Republican News · Thursday 30 January 2003

Trimble urged to distance himself from Portadown racists

Unionist councillors on Craigavon Council who blocked a planning application for the Six Counties first purpose built Mosque in the Bleary area outside Portadown are sectarian and racist, says Sinn Féin councillor for the area, John O'Dowd.

The Sinn Fein representative is now calling on UUP leader David Trimble to rein in his councillors.

Outline planning permission for the mosque had been granted and the local Muslim community agreed to fund it, but the issue was raised during January's meeting of Craigavon Borough Council, where planning permission was blocked by unionists who dominate the council. The unionists claimed that the roads and sewage at the Cranny Road site are not adequate.

However, Ulster Unionist Fred Crowe let the cat out of the bag when he objected to the Mosque, saying that residents would be kept awake by "noisy chanting and wailing".

Crowe, a former Mayor of Craigavon, said that residents in Bleary believed their way of life would be threatened if the Mosque was built and claimed the development could pave the way for an al Qaeda cell in the area.

"The Muslims' greatest enemy is Jesus Christ and I have seen papers coming from them that it is their intention to wipe out Christianity," he claimed. Crowe insists his views do not affect his judgement on the planning merits of the mosque. "I have fought this whole issue entirely on planning grounds but I can have personal views."

UUP leader David Trimble, who is said to be concerned at comments made by Crowe, one of his staunchest political allies, held a meeting with his councillors last weekend. "I have been disturbed by some of the issues raised and I don't mean planning issues," said Trimble before the meeting.

John O'Dowd told An Phoblacht that some residents have genuine concerns about road traffic and sewage systems in the area but felt that unionists were not interested in accommodating anyone else's beliefs.

"This is an equality issue and unionists are incapable of bringing themselves into an inclusive society," he said.

"Trimble as MP and Assembly member for this area must openly move to distance himself from these disgraceful and racist comments and publicly state that there is an equal place for the Muslim community in his constituency."

Mohammed Ashraf, who owns the land on which the mosque will be built, said he is bemused that it is only now, a year after it was first put forth, that problems are being raised. "Muslims don't want to fall out with anybody; all we want is our mosque. There will be no wailing, no call to prayer. Who is going to listen around here anyway? Cows?"