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British National Party claim Murray Hall used "as mosque"

5:55pm Monday 3rd August 2009 in


THE British National Party has been accused of whipping up racial tensions in the district after it issued an inflammatory leaflet about a local Muslim community group.

In the latest edition of the BNP's Epping Forest Patriot, delivered to many households in Loughton, the group attack the use on Friday afternoons of the Murray Hall, in Borders Lane, for Islamic prayer sessions.

Under a picture of a union flag being eaten away by the Islamic moon and crescent the leaflet says: “In parts of neighbouring Redbridge and east London the Islamification process is almost complete. We'll do all in our power to prevent Islam creeping into our town.”

The leaflet is headed in capital letters: “No mosques in Loughton!”

Noor Ramjanally, of Valley Hill, Loughton, who started the Islamic prayer sessions at the hall has already been subjected to threats and an arson attack, which the BNP deny knowledge of.

He said: “I do find it worrying because of my wife and son. We don't deserve to be going through all this stress, we just want somewhere to pray.

“It's just from people who are basically idiots. They don't know what my religion is about. We have the support of all the community.”

Epping Forest BNP group leader Pat Richardson said she had seen the leaflet and “didn't disagree with it.”

She added: “It shouldn't be in a community centre and I don't think it's appropriate in a BNP ward. It brings all sorts of problems and we don't want problems in this area.”

Loughton Inspector Tom Simons said the leaflet was “unhelpful” but did not break the law.

He added: “We stand fully behind member of all religious faiths and fully recognise the right to practise their religions providing it falls within the law.”

Comments(31)

Katie Rolt says...
6:08pm Mon 3 Aug 09

No matter how much I hate the BNP, they are correct.

Murray (community) Hall is being used as a Mosque on Fridays.

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Fish Presto says...
6:13pm Mon 3 Aug 09

By the inch it is a synch.

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Katie Rolt says...
6:26pm Mon 3 Aug 09

People should also be aware that this groups operates a website, that states Murray Hall is their own personal place of worship! They seem to be forgetting that it is a community all for all residents for Loughton or do they know somthing we don't?!

I note form the photograph that the Lib Dems support this Mosque, is this the only way they can get votes?!

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inézc says...
6:35pm Mon 3 Aug 09

I loathe and detest the BNP but have to say that if this has been requisitioned as a mosque then that is completely wrong. It is clearly a community centre - wasn't there an earlier post some weeks ago that said the hall was not to be used for any religious activities? If this is the case then it should not be used for prayers - by any faith.

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D-503 says...
6:36pm Mon 3 Aug 09

Given the fact that Noor Ramjanally wrote to the Epping Forest Guardian stating categorically that his group did not regard Murray Hall as a mosque and didn't want to make it a mosque, the BNP are lying in order to incite religious and racial tension and violence. I'm only mildly surprised that the police won't take action. Given the endemic problem of racism within the police force, the police probably approve of the BNP's sentiments.

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Katie Rolt says...
6:42pm Mon 3 Aug 09

D-503 wrote:
Given the fact that Noor Ramjanally wrote to the Epping Forest Guardian stating categorically that his group did not regard Murray Hall as a mosque and didn't want to make it a mosque, the BNP are lying in order to incite religious and racial tension and violence. I'm only mildly surprised that the police won't take action. Given the endemic problem of racism within the police force, the police probably approve of the BNP's sentiments.
If one Google’s the words “Loughton” & “Mosque” you will be greeted with the top result which says:

“Loughton Mosque, Mosque in Loughton, Loughton Masjid” – This is the title to this group’s website. It sickens me to say this, but, the BNP are right. This is a Mosque by stealth.

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Katie Rolt says...
7:02pm Mon 3 Aug 09

I think my reply to D-503 highlights whats really going on.

I will add. Why isn’t the Town Council reassuring residents about the future of Murray Hall? Or do the Town Council plan on selling the hall? After all times are tough!

We must also remember that when this community hall first opened, residents were told it would NOT be a place for religious worship of any kind. Yet now, we find that rule being broken and Essex Police, Lib Dems etc coming out in support of this rule being broken!

I think it’s time Loughton Town Council told its residents was their plans are for the town’s community hall.

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locooldgit says...
10:30pm Mon 3 Aug 09

all I cant add is that I live in south redbridge and can no longer buy pork or pork products from any of the local shops other than at the supermarkets.and I think even they will stop selling pork products when all their shop workers are muslim.

