EXCLUSIVE: Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has re-iterated his opposition to a proposed mosque – but added that he hoped “no-one will fall for the BNP’s doctrine of hatred”.
The BNP’s controversial ‘truth truck’ was removed from the grounds of Lichfield Cathedral yesterday after the group revealed it would be fighting against any mosque in the city as part of a European and County Council election strategy.
But Mr Fabricant, who has already voiced his opposition to the building of a traditional-style mosque in Lichfield, has accused the BNP of “disgraceful opportunism”.
He told The Lichfield Blog:
“The appearance of the BNP in Lichfield is a nasty new turn in the course of events surrounding the mosque issue. Their opportunism is disgraceful. I hope that no-one will fall for their doctrine of hatred.”
However, the Lichfield MP has continued to state his opposition to the plan, saying “I do not think that domes and minarets are appropriate in a heritage City like Lichfield”.
He also appealled for a respectful dialogue between those behind the mosque plan and the objectors. He said:
“I firmly believe that we all now need to show some mutual tolerance and respect regarding this matter. And I use the word ‘mutual’ advisedly for this issue goes both ways. On the one hand, our unwritten constitution allows for freedom of worship. Unlike some other countries where Christians and those of other religions are persecuted, we believe it is a fundamental human right to allow our citizens to worship in their own way. A number of different branches of Christianity have churches, chapels, and tabernacles in Lichfield and – yes – there is room for a mosque too.
“But on the other hand, it is not for one religion to try and impose itself on non-believers of a particular faith. Many in Lichfield would find regular, daily, amplified calls to prayer in Arabic annoying, distracting, inappropriate and highly intrusive. And while I happen to believe the new restaurant and flats by Minster Pool and Bird Street to be quite out of keeping in a conservation area, two wrongs do not make a right and to demand a mosque complete with minarets and domes in such a sensitive historic location is equally – if not far more – incongruous and provocative.
“Non-conformist churches and synagogues generally blend in with the existing environment and quietly get on with worship while not intruding on the lives of others. Many Moslem architects and theologians say mosques can do so too; needing neither special external architectural features nor calls to prayer. And to those who argue that church bells are as intrusive as the call to prayer, I would say that the sound of any human voice is far more noticeable than that of bells – which also happen to be part of our English tradition.
“Passions have been inflamed by the manner in which the Mosque in Lichfield has been promoted by Abdul Salam. I would say to him: not all publicity is good publicity. Community relations in our ethnically mixed nation can be unnecessarily strained by those who thoughtlessly seek to make wild demands of our normally tolerant society. It really is not racist to say that tolerance has to be a two-way street. I do now hope that some calm can prevail.”
