Another protest against plans for a new mosque

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i was recently working near a mosque [a converted Methodist church] the parking went from no cars to two abreast in a short period of time problem is the street is a cul-de-sac ,and is populated by old folks bungalow's ,so they are totally penned in during Friday prayers [that's the day i was there]
but the thing that struck me most was it all seemed to be a last minute panic not to be late, and that there where no women in any of the cars, are women not welcome in this House of god i found there lack of attendance puzzling .

The Friday prayer is seen by most muslims as the most important 'regular' prayer to perform in congregation. Hence why you get a huge amount of people outside mosques on Friday afternoon. Because of the amount of people women will not attend in smaller mosques (as the emphasis is on men attending the prayer in congregation) but many large mosques have separate rooms.

What I dont understand about arguments that have been bought up by the parking issue is that illegally parked cars, be they outside the mosque or on a high street, will get ticketed or clamped. The mosques I regularly go to in South London are all on red routes - which limits parking extremely. Most people park in bays or legally on the road. They are also there for an hour maximum. I have seen cars get clamped and ticketed - but never the same car get ticketed or clamped twice. Generally people learn their lesson and park legally next time.

Yes I agree double parking and obstructions will happen. But there are ways that someone being illegally parked can deal with it. And there are fines in place to prevent it happening.

As for being penned in because cars are obstructing the driveway - a few years back my neighbour decided to park in front of my dropped down kerb as she thought she was entitled to do so. A quick call to the locall police station sorted out the problem in a few minutes.

Also bear in mind that mosques do not want to constantly have complaints regarding parking directed at them as it leads to hostility and tension between muslims and neighbouring non muslims. Quite a few mosques I know have people standing outside ensuring people are parked with consideration to others.

[Xaccers]

It seems the argument goes something like this:

Protester: Garr those muslims are parking illegally and causing congestion.
Moderate: Haven't traffic wardens ticketted anyone?
Protester: No they don't patrol around here and don't know it's an issue.
Moderate: Well, have you told them it's an issue?
Protester: No, can't be bothered, I don't live here anyway so it's not a problem for me, but it's those bloody muslims that are the problem, why can't thy go back where they came from?
Moderate: Luton?

[Gary L]

Or something like this.

Protester: Garr those muslims are parking illegally and causing congestion.
Moderate: Haven't traffic wardens ticketted anyone?
Protester: No.
Moderate: Do they know about it?
Protester: Yes, but the council ignore it. I don't live here anyway so it's not a problem for me, but it's getting worse.
Moderate: Oh. Oi! you can't park like that. where did you learn to drive?!! move it. it's in the way![/QUOTE]

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Or something like this.

Protester: Garr those muslims are parking illegally and causing congestion.
Moderate: Haven't traffic wardens ticketted anyone?
Protester: No.
Moderate: Do they know about it?
Protester: Yes, but the council ignore it. I don't live here anyway so it's not a problem for me, but it's getting worse.
Moderate: If you don't live here, how do you know it's getting worse? Has anyone written to the council and MP?
Protester: I don't know, I don't live here. I'm just commenting on an issue because it portrays the problem as being caused by muslims rather than inconsiderate parking and ineffective traffic law enforcement.

There, fixed it for you Gary

[Russ]

Come on, everyone knows the council ignore the parking issues because they don't want to be seen as 'racist'

[Xaccers]

Someone should tell MK traffic wardens then as since they started enforcing it outside the shops up the road I've not see one double parked car, and most of those which used to double park were driven by asians.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Russ

Come on, everyone knows the council ignore the parking issues because they don't want to be seen as 'racist'

I don't think it's just that Russ. it's a bit of don't want to be seen as punishing them for wanting to go to the mosque.
it's one of the main Muslim areas in Birmingham, so the only complaints they get are from motorists that pass through the area really. I doubt if the residents who live there would want to complain themselves about it.

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:28 ----------

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Someone should tell MK traffic wardens then as since they started enforcing it outside the shops up the road I've not see one double parked car, and most of those which used to double park were driven by asians.

Interesting part of the debate here I think. is the area a dominant Muslim area, or more half and half?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Someone should tell MK traffic wardens then as since they started enforcing it outside the shops up the road I've not see one double parked car, and most of those which used to double park were driven by asians.

