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Council 'strongly condemns' divisive mosque posts

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter
News imageGoogle A single-storey building with blue cladding stands behind dense greenery and shrubs beside a narrow road. A sign on the front of the building reads “Borehamwood Islamic Society”. A lamppost stands in the foreground, while a metal gate to the right leads to a parking area where a white car is visible. Trees surround the site under a cloudy sky.Google
Plans are in place to demolish the former Guide hall and build a mosque

A council has said it "strongly condemns" divisive social media posts about plans for a borough's first purpose-built mosque.

Some online responses to the proposals in Hertsmere, Hertfordshire have been described as "openly racist" by one councillor.

The Elstree and Borehamwood Islamic Community (EBIC) wants to redevelop the site of a former Girl Guide hall in Maxwell Park.

Hertsmere Borough Council said it would "continue to reject any attempt to use these matters to stoke division or spread misleading commentary".

The Girl Guide hall became vacant in 2019 and EBIC got permission to convert it into a mosque a year later.

The community has been worshipping in the building for several years but now wants to demolish the structure and create Hertsmere's first purpose-built mosque.

While some responses on social media applauded the plan, others claimed it was part of a "deliberate attempt to take whole areas over".

One person said they did not believe a mosque would be built, saying there were "not enough Muslims" living nearby.

News imageGetty Images Several people kneel in rows on a blue carpet during communal prayer inside a mosque, with heads bowed to the floor and prayer caps visible. The image is photographed from the side, showing multiple worshippers closely lined up during prayer.Getty Images
The mosque would host at least five prayer sessions each day

In a statement, the council said: "While we welcome open, democratic debate about local developments, we strongly condemn and will continue to reject any attempt to use these matters to stoke division or spread misleading commentary."

The motion from Labour's Aaditya Kaza noted "the deeply disappointing and, in some cases, openly racist, Islamophobic and hateful commentary that appeared on social media following the announcement of the mosque project".

Hertsmere's faith leaders have signed a joint statement condemning "the surge of toxic and hateful discourse that has spread across local social media in recent days".

"It is shameful that a place of peace, prayer and welcome should provoke such hostility", they said.

EBIC has emphasised that the mosque will be built on the footprint of the existing hall and will not affect the rest of Maxwell Park.

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