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Heartly says...
12:04am Tue 4 Aug 09

Nothing like religion to stir the masses.

Never deny a man his faith unless it interferes with you. On the face of it renting the hall so the followers of Muhammad can do their thing on a friday afternoon would normally be their business and a perfectly legimate use.

However if this hall was designated non religious activity status then the persons responsible for allowing this should be bought to task.

This is just cowardly action by people pandering to the minorities and is systematic with what is going wrong in our society. The majority opinion should prevail unless you want to execute the minorities which some in the BNP wish for.

By the do gooders/bleedin liberals are allowed to foist er their ideology on the rest of society then they can expect a backlash.

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EWX says...
8:22am Tue 4 Aug 09

Residents of Epping should read up on the Islamic concept of 'sacred space'.
Territory once used by Islam is Islamic forever more.
The best explanation I have read is that given by the Revd Dr Patrick Sookhdeo on the website of the Barnabas Fund for Persecuted Christians. Look up
Barnabas Fund: The UK Hijra and the Islamic Doctrine of Sacred Space.
Dr Sookhdeo is an Anglican priest originally from Pakistan and his work is reliable. A final point - Racia prejudice is abhorance but Islam is an ideology not a race and criticism of the ideology is not racism.

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Chanie271075 says...
8:48am Tue 4 Aug 09

This is a very nice blog. Can anyone provide a statement or any proof that the hall would not be used for religious purpose? I have checked the council website and it does not mentioned anything about religious use. Unless you can provide any statement the Loughton Islamic Group is not violating any rights not the council or the BNP had any right to oppose them renting the place.


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Fish Presto says...
12:03pm Tue 4 Aug 09

Areas like Leyton and Walthamstow have been swamped by mass immigration in recent years and the face of shopping areas have become almost unrecognisable from the 70's. Poor quality shops, people selling fruit and veg out of bowls, and international telephone card stalls illegally set up in the street with an array of dismal looking fast food outlets (many substandard and recently closed down by the Council) have blighted the area. Numerous mosques founded in the area with worshippers attending in religious dress has created a sense of alienation amongst the long established community who now feel in the minority. This has been a very gradual process which started in the late 60's. There is a deep concern much of the time because the immigrants are reluctant to integrate, demand separate schooling, refuse to partake in Christian festivals, yet insist on having their own holidays recognised and in some ways create hostility by their dress code and reluctance to learn English.

It is only natural that surrounding areas will be affected as the 'foreign' population spreads from these areas to places like Loughton. It is already happening in parts of Wanstead and Woodford.

There is a sense of being taken over and because there appears to be no control or constraints in place to maintain traditional values, customs and practices, the long established communities and there being no empathy from the main political parties or understanding, groups like the BNP prosper as who else stands up for the British Citizens? Even long settled immigrants to the UK are complaining that there is far too much immigration and that the Boarder Controls are in disarray and a complete mess.

These times will be highlighted as a turning point in History where successive Governments have failed to tackle or deal with the World problem of mass immigration through fear of being branded racist. These are difficult issues and one way or another it cannot be allowed to continue as I fear that mass unrest and possible conflict will occur and will be inevitable unless the Government take stock and that Politicians across all parties debate the issues openly as Trevor Phillips the head of CRE has.

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What_a_Dump says...
1:29pm Tue 4 Aug 09

Face it Islam is the biggest threat to our way of life especialy if you are female, Take a look at Ilford want that for Loughton, Opps I suppose that makes me a Nazi or something

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locooldgit says...
5:09pm Tue 4 Aug 09

Fish Presto sums up just how I feel living in Ilford.it is time the PC mob woke up to what is happening and stop more ghettos forming.

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SylvieM says...
9:37pm Tue 4 Aug 09

Fish Presto is absolutely right. We cannot go on like this. And as far as the British National Party is concerned they are right. What about us? When will the people of this country be given a voice? We are sidelined and ignored, and this has to stop. The three parties we have right now are out of touch and cannot be relied upon to do anything about immigration. They need their vote, and the only people to benefit are immigrants and big business. It is causing massive problems throughout our infrastructure, but still they allow it to go on. We are in danger of loosing everything we fought for in two world wars. We have played musical chairs with the two main parties as long as I can remember and we are at a crossroads. This is 'not' the fault of immigrants, it is the fault of successive governments. So does saying this make me a fascist? This is always used as a stick to beat the indigenous Brits who dare to speak out. It is the media, politicians. and the liberal elite, whose job it is to do this. and who of course are not affected by the mess they inflict on others. A Mosque in a hall may not sound like much, but it is just the start.

