MINAB Condemns Attack on Places of Worship

Reports from Pakistan claim that two centres of worship belonging to the Ahmadi/Qadiani sect in Lahore have been attacked. Even though this sect is not regarded as belonging to the fold of Islam by the majority of Muslims in the world, it is the belief of MINAB that all places of worship should be safe from any such attack, no matter to which faith or group they belong.

The Chair of MINAB, Maulana Shahid Raza, OBE, has condemned the attacks. "It is a human right to be able to worship in peace and security, so any attack on a place of worship is abhorrent," he said. "It is hoped that such sectarianism does not raise its head in Britain."

The message from MINAB is that Britain's mosques should be places of safety for all who attend them, and Muslims must respect all other places where people gather for religious purposes.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) is the representative body of all UK Muslim denominations set up to promote good governance in Mosques and Imam Training Institutions through a process of self regulation.
2. It has over six hundred mosques and training institutions as its members.
3. It is a charity registered under the laws of England & Wales.
4. It is a community led independent body, non sectarian in its outlook, representing the diversity of Islam with no role in matters of theology and is broad based with an accountable system of representation.