Wednesday 14th October 2009

The East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre last night hosted a celebratory Eid gathering which brought together over 150 friends and partners from London's diverse communities.

Attending the event were members of community organisations and faith communities, and representatives of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, NHS Tower Hamlets, local schools and the media.

Welcoming guests to the event, Ayub Khan, Secretary of the Mosque, said, “We are here to celebrate the festival of Eid and to share with you the achievements of the mosque and centre over the past year.”

Dilowar Khan, Executive Director of the Mosque, detailed these achievements, showing the wide range of services now offered at the mosque and centre. He thanked the mosque's many partners and supporters, and made special mention of the support from satellite television station Channel S which hosted a record-breaking £1 million fundraising evening in Ramadan. Guests were then shown the vision for the new Phase 2 expansion, which includes more prayer space, a visitors' centre, and over five floors of services and facilities for women and girls.

Amongst the guests that spoke at the event were Mr Ahmedus Samad Chowdhury and Rizwan Hussain, the chairman and a presenter from Channel S respectively, Mr Shahgir Faruk, President, British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, Yasser Shaban a Counsellor at the Egyptian Embassy, and Salas Raza Kiani from the Pakistan High Commission.

Speaking at the event, Muslim philanthropist and singer Yusuf Islam commended the management of the mosque for their forward thinking approach: “I am incredibly encouraged by what has been achieved at this centre, as we are in one of the poorest areas of London. It is wonderful to see what has developed and we pray for your success.”

Local interfaith leader Reverend Alan Green commented, “I can say that in Tower Hamlets that there is no fear of the growth of Islam. We see all the [faith groups] as partners in faith and partners in humanity.”

The expansion of the East London Mosque is due to be completed in November 2010 to coincide with its centenary celebrations.

ENDS

For more information please call Mohammad Shakir 020 7650 3006 or email [email protected].