Prayers to take place with security (From Oxford Mail)

Dear Dr Hargey, 10-1 in favour of your what you call event, how many of them Muslims to whom this matters, not to our friends in other faiths. Mr Khan is not a speaker for the Muslims of Oxford. Please get in touch with any of the Mosques Committees or Muslim Council of Oxford. I believe they have put out a Press Release which I have not seen in the Mail, why?

Your article about a woman leading mixed Friday prayer in Oxford for the first time; I agree that this is highly controversial and historic pioneering event which is well known by the organiser and professor Amina Wadud.
She is aware that this event is just a pioneering exercise and absolutely has nothing to do with Islamic principle and laws.

According to the organiser, Professor Amina Wadud is most knowledgeable and a qualified person on Islam in Oxford. But is this true?
If we believe this to be true, then Professor Amina Wadud should show her knowledgeable ability and qualification by accepting that, women had never lead mixed obligatory prayer throughout Islamic history.
Women have lead non obligatory prayer to women only, while standing in the same row but not in front of them and secondly women have lead mix prayer to her family members only, and this is only when there is no knowledgeable male in the family. Professor Amina Wadud is no family member of (Meco).
Everyone knows that women have opposed Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him during his life, only to claim prophecy for themselves. This does not mean that women can claim prophecy now and then expect to be part of Islam.

Dr Taj Hargey accepts that he had ONLY 10 calls in favour of this event. This should be enough for him to accept that he should not spend public money on police security for such events. He should also know that inventing historic pioneering events cannot be included in Islamic law and its principles. Therefore he should stop causing rifts between Muslim communities locally, nationally and internationally. People or groups who are active in causing rifts between Muslims or non Muslims communities are involved in satanic activities.
If Dr Taj Hargey represents an Islamic group then he should denounce this event and apologise to the Muslims and withdraw himself and his group from satanic activities in the future. Should he fail to do this? Then his group should represent Muslims and keep Meco work as non Muslim activities.

People and groups such as Meco should not hide between lines of freedom of speech. They may be free to say what ever they like, but they should remember that freedom of speech does not allow racism or religious discrimination towards any faith. Insulting Muslims, Koran and the Prophet pbuh does come the discrimination ACT. Dr Taj Hargey and his group should distance themselves from the satanic path set by Suleiman Rushdie, which has already created great pain and grievances among the Muslims and non Muslims communities.

The 99% of Muslims in Oxford condemned this un-religious event and its organisers.

Here is the Press Release Muslim786 asked about:

Oxford Muslim Council of Mosques and Scholars Press Release

For immediate release

16 October 2008

The Muslim community in Oxford and the surrounding areas is served by three mosques: Oxford Central Mosque, Madinah Mosque and Bangladeshi Mosque. This community has lived in harmony with its non-Muslim neighbours for over four decades whilst integrating with wider society in all spheres of life. From Muslim doctors in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Muslim professors in our universities and Muslim councillors in local government to builders, traders and taxi drivers on our streets, Muslims are found in most professions. These are facts that are immediately apparent to anyone who would examine the Oxford community. Ninety-eight per cent (98%) of those Muslims who attend weekly Friday prayers do so in the three mosques. These worshippers subscribe to the teachings, values and traditions of mainstream Islam, an Islam of devotion to God, family values, peace, tolerance, harmony and responsibility to wider society.

It is therefore regrettable to note, in recent times, the persistence of both the local and national media in portraying obscure individuals and fringe organisations (e.g. MECO) as representative voices of the Muslims of Oxford. These organisations, which enjoy literally no grass-roots support, are being promoted as if they speak for the vast majority of Oxford's Muslims. Adding insult to injury, is the practice of publicising unfounded charges levelled against the Muslim community and its organisations by these individuals. This is potentially damaging to the good record of community cohesion and harmony that we have achieved here in Oxford.

We therefore call upon the editors of all reputable newspapers and media outlets to live up to the objective and unbiased standards of professional journalism and refrain from misrepresenting Oxford's Muslim community and its religious convictions and sentiments. This applies in particular to their coverage of publicity stunts by fringe organisations and individuals claiming leadership of Oxford's Muslims and an insight into their hearts.

Chairman of Oxford Central Mosque, Manzil Way, Oxford

Chairman of Madinah Mosque, Stanley Road, Oxford

Chairman of Bangladesh Islamic Education Centre-Mosque, Cowley Road, Oxford