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D-503 says...
10:28pm Tue 4 Aug 09

So, to prevent any non-white people from settling in Loughton, you'd prevent freedom of worship for Muslims? Firstly, like everyone else, Muslims can do what the hell they like, so long as they pay for it and obey the law. People bang on about what wars were fought for, well they were not fought to deny people freedom of worship. Secondly, it may shock you that many non-white people are not Muslim. They are also Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Atheist and even a few Jews. Thirdly, Murray Hall has always been used as a venue for Christian worship and there is no bar on people using the hall for that purpose. The BNP have not kicked up a fuss about that.

I'm damned if I am going to live under the fascist white supremacist state the BNP wants. I'd rather live in Ilford than under the BNP and amid the idiots that vote for them.

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D-503 says...
11:28pm Tue 4 Aug 09

Could someone explain to me how BNP councillors believe they can stop Muslims from buying or renting property in Loughton and setting up businesses in the town that employ people and contribute tax revenue? Or how the council can stop them praying to Allah, eating halal meat and remaining sober at the weekends? If you obey the law you have the same rights as anyone else. Opposing that amounts to actively supporting discrimination and persecution of a particular group of people purely for what they believe and/or their skin colour (the BNP also has plenty of disparaging things to say about black people in Loughton, so it's not Islam they object to but skin colour). That's what the BNP believes and that's what constitutes Nazi ideology, which lies at the core of the BNP.

As for the 'poor me' attitude of white supremacists, there's nothing stopping people from flying the Union flag, celebrating St Georges Day or Christmas. Absolutely nothing. And people do exactly this in Loughton and elsewhere without any objection from anyone, either left-wing or right-wing, Muslim or Atheist, rich or poor. Political correctness is a straw man. It is a myth. You can believe what you want because this is a free country and the defence of freedom requires the defence of freedom of worship and opposition to racism.

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D-503 says...
11:32pm Tue 4 Aug 09

And is it not true that the most politically incorrect thing you can be in Loughton is being a Muslim? The BNP is attempting to impose its own form of political correctness in the name of fighting a political correctness that does not exist!

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Investigations says...
11:54pm Tue 4 Aug 09

This one small group seem to be generating a great deal of interest which is surprising when you find that there are well over a thousand mosques in Britain and that more are being contemplated including the promise of Europe's biggest adjacent to the Olympic stadium in East London. I find that what may be going on in such places is even more terrifying than their numbers - take a look on You Tube for film from Green Lane mosque in Birmingham!

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SylvieM says...
12:49am Wed 5 Aug 09

I am sorry but some of the comments about the BNP on this site bears no resemblance to the party I have come to know over the last five years. I have never heard anyone say they want an all white society. Black and Asian people vote for the party. Some members have foreign spouses, and no, they do not mind that they cannot join, they support it anyway and understand why this party exists. There are also Jews and and gays in the party. It is there for the people of this country who's points of view are ignored or vilified by left wing fools that should know better.. Why do you think MigrationWatch exists? Why do you think virtually every day in the media there are reports on immigration and the repercussions of it? But then they have the cheek to call the BNP fascists for saying the same thing. The only difference is they would actually do something about it. Talk about hypocrites. Immigration will be top priority at the next election. It affects everything - the NHS, road congestion, housing, schools, and a los of identity. The three parties refuse to talk about it, well they will not get away with it this time, thanks to The British National Party.

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D-503 says...
9:12am Wed 5 Aug 09

"This one small group seem to be generating a great deal of interest which is surprising when you find that there are well over a thousand mosques in Britain"

Good point. There are thousands of mosques in Britain and only a very small number have had a problem with extremism. Innocent until proven guilty is meant to be fundamental to this country's jurisprudence. There is absolutely no proof that the 50 or so Muslims praying in Loughton once a week are breaking the law in any way. So they are entitled to pray just like any other religious group. And they are entitled to do that in whatever building they rent. But what would you know? You are in Canada!

"I have never heard anyone say they want an all white society."

