UK: Mosque Plan ‘Will Create Muslim Ghetto’

Outrage: Proposals for a loudspeaker to call Muslims to prayer in central Oxford have been attacked by local residents

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2946

Muslim elders at an Oxford mosque have said they intend to push ahead with plans to broadcast a call to prayer from a loudspeaker despite fierce opposition.

Local residents have attacked the idea saying it would disrupt the peace and turn the area into a ‘Muslim ghetto’.

But the elders said they still intend to seek planning permission to install the loudspeaker.

If granted, they would broadcast a two-minute long call three times a day from the Central Mosque, where up to 700 people gather to worship every Friday. The idea has gained support from the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, who last week said those in opposition to the idea should “relax” and “enjoy community diversity”.

But residents, who packed out a council meeting last month to signal their outrage, remain set against the plan which they say is an “un-neighbourly intrusion”.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=504373&in_page_id=1770

2008-01-14