On Friday 10th October, the Muslim Council of Britain joined the Muslim community at the Peacehaven Community Centre & Mosque for the first Friday Jumuah prayer since the tragic arson attack took place.
Local Member of Parliament Chris Ward (Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven) visited the mosque for the first time to see the aftermath of the attack. The mosque leadership team held an open, honest and frank discussion on the ongoing alarming Islamophobic attacks on mosques across the UK which led to the tragic fire at the mosque. The mosque leaders also shared the difficulties mosques are facing with accessing the Home Office Security Fund scheme which is designed to provide security to places of worship to prevent such horrific attacks.
Concerns were shared by the community leaders on how unregulated social media tech giants are fuelling the climate of hate and distorting the narrative around the good work that faith communities do across the UK. Chris joined the mosque leaders in laying down the temporary boards for the entrance to the mosque which was burnt down during the attack.
The MCB’s open letter to the Home Secretary earlier this week was also discussed which highlights the imperative need for the government to do more to tackle the rising Islamophobia in the current climate. A police investigation is still being undertaken in relation to the attack on the mosque and the local council has been supportive including by installing additional street CCTV cameras within 48 hours of the attack.
Peacehaven mosque community members are heartened by the solidarity expressed by many local neighbours and well-wishers across Sussex which has been wide-ranging. The Muslim Council of Britain pray for the safety of the community in Peacehaven, many of whom have lived here for more than 30 years and who are urging the wider community to fund repairs and improve building security.
The MCB’s updated guidance for UK mosque security can be found here /blog/archive-2?search=span>
and open letter to the Home Secretary here: /blog/archive-2?search=span>