Then you are a bit thick, aren't you? The BNP oppose mixed race relationships, want to repeal equality laws to enable discrimination against non-white people and support 'repatriation' of non-white people. I don't know their policy on Islam, but I would not be surprised if they banned the religion. What this all adds up to is something akin to Hitler's Nuremburg Laws against the Jews. Now, you say that black, Asian, Jewish and gay people vote for this. Presumably you also think that turkeys would vote for Christmas.

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What_a_Dump says...
10:23am Wed 5 Aug 09

D-503 this is not an issue of colour so why do you make it one, its people like you that are the problem not the immigrants, people like you make people like me vote the way we do. Do you get it yet or are you still so full of your own opion to be blinded by the wider issue.

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D-503 says...
10:35am Wed 5 Aug 09

Dump: Of course it is about race. The BNP is a white nationalist party. It is just picking what it regards as an easy target among non-white ethnic groups. Bashing Jews didn't win votes, bashing Muslims does. The Loughton Muslim group has been using Murray Hall for months and there have been no complaints. The first anyone heard about it was when the leader of the group had his home fire-bombed. Yet, the BNP are still portraying this victim of death threats and arson as a threat to national security and "our way of life", however it wants to define it. If people like you want to vote for councillors who want to stir up hostility against Muslims, which has already led to an attack on one family, then your views deserve absolutely no respect.

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What_a_Dump says...
1:48pm Wed 5 Aug 09

D-503 There you go again just listen to your lefty self, who are you to decide who's view deserve respect!Typical lefty, believe in democracy free speech only if its what you think. Man I love talking to the likes of you its sort of therapeutic for my soul.

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D-503 says...
2:11pm Wed 5 Aug 09

Dump: How funny, I'm not remotely left-wing. 'Lefty' is just another caricature employed by fascists when they have lost the argument. Their next step is to portray anyone who disagrees with them as persecuting them, apparently unaware that in the European elections little more than 2% of the electorate went to a polling booth to vote BNP - 98% of the electorate do not support this extremist grouplet.

Yes, I believe in free speech and I am using my free speech to say that your views deserve no respect. What you and your ilk want to do is deny free speech, starting with the freedom of worship for Muslims. Are you aware, by the way, that your party leader went begging to Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini and Libya's Colonel Qadafi to fund his race war? It was the time of the Lockerbie bombing, when both countries were under suspicion. He had no problem taking money from the governments who funded terrorists who committed the worst terrorist attack this country has seen. At the time, Nick Griffin thought they were natural allies to wipe out the Jews. And you think the BNP has the right to scream about the supposed threat of Islam?! Give it a break. BNP councillors deserve only contempt for their hypocrisy, lies and traitorous ideology.

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What_a_Dump says...
2:42pm Wed 5 Aug 09

What are you on about now, I dont have a party or leader and as for ilk I know not of having that either, Man stop rambling on such a load of crap its too long and boring to read, and you are a lefty you just need to get out of your lefty closet be proud of what your are; a lefty and boring one to boot.

over to you

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D-503 says...
2:47pm Wed 5 Aug 09

Dump: I didn't ask you to respond. The fact that you can't more than two sentences with words of more than two syllables speaks volumes of the intellectual capacity of a BNP voter.

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Fish Presto says...
3:58pm Wed 5 Aug 09

D-503 wrote:
Dump: I didn't ask you to respond. The fact that you can't more than two sentences with words of more than two syllables speaks volumes of the intellectual capacity of a BNP voter.
This sentence is not exactly Oxford English!

What is D-503 some kind of chemical formula?

Sounds scary to me.

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D-503 says...
4:22pm Wed 5 Aug 09

D-503 is the protagonist in the book "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin.

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What_a_Dump says...
4:49pm Wed 5 Aug 09

D-503 wrote:
Dump: I didn't ask you to respond. The fact that you can't more than two sentences with words of more than two syllables speaks volumes of the intellectual capacity of a BNP voter.
Oh dear are'nt we up our own english dictionary arse today, and by the way how do know who I voted for.

back to you

Ps: I think you should check your grammar before commenting on mine sir!!

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D-503 says...
5:19pm Wed 5 Aug 09

You can't be that bored as you keep coming back for more.

"people like you make people like me vote the way we do."

So, what did you mean? The rest of your inane drivel is typical BNP bull: you accuse your opponents in a debate of being 'lefty' and censoring you, when you are not being censored you are being opposed. The BNP paranoia is evident. But please tell us how you did vote and how people like me make you vote that way.

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