Hastings Mosque filled on busy open day

Hastings Mosque was filled with people of all backgrounds as part of a nationwide open day on Sunday (February 7).
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2016, 16:08 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 06:51 BST

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Hastings Mosque was packed with people for the open dayHastings Mosque was packed with people for the open day
Hastings Mosque was packed with people for the open day

Councillors, police officers and the public visited the mosque for the Visit My Mosque initiative – aimed at countering negative perceptions of Islam and to educate people about the religion.

People of all faiths enjoyed the live prayer, question and answer session and the food.

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Imam Ismail Yusuf was delighted with how popular it was and also praised the children for doing to tour.

Some of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open daySome of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open day
Some of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open day

“By opening the mosque, people can come and see it and meet Muslims in their own environment and realise that they have nothing to fear,” he said.

“Many people said that it was the first time they’d visited the mosque and they realise it is a happy place.

Hastings Police posted on their Facebook page: “Many people came to the open day and took part in a Q and A session, live prayer, henna tattoos, amazing food and much more in a bid to see how Muslims connect to God, connect to communities and to the neighbours around them.”

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Hastings mayor Bruce Dowling thought the event went really well and that former councillor Jeremy Birch would have been proud.

People were given temporary henna tattoos on the day. Photo courtesy of Sussex Police iQXMn9cmn6XWCFzsoepvPeople were given temporary henna tattoos on the day. Photo courtesy of Sussex Police iQXMn9cmn6XWCFzsoepv
People were given temporary henna tattoos on the day. Photo courtesy of Sussex Police iQXMn9cmn6XWCFzsoepv

“Personally I think it went very well with an awful lot of people there, the non-Muslims probably outnumbered the Muslims which was great to see,” he said.

“In Hastings, we like to get all communities mixing with each other as it creates harmony and this is another event that did that.

“As Jeremy Birch used to say, ‘one town, many voices’.”

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Some of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open daySome of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open day
Some of the Muslim women enjoying themselves at the open day
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