Muslim Women RISING against VIOLENCE - Mosque Postcard Campaign
THE POSTCARD
Muslim women are RISING to end VIOLENCE as a part of the global ONE BILLION RISING movement, which will be marked on the 14th February 2013. Muslim Women’s Network UK has therefore launched a campaign to encourage more mosques to get involved in tackling violence. We have sent a postcard to 100 mosques across the UK to request they pledge an action to combat violence. We would like mosques to help us by reaching out to men about violence - not just on this one day but throughout the year.
Why involve Mosques?
Names of Mosques Contacted
Actions that Mosques can take
Mosques that have responded and taking action
Comments received about the campaign
Why involve Mosques?
Violence against women and girls is the most widespread form of abuse in the world. In Britain, violence is vastly under reported in Muslim communities and many women and girls continue to suffer in silence. The levels of violence are indicative of the lack of respect for women and girls. Changing attitudes is therefore the first step to reducing violence – men need to be educated that violence is unacceptable and never justifiable and women must be encouraged to not continue accepting violence.
Names of 100 Mosques contacted
There are approximately 1600 mosques in Britain – however postcards have only been sent to100 mosques across Britain. They have been selected based on their size, location and diversity with regards to ethnic background / sect.
Aberdeen Mosque & Islamic Centre ABERDEEN |
Derby Central Mosque DERBY |
Croydon Masjid & Islamic Centre LONDON |
Oldham Mosque & Islamic Centre OLDHAM |
Al Muzaffar Mosque BATH
|
Markazi Jamia Mosque DEWSBURY |
East London Mosque LONDON |
Perth Mosque & Islamic Society PERTH |
Belfast Islamic Centre BELFAST
|
Jamaa Masjid (Dundee Islamic Society Central Mosque) DUNDEE |
Greenwich Islamic Centre LONDON |
Faidhan-e-Madina Mosque PETERBOROUGH |
Birmingham Central Mosque BIRMINGHAM
|
Dumfermaline Mosque & Islamic Centre DUNFERMALINE |
Harrow Central Mosque LONDON |
Husaini Islamic Centre PETERBOROUGH |
Ghamkol Sharif Mosque BIRMINGHAM |
Kepier Mosque DURHAM
|
Lewisham Mosque & Islamic Centre LONDON |
Portsmouth Central Mosque PORTSMOUTH |
Green Lane Mosque BIRMINGHAM
|
Eastbourne Islamic Cultural Centre EASTBOURNE
|
London Central Mosque (Regents Park Mosque) LONDON |
Plymouth & Cornwall Islamic Centre PLYMOUTH |
Hanafi Sunni Jamia Masjid BLACKBURN |
Anwar-E- Medina Mosque EDINBURGH |
Noor Ul Islam Mosque LONDON |
Jamia Masjid PRESTON |
Jamia Ghosia Mosque BLACKBURN |
Islamic Centre of Edinburgh Trust EDINBURGH |
North London Central Mosque LONDON |
Golden Masjid ROCHDALE |
Central Mosque BLACKPOOL
|
Exeter Mosque & Islamic Centre EXETER
|
Shepherds Bush Mosque & Muslim Cultural Centre LONDON |
Rugby Masjid RUGBY |
Ashrafia Mosque BOLTON
|
Jamiat Itihad Al Muslimeen Glasgow Central Mosque GLASGOW |
West London Islamic Centre & Jamia Masjid LONDON |
Madina Jamia Masjid SHEFFIELD |
Bristol Jamia Mosque BRISTOL
|
Shia Ithna Ashri Mosque GLASGOW
|
Loughborough Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre LOUGHBOROUGH |
Southampton Medina Mosque Trust SOUTHAMPTON |
Shah Jalal Jaame Mosque BRISTOL |
Khazra Central Mosque GLASGOW |
Bury Park Jamia Mosque LUTON |
Central Scotland Islamic Centre STIRLING |
Central Mosque Razbia Burton BURTON ON TRENT |
