From the London Evening Standard
A London mosque has faced a backlash after banning women worshipers from prayers.
The Soho Islamic Centre added a notice to its doorway telling female worshipers they could no longer pray there due to a lack of space. The sign at the mosque in Berwick Street reads: “There is no prayer facility for Sisters in this Masjid.”
Researcher Anita Nayyar told the Standard she used to visit in her lunch break every day, but said it has now become increasingly difficult for herself and her female friends to pray there. Ms Nayyar said several of her female friends had reported being turned away when trying to pray at the mosque.
She added: “You are supposed to feel very serene when you are going to pray when actually I was walking there thinking, ‘Am I going to have to argue with them?’ “It’s became more intimidating and oppressive. . . “
The sign stuck on the door directs women to another mosque about half-a-mile away in Goodge Street.
Yasar Chaudhry, a regular user of the Islamic centre, said that there is not enough space or facilities inside for women.”…It is not that the Sisters are not allowed, it’s just because it’s so busy there is no space and everyone is over each other to find a place.”
Thomas Mackenzie, 29, who works on a food stall opposite, said: “Sometimes there are so many people that they do have to pray out on the street. But for me, I prefer to treat men and women equally.”
Cue application for Mosque expansion, or even a new and spacious mosque . . .
The mosque is not breaking any laws as the Equality and Human Rights Commission says gender segregation is permissible during collective religious worship and supported by the Charity Commission.
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2 Responses
The fact that males are given priority here isn’t surprising – but it is surprising that Anita Nayyar finds this problematic. As a practicing Muslima, she has already accepted the fact that females face segregation in mosques, are barred from praying during menstruation, have lesser rights all the way around. Why then, when space is purportedly in limited supply, does she find it upsetting that she, being female, is shunted aside? This isn’t really a segregation issue (wherein females would be allowed access but segregated once inside), but is rather an issue of the blatant denial of services to females, based on nothing but their sex. When will we see feminist outrage over this? We know the answer to that.
a mosque in Soho, the centre of gay, decadent, hedonist London. They seek to colonise every territory