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| Newham council rejects plans for one of Britain's largest mosques | Newham council rejects plans for one of Britain's largest mosques |
| (30 days later) | |
| Controversial plans by an Islamic missionary group to build one of Britain's largest mosques have been rejected. Proposals to build the religious centre with three times the floor space of St Paul's Cathedral and room for nearly 10,000 worshippers in east London were dismissed at a council meeting on Wednesday. | Controversial plans by an Islamic missionary group to build one of Britain's largest mosques have been rejected. Proposals to build the religious centre with three times the floor space of St Paul's Cathedral and room for nearly 10,000 worshippers in east London were dismissed at a council meeting on Wednesday. |
| The Islamic missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat has been trying for 10 years to build a large mosque in Newham, claiming they needed the site to accommodate their growing number of followers. | The Islamic missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat has been trying for 10 years to build a large mosque in Newham, claiming they needed the site to accommodate their growing number of followers. |
| But Newham council rejected the proposals after raising concerns about the size of the proposed buildings and the impact on parking and traffic in the neighbouring area. | But Newham council rejected the proposals after raising concerns about the size of the proposed buildings and the impact on parking and traffic in the neighbouring area. |
| Conor McAuley, Newham council's executive member for regeneration and strategic planning, said: "The proposed mosque building is too big and would have an impact on important historic buildings nearby." | Conor McAuley, Newham council's executive member for regeneration and strategic planning, said: "The proposed mosque building is too big and would have an impact on important historic buildings nearby." |
| The English Defence League quickly reacted to the news, writing on Facebook: "At last sense in the planning system! Well done to all that opposed this, we salute you." | The English Defence League quickly reacted to the news, writing on Facebook: "At last sense in the planning system! Well done to all that opposed this, we salute you." |
| The expanded Abbey Mills Mosque, also known as the Riverine Centre, would have been one of the largest Islamic centres in Britain and western Europe. | The expanded Abbey Mills Mosque, also known as the Riverine Centre, would have been one of the largest Islamic centres in Britain and western Europe. |
| Plans included a prayer hall for almost 7,500 men, a separate facility for 2,000 women, along with a library, dining hall, visitors' centre, eight flats for imams and guests, and tennis courts. | Plans included a prayer hall for almost 7,500 men, a separate facility for 2,000 women, along with a library, dining hall, visitors' centre, eight flats for imams and guests, and tennis courts. |
| The Tablighi Jamaat already uses part of the 17-acre Abbey Mills site to house the London Markaz, also referred to as Masjid-e-Ilyas, as a temporary hub for up to 2,500 people. | The Tablighi Jamaat already uses part of the 17-acre Abbey Mills site to house the London Markaz, also referred to as Masjid-e-Ilyas, as a temporary hub for up to 2,500 people. |
| The group, which traces its origins to India in the late 1920s, has been accused in the past of radicalising young Muslims. The group itself has said it "refrains from political or controversial activities and stands for democracy and freedom" and that it "promotes social and religious integration". | The group, which traces its origins to India in the late 1920s, has been accused in the past of radicalising young Muslims. The group itself has said it "refrains from political or controversial activities and stands for democracy and freedom" and that it "promotes social and religious integration". |
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