Masjid Umar, Leicester

For the Mosque of Umar in Syria, see Al-Omari Mosque (Bosra).
Masjid Umar is a mosque in Evington, Leicester, England

Masjid Umar is a mosque in Evington, Leicester, England.[1]

The building was completed in 2000 and was shortlisted in 2005 for the ACE / RIBA Award for Religious Architecture. It was described as having "presence, integrity and modesty."[2][3]

The Mosque was allowed to be built even though 1500 signatures opposed the Mosque. Initially it was a domestic property which in the height of the property crisis was sold. Initially it was to be a Landscape garden which never materialised and never was meant to, then this developed into a Community Center, then a Madrasa, and then an unofficial prayer of worship. Many residents complained that it was being used a Mosque and then later accepted when planning permission was sought to make it into a class D1 structure. (Place of Worship). Leicester CIty Council gave it the go ahead with retrospective planning permission, which is the main stay of many planning applications that the Islamic Community have made. (ref The Daniel Lambert Public House Evington), The planning officer of Leicester City Council even said it was ill advised, however it was allowed to be built and parking and traffic problems exists to this date.

It is also known that the traffic calming measures were funded by Council Tax payers when the Islamic Foundation said it had run out of funds to achieve this. However many have pointed out that in the petition against the Mosque that traffic problems would ensue the Councillors and MPs, indeed Peter Soulsby, later to be knighted and attaining the title of Sir Peter Soulsby, publicly berated the collators of the petition and claimed they were racist. Indeed, he claimed that anyone would be proud to live next to a building of such architectural integrity. He then moved as soon as the mosque was built to an area where no Mosque could be built. He was heckled to his action on him berating people who objected to the building and when asked why he himself had moved declined not answer. He is now the Mayor of Leicester.

Quite quickly the non Muslims vacated the area around the Mosque fearing it was a done deal and moved to Oadby and Wigston. Where another Mosque is now being built in the place of the Old Library.Many non Muslim residents think that the Council and then MPs have acted prejudicially towards the Islamic Community.

In letter to the Council a one Mr Jadeja, has gone on the record that the building of the Mosque was controversial yet allowed an Islamic school to be allowed given the massive problems in parking and the lack of parking enforcement due to appeasing the Islamic Community to be built. On Friday Prayers and during the month of Ramadaan, worshippers of the Mosque can be seen prayer on the public footpaths and it is a matter of public concern.

References

  1. ↑ Philip Wilkinson, Peter Ashley, English Heritage, The English buildings book, p. 96
  2. ↑ Sungur, Elif (13 November 2005). "ACE / RIBA Award for Religious Architecture". Dexigner. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Jordan, Adrian (4 November 2005). "Shortlist For Religious Architecture Award Revealed". Culture 24. Retrieved 20 January 2010.

External links

Coordinates: 52°37′27″N 1°06′06″W / 52.62418°N 1.10176°W / 52.62418; -1.10176

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