I thought there were no Asians in MK, due to the lack of corner shops?

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by danielf

I thought there were no Asians in MK, due to the lack of corner shops?

Originally Posted by Gary L

Interesting part of the debate here I think. is the area a dominant Muslim area, or more half and half?

Do you mean in MK as a city (quiet pedants!), the area by the shops, or the likely ethnic/religious background of MK's traffic wardens?

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Do you mean in MK as a city (quiet pedants!), the area by the shops, or the likely ethnic/religious background of MK's traffic wardens?

Where the mosque is. it is by the shops you mentioned? are both those areas a muslim dominant area like the mosque is that I have mentioned?

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I don't think it's just that Russ. it's a bit of don't want to be seen as punishing them for wanting to go to the mosque.
it's one of the main Muslim areas in Birmingham, so the only complaints they get are from motorists that pass through the area really. I doubt if the residents who live there would want to complain themselves about it.

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:28 ----------



Interesting part of the debate here I think. is the area a dominant Muslim area, or more half and half?

Traffic wardens not wanting to clamp illegally parked cars because the owners are at the mosque? How rubbish. I'd like to see you back that up with some credible information as opposed to it being just another one of your stupid opinions which you present as fact.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Where the mosque is. it is by the shops you mentioned? are both those areas a muslim dominant area like the mosque is that I have mentioned?

No it's up the road and around the corner. It's patrons don't double park.
The double parking by the shops was mostly people chatting with their taxi driver friends, or visiting the throatcutters on the corner.
The immediate area is mostly Chav, spreading towards the mosque you have mostly caucasians, the road that it is on and mine is mostly working class/middle class caucasians, afro and one or two asians. I have a jamaican christian on one side of me, and and two asian christians and an american on the other.
Heading the other way towards the next town is a mix, mostly caucasian, gradually increasing numbers of asians, and then where the double parking problems were outside the shops in the next town it's mostly asians. Incidently, they have a larger mosque there, and no double parking from it.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Traffic wardens not wanting to clamp illegally parked cars because the owners are at the mosque? How rubbish. I'd like to see you back that up with some credible information as opposed to it being just another one of your stupid opinions which you present as fact.

It's not just about illegaly parked cars. it's the congestion and build up.

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:09 ----------

Originally Posted by Xaccers

No it's up the road and around the corner. It's patrons don't double park.
The double parking by the shops was mostly people chatting with their taxi driver friends, or visiting the throatcutters on the corner.
The immediate area is mostly Chav, spreading towards the mosque you have mostly caucasians, the road that it is on and mine is mostly working class/middle class caucasians, afro and one or two asians. I have a jamaican christian on one side of me, and and two asian christians and an american on the other.
Heading the other way towards the next town is a mix, mostly caucasian, gradually increasing numbers of asians, and then where the double parking problems were outside the shops in the next town it's mostly asians. Incidently, they have a larger mosque there, and no double parking from it.

Apart from the problem of double parking. is there much congestion due to inadequate parking facilities for the mosque? the one I'm talking about has problems not only with double parking but parking on the pavements. roads impassable and such.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Gary L

It's not just about illegaly parked cars. it's the congestion and build up.

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:09 ----------



Apart from the problem of double parking. is there much congestion due to inadequate parking facilities for the mosque? the one I'm talking about has problems not only with double parking but parking on the pavements. roads impassable and such.

Illegally parked cars seem to be one of your principle arguments. Now can we have some facts to back up your posts stating that councils do not want to ticket cars because they are worried about offending muslims at the mosque. Or at least admit to it as being an ill thought opinion without any basis.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Illegally parked cars seem to be one of your principle arguments.

Not really. it was originally about the protests and violence involved when it comes to new mosques being built. it was Xaccers who started the parking thing earlier on. I have spoken about all sorts of parking and congestion problems.

Now can we have some facts to back up your posts stating that councils do not want to ticket cars because they are worried about offending muslims at the mosque. Or at least admit to it as being an ill thought opinion without any basis.

It maybe my opinion to you now because there's nothing else to give you. can you present facts to state it's otherwise? or is it just your opinion without any basis for thinking that?