|
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
The first person I met on the scene was Barry (the Boss)
who was supervising the reopening with the trustee’s. I had heard
so much about them I was looking forward to seeing what they looked
like.
Officially the mosque would only be open for prayers and no Hudba would
be delivered. Unofficially the brothers all steamed in and within minutes
Mr. Abdullah’s raised voice could be heard from within. Police
went no further than just inside the doorway. Mr Dumplings (see DUMPLINGS
ANYONE?) also seemed to take position as an unofficial doorman so I asked
him what was going on inside and if he was pleased that the mosque was
open. He didn’t really answer and told me I should wait for Mr.
Abdullah to come out.
Mr. Abdullah eventually came out and spoke to the press. They all asked
if Hamza’s supporters had taken over, I asked if they would be
challenging the trustee’s over their alleged misappropriation of
mosque funds in court. Eventually Mr. Abdullah went back inside. He came
out later in a much angrier state. Apparently negotiations with the trustees
had broken down fairly quickly.
“ Who are the trustee’s? “ after 20 months I was dying
to see them. Eventually two conservative looking Muslims came out tight-lipped
and grim faced. Escorted by three police they disappeared round the corner
to talk to Barry. Meanwhile Mr. Abdullah gave an improptu hudba in the
doorway of the mosque.
“ Sodomites like with sodomites! Paedophiles like with paedophiles!” he
started.
It seemed to me that he had grown used to giving sermons in the street
and maybe he would miss it. He spoke, as usual against Blunkett, Zionist
media, government and police. As we saw later on BBC London he actually
threatened to fight the Police for the Mosque. At this time Barry was
actually standing just behind him in the doorway.
After he had finished a lot of the brothers began telling each other
not to leave the mosque. The police told the cameras to move away from
the doorway and I began to wonder if riot police were around the corner.
Barry looked pretty calm though and although I knew he had no idea what
would happened, he appeared to very much believe in his long established
relationship with Mr. Abdullah, despite his preaching.
Eventually the brothers were persuaded to leave the mosque.
I heard Barry in his parting comments to Mr. Abdullah:
“ I am going on holiday for two weeks. I can disrupt my holiday
to be here if you like, but you wouldn’t want me to do that would
you?”
Barry and Abdullah’s relationship is one of my favourite things
about this story. A very British Police commander talking to a very British
fundamental Islamist, and the fact that its working says a lot to me
about Britain. Again I ask, in what other country would any of this be
happening? Amazing.
Barry came over to talk to the press. He said he had demonstrated that
the mosque in the street had caused no real disruption to traffic. He
said that he had known the Muslims for a long time now and knew when
to speak and when silence was wiser. He said that he had to ask Mr. Abdullah
and co a number of times to leave the mosque, but they had eventually
complied and retired to the park to consider their next move. He said
that there would no doubt be a continuation of discussions the next week.
The BBC reported that Hamza’s followers had taken over the mosque.
Are these Hamza’s followers or the Mosque’s rightful community?
The trustee's certainly had no supporters here except the Police. Were
they scared of Hamza's followers? They have been standing in the street
for the last 20 months protesting the mosques closure, obviously they
are quite attatched to the place. As they left some of them shouted at
the trustee's who were behind Police lines:
" Apostates!"
Mr. Abdullah complained that the Police were treating them like children.
In practice I could see what he meant but it seems unintentional. As
there has been no trouble between Police and Islamists all they can do
is talk to each other. This being Britain and everyone resorting to British
politeness has always made the situation appear quite childlike. Its
interesting that at no point have any of the Police treated these people
like terrorists, despite recent events.
Saturday, October 09, 2004 As promised the Mosque reopened yesterday. Everyone had a meeting the
previous night and decided to set aside their differences for Ramadan.
There was a genuinely good feeling outside, with all those involved with
last week’s arguments in a conciliatory mood.
I tried to get in but a Muslim I didn’t know blocked my path, so
I stood outside with the other infidels corner regulars and a Policewoman
called Rachel. Barry popped by briefly but I forgot to ask him if he would
write something for socialistwanker. Before he left he told a journalist
that he hoped the demonisation of Finsbury Parks Muslim community would
now stop.
Eventually some Algerians I knew got me into the entrance of the Mosque,
camera running. After two years standing outside it was quite a big moment
for me. I found that I wasn’t the first infidel inside. I was beaten
by none other than Jeremy
Corbyn. Much as I try and dislike politicians,
seeing Jeremy surrounded by Finsbury Park’s Muslims, papers in hand
trying to help them with their worries was an idyllic scene. I told him
I was from socialistwanker.com and he told me that he was proud to be there
with the Mosque open. He had always been a guest here for Ramadan before
and was looking forward to coming next week.
A couple of people tried to get me out but a very animated Algerian who
claimed to be recently released from Belmarsh insisted I stayed. I’m
still trying to work out what else he was saying on my tape, but I can
already see that this guy will make great TV and he has a story he really
wants to tell. I checked with a couple of Muslims who I had told about
this blog and they all said I had represented their side fairly.
I am continually amazed by how totally under whelmed everyone is by my
language and drug references. So many Muslims here have reverted from a
lifestyle similar to mine, they don’t seem even to notice. Mr. Abdullah
eventually came out. He didn’t seem downhearted or defeated; although
it was obvious he had taken a step back.
“ The Muslim community is happy, I suppose the government is happy…”
An Imam had come in whom all sides respected. Everyone agreed that to
be enemies with each other was not Islamic and that they should all talk
and refer everything they said to the Koran. I told Mr. Abdullah that I
had seen him on a BBC program the previous night called The Asian Invasion.
They had used a clip with Abdullah preaching and Hamza in the background
shot the first week I arrived at Finsbury Park (not by me) to demonstrate “British
Asian Extremists” and implied that the majority of British Asians
were embarrassed by them. Abdullah and co all thought this was hilarious.
As far as I know, the Mosque will be reopen for prayers everyday now,
and I can feel my documentary coming to a conclusion. I haven’t really
spoken to the other side, ie the trustee’s, but it would be great
to negotiate access to the conversations between the two sides as the Mosque
reopens, film of this may help to “rehabilitate” the Mosque
in the eyes of the great British suburban sofa. I’m going to keep
trying to get in with or without a camera anyway.
I found it strange the choice of vehicle that people left in. Jeremy
Corbyn MP tucked his trousers into his socks and cycled off. Barry disappeared
in an unassuming white Vauxhall Astra while the Imam left in a posh, sleek,
streamlined gun metal grey Beemer.
|
 |
