A few days ago I was looking for ideas on what to write about next. Abby, my co-editor, suggested writing about the effects of the election or Grenfell Tower, but after some thought I couldn’t write objectively about either of these subjects. I could find a stronger Cabinet in Ikea and as for our so-called Prime Whatever, well I’m not going there.
The suggestions did, however, lead to a light bulb moment. How are the Muslim community in Belfast feeling right now? How hard has the last few months been on them? And as a religious community, how can they try and help people to understand that they just want to be accepted for who they are? Not that they should have to try in the first place.
We all know that this doesn’t come easily when even Stormont can’t govern because of religious beliefs. I made a call, an appointment was confirmed, and a few days later I wandered up and down Belfast’s Wellington Park looking for the Islamic Centre (new glasses were obviously not working).
I eventually found the centre and in I went. I’m not going to lie, I felt an overwhelming sense of trepidation, not because there was four or five people in the hall but because I was ashamed. Ashamed of our so-called culture, our media, the racist behavior that envelopes us in hatred for something we know nothing about.
I stood in the hall waiting as a young man worked his way down the busy staircase. With a big smile and a firm handshake he introduced himself as Anwar and I felt completely at ease.
Anwar explained how the Islamic Centre was established in Belfast: “The building was bought in 1986 and turned into a centre in 1987. Before that we had a small building that started around 1978.
“There are a number of the community who have been here fifty years working as doctors, consultants, lecturers, teachers, professors and business men. By 1999 the Muslim community had become larger as more students came to study at Queens.”
The building they are now in is cramped to say the least and in this Holy month of Ramadan, after fasting all day, 200 people per day arrive around 10pm to eat and pray. Most people walk there and the evening finishes around 12.30am.
Anwar said: “After the terrible attacks in London and Manchester it has become very risky. We have had reports of racial attacks, verbal abuse and in some cases physical attacks especially on women and children. At that time of night people are feeling very vulnerable but their faith leads them to come. Some have chosen to stay home out of fear.”
I was then compelled to ask – after the atrocities of the last three months, are the community annoyed and angry about the resulting unjustified attacks on Muslims?
Anwar said: “Of course, but I have to say that I find the people of NI to be warm, helpful, courteous and friendly. I have lived here for 11 years, people speak to you on the streets, not like London. The problem is people have no idea about Islam or Muslims.
“So imagine we are talking about Queens University. Being an international Uni, students come from all over the world, a lot of Malaysians who study medicine, so if they are attacked is that to the benefit of the NI society and the community, or is it harmful because they are being labeled as a result of the actions of a small minority from the community.
“People can’t correlate between who is and who is not making attacks. It’s the same with Islam, there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, the small group who cause such atrocities are minuscule and are denounced by the Muslim community as a whole. It’s the absence of awareness about our faith, our community.”
How does the centre get around that problem of misunderstanding? “We have an education programme called Understanding Muslim Culture. We invite schools, students, the teachers Training Colleges, they come and see how we practice our religion, our teachings and our culture.” Anwar said.
“It’s a half day course and most people come away from it astonished at the amount of similarities that Christian and Islamic cultures have. However, we can’t match up to the complexity of the media with their ‘Muslims, Muslims, Muslims’ so again the idea given to the public is not right and we just can’t compete with that.”
While we were on the topic of the media, I asked: “In the aftermath of the Grenfell incident, Muslim communities coming from Ramadan were the first on the scene to help and aid before even the emergency services. The first day it was news and now it’s all about how brave the emergency services were. The one time where the press can say the Muslim community proved just how brave they were fighting to save people, nothing. How do you feel about that?”
Anwar answered: “It came about purely by chance, people staying up all night till the early hours, so when they left the Mosque and saw the flames people automatically without fear started to try and help as many as possible.
“It is in our culture to help without fear, we believe in our faith, in Islam. We will get our reward from God especially after coming from worship where you would feel spiritual and elevated. But the way the media treated it…”
Given the cramped conditions and number of people using the Islamic Centre, I wondered, was there any sign of a Mosque for Belfast?
“We have bought Aldersgate House so we have planning permission to turn that into a community centre, part of which will have a Mosque, another part will be a classroom and a lecture hall. We will also have a small area to sell food where all will be welcome, so this is the next big step towards intergrating the communities.” Anwar said.
“We have assets which we may sell or people can donate to help us reach that final target. After Ramadan we will be moving on.”
Contemplating our conversation as I walked towards town, I couldn’t help feel an even deeper resentment and anger towards the vile racists, the media, certain so called Governments and ISIS.
Anwar, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I was humbled by your humanity and the kind way in which I was received into the Islamic Centre. You do the Muslim community proud. Belfast – you should be very proud of the Muslim Community and the Islamic Centre, so man up and help stop these senseless racist attacks on women and children.
If anyone wants to donate to the new mosque, get in touch via Facebook www.facebook.com/belfastislamiccentre or email belfastislamiccentre.org.community