Markazi Masjid, Dewsbury

For other mosques called Al-masjid al-markazi (المسجد المركزي), see Central Mosque.

The Markazi Masjid (Central Mosque), also known as the Dewsbury Markaz or Dar ul Ulum (House of Knowledge),[1] is a mosque in Savile Town area of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England. Accommodating up to 4,000 worshippers, it is one of the largest mosques in the United Kingdom and among the biggest purpose-built mosques in Europe.[2] It is also the European headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat movement,[3][4][5] and houses the Institute of Islamic Education (Jamia Talimul Islam),[6] an independent day and boarding faith school for boys aged 13–19[7] and one of the two main Islamic seminaries in the UK.[2][8] The mosque serves as a centre for Tablighi Jamaat's missionary activity throughout Europe.[1]

Construction of the mosque commenced in 1978.

Services

The Dewsbury Markaz is aligned with the Tablighi Jamaat movement and bases its services around its six principles. Daily services consist of prayers, talks and public lectures, and the organisation of ten person groups (jamaats) who undertake proselytising trips. As the headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat in Europe, it is usually the location of its annual regional gathering (ijtema).

Controversy

Tablighi Jamaat and the Dewsbury Markaz has been accused of promoting extremist Islamism and having links with Islamic terrorism in Britain; Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, two of the 7 July 2005 London bombers, are reported to have attended prayers at the mosque.[9][10][11][12][13] Both the allegation of extremism and specific claims that Sidique Khan or Tanweer visited the mosque are denied by its leaders.

In 2006 the Institute of Islamic Education was criticised by Ofsted for an 'over-emphasis' on religious study to the neglect of the secular curriculum,[6][9] leading to poor exam performance.[14][15] The inspection in 2008 reported that school was satisfactory in that area.[16] The Times journalist Andrew Norfolk has argued the school contributes to ethnic segregation in the local area.[10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 Rex, John (2002). "Islam in the United Kingdom". In Hunter, Shireen. Islam, Europe's second religion: the new social, cultural, and political landscape. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 51–76. ISBN 0-275-97608-4.
  2. 1 2 "Markazi Masjid". Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Michael Emerson Ethno-religious Conflict in Europe 2009 p.123 "3.1 Non-political religious groups Tablighi Jamaat Britain is the current locus of Tablighi Jamaat in the West, with the Dewsbury Central Mosque in West Yorkshire serving as its European headquarters, although the group is highly decentralised."
  4. ↑ Wainright, Martin (29 May 2008). "The name's Dewsbury". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  5. ↑ Fred Burton and Scott Stewart (23 January 2008). "Tablighi Jamaat: An Indirect Line to Terrorism". StartforGI. Stratfor Global Intelligence. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 Institute Of Islamic Education (Jaamia Talimul Islam) (PDF). Ofsted. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Institute of Islamic Education". Ofsted. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  8. ↑ Werbner, Pnina (February 1996). "The Making of Muslim Dissent: Hybridized Discourses, Lay Preachers, and Radical Rhetoric among British Pakistanis". American Ethnologist. 23 (1): 102–122. doi:10.1525/ae.1996.23.1.02a00060. JSTOR 646256.
  9. 1 2 Greenhill, Sam; Clark, Laura (21 October 2006). "Veil teacher link to 7/7 bomber". Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  10. 1 2 Norfolk, Andrew (21 October 2006). "How bombers' town is turning into an enclave for Muslims". The Times. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  11. 1 2 Norfolk, Andrew (10 September 2007). "Muslim group behind 'mega-mosque' seeks to convert all Britain". The Times. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  12. ↑ Hookham, Mark (11 September 2008). "Trial puts Dewsbury Islamic group in spotlight". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Mosque leaders should speak out, says Tory...". The Press. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Institute of Islamic Education". BBC. 19 October 2005.
  15. ↑ "BBC NEWS | Education | League Tables | Secondary schools in Kirklees". BBC. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  16. ↑ Institute Of Islamic Education (PDF). Ofsted. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2010.

Coordinates: 53°40′55″N 1°37′44″W / 53.68194°N 1.62889°W / 53.68194; -1.62889

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