering guest lectures and prayers.
He has a history of making comments about homosexuality, women's rights and punishment, many condemned and deemed abhorrent. The mosque said he had been removed from the mosque's roster of visiting speakers, pending the outcome of investigations.
They said: "We maintain a firm stance against violent extremism and hate crime. In light of this incident, a comprehensive and through investigation is taking place. We want to avoid any complacency or disregard for legitimate concerns and are committed to subjecting ourselves to scrutiny.
"The investigation will address concerns raised about the content of certain past materials on the mosque's social media platforms." The money at stake was granted to the Small Heath mosque for the development of a new youth centre offering programmes on leadership, critical thinking, arts and culture and empowering marginalised communities.
The mosque is currently waiting on the outcome of further inquiries over the release of funds. The spokesman said: "We do not yet have a timeline, but we are in good communication with the Government and our stakeholders have been incredibly supportive."
In a statement the DCMS said Green Lane had received a limited pre-construction grant but the full grant for construction of its youth facility from the Youth Investment Fund was 'paused' while it "investigates the recent allegations."
Backlash triggers police patrols offer
The mosque said the backlash over the 'stoning' clip escalated over the weekend, with Islamaphobic and hateful messages delivered to the mosque and via social media.
"It's a clip that plays into racist tropes and stereotypes and it is highly misleading," they added. "We have received hostility directed towards the mosque on social media and there has been an increase in hate mail and threats, which we are taking very seriously. The police have been in touch and have offered additional patrols to ensure the safety of the community and mosque.
Eid al-Adha prayers at Green Lane Masjid and Community centre (Image: BirminghamLive / Darren Quinton)
“The new Youth Centre we plan to build will provide a safe space for all young people locally – Muslim and non-Muslim – in an area where gang crime and anti-social behaviour are major concerns.
“It is the only project in the Greater Birmingham area that is in line to receive support from the Youth Investment Fund. It will be a place where the creative arts can flourish, where young people are nurtured to succeed, and where mental health support is available.
“It is a further addition to our extensive community projects, which also include a food bank and food kitchen, domestic violence case workers, help with accessing national hardship funds, established sporting activities for women and young people, health clinics, job fairs and much more."
The Government has withheld a £2.2 million grant to a city mosque for a vital youth centre project after a social media clip of a preacher discussing 'stoning women' went viral. Leaders at Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre are now battling to overturn the decision by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to 'pause' the grant award.
Mosque leaders said the edited clip was out-of-context and misleading, and had triggered a deluge of hatemail and threats. Police had offered to step up patrols around the venue as a result, it said.
The DCMS confirmed it had 'paused' handing over £2.175 million from its Youth Investment Fund to the mosque, based in Green Lane because of the highlighted clip. It was seeking more reassurance about safeguarding and investigating online allegations.
READ MORE: New youth centre plan as Green Lane Masjid gets £2.2m investment
The row kicked off after a 25-second clip was aired on social media platforms showing a local imam discussing historic punishments meted out to women under Sharia law, including stoning them to death. The clip was part of a 45-minute discussion about the history of the law, said the mosque.
The imam, a regular preacher at the mosque, was 'in no way' advocating violence or supporting the punishment, said a mosque spokesperson. "At no point did the imam call for sharia law or suggest this was advocated, never. We believe it was deliberately taken out of context, an attempt to put us in our place."
POLL: Are you worried about crime in Birmingham?
They added: "We feel there is an insidious nature to the targeted social media campaign against us (timed to coincide) with the award of the grant. It appears like a deliberate attack on the mosque, coming after the announcement of the youth investment fund grant.
"It has now become a risk and a threat to the mosque, we are receiving hate mail and threats, as well as jeopardising a desperately needed project."
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
They added: "There have been mistakes in the past. But we have gone through a lot of changes in personnel and approach, and have strict procedures that aim to support and raise up the community. We would never incite or allow others to incite violence."
On the back of the 'stoning' clip, other historic clips were shared across social media, some long deleted by the mosque, exposing comments made by other visiting imams. Among them was controversial Shayk Abu Usamah, who tours mosques across the country delivering guest lectures and prayers.
He has a history of making comments about homosexuality, women's rights and punishment, many condemned and deemed abhorrent. The mosque said he had been removed from the mosque's roster of visiting speakers, pending the outcome of investigations.
They said: "We maintain a firm stance against violent extremism and hate crime. In light of this incident, a comprehensive and through investigation is taking place. We want to avoid any complacency or disregard for legitimate concerns and are committed to subjecting ourselves to scrutiny.
"The investigation will address concerns raised about the content of certain past materials on the mosque's social media platforms." The money at stake was granted to the Small Heath mosque for the development of a new youth centre offering programmes on leadership, critical thinking, arts and culture and empowering marginalised communities.
The mosque is currently waiting on the outcome of further inquiries over the release of funds. The spokesman said: "We do not yet have a timeline, but we are in good communication with the Government and our stakeholders have been incredibly supportive."
In a statement the DCMS said Green Lane had received a limited pre-construction grant but the full grant for construction of its youth facility from the Youth Investment Fund was 'paused' while it "investigates the recent allegations."
Backlash triggers police patrols offer
The mosque said the backlash over the 'stoning' clip escalated over the weekend, with Islamaphobic and hateful messages delivered to the mosque and via social media.
"It's a clip that plays into racist tropes and stereotypes and it is highly misleading," they added. "We have received hostility directed towards the mosque on social media and there has been an increase in hate mail and threats, which we are taking very seriously. The police have been in touch and have offered additional patrols to ensure the safety of the community and mosque.
Eid al-Adha prayers at Green Lane Masjid and Community centre (Image: BirminghamLive / Darren Quinton)
“The new Youth Centre we plan to build will provide a safe space for all young people locally – Muslim and non-Muslim – in an area where gang crime and anti-social behaviour are major concerns.
“It is the only project in the Greater Birmingham area that is in line to receive support from the Youth Investment Fund. It will be a place where the creative arts can flourish, where young people are nurtured to succeed, and where mental health support is available.
“It is a further addition to our extensive community projects, which also include a food bank and food kitchen, domestic violence case workers, help with accessing national hardship funds, established sporting activities for women and young people, health clinics, job fairs and much more."