Nasir Mosque HARTLEPOOL |
Didsbury Mosque & Islamic Centre MANCHESTER |
Masjid Farooq-E-Azam STOCKTON ON TEES |
Bradford Central Mosque BRADFORD |
Hull Mosque & Islamic Centre HULL |
Manchester Central Mosque MANCHESTER |
Makki Masjid STOKE ON TRENT |
Madni Jamia Masjid BRADFORD |
Al Kauthar Mosque LANCASTER |
Salimiy Mosque MANCHESTER |
Sunderland Mosque SUNDERLAND |
Masjid Al Quds BRIGHTON |
Leeds Grand Mosque LEEDS |
Abu Bakr Mosque & Community Centre MIDDLESBOROUGH |
Imam Khoei Islamic Centre SWANSEA |
Canterbury Muslim Cultural Centre CANTERBURY |
Masjid-E-Umar & Muslim Association LEEDS |
Darul Islam Central Mosque MIDDLESBOROUGH |
Swansea City Mosque SWANSEA |
Al Manar Centre CARDIFF
|
Leicester Central Mosque LEICESTER |
Central Jamia Mosque MILTON KEYNES |
Swindon Mosque SWINDON |
Madina Mosque CARDIFF
|
Leicester Jamia Mosque LEICESTER |
Koktu Mosque NEWSCASTLE
|
Tunbridge Wells Islamic Cultural Centre TUNBRIDGE WELLS |
Carlisle Masjid Taqwa CARLISLE
|
Lincoln Mosque & Islamic Association LINCOLN |
Madina Masjid NEWSCASTLE
|
Aisha Mosque & Islamic Centre WALSALL |
Kent Islamic Centre Mosque CHATHAM (Kent)
|
Al Rahma Mosque LIVERPOOL |
Shak Jalal Masjid & Islamic Cultural Centre NEWSCASTLE |
Jamiat Ul Muslimeen Jamia Masjid WARRINGTON |
Chesham Mosque CHESHAM
|
Abu Bakr Mosque Southall LONDON |
Jamia Mosque NEWPORT |
Central Mosque WOLVERHAMPTON |
Shah Jalal Mosque CHESTER
|
Al Madina Mosque Barking LONDON |
Shah Poran Bangladesh Jame Mosque NEWPORT |
Jamia Masjid Ghousia WORCESTER |
Jamia Mosque COVENTRY |
Aziziye Mosque LONDON |
Nurani Jami Masjid NOTTINGHAM |
Shah Jahan Mosque WOKING |
Jamia Mosque DARLINGTON
|
Baitul Futuh Mosque Morden LONDON |
Nuneaton Muslim Society NUNEATON |
York Mosque & Islamic Centre YORK |
Actions that Mosques can take
We also want to use this campaign to highlight those mosques that already are or are willing to take action to try and end all forms of violence against women and girls. Here are some examples of actions you could be taking:
• Speaking out against all forms of violence
• Intervening and helping victims
• Holding perpetrators accountable
• Offering a safe space for women to seek help or hold support groups
• Raising awareness by displaying posters, providing information or through talks and sermons
• Using zakat to help victims
• Educating community members to teach their sons to respect women and girls
Mosques that have responded and taking action
We will post on here as information as soon as mosques start responding....
BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL MOSQUE
They have been the first mosque to respond to and publicly support our campaign. They have:
- placed the postcard on their noticeboards
- announced support for the campaign at the Friday sermon on 15th Feb 2013 and spoke about the importance of tackling violence and quoted statistics
- they are willing to work with women to organise some educational / awareness raising workshops / seminars aimed at boys and men to challenge attitudes towards violence
Comments received about the campaign
- “It is an obligation for mosques to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammed and promote the rights of women and challenge the ignorant attitudes that men hold about women and, which are due to the lack of Islamic knowledge and low educational levels within communities.”
- "I am truly impressed with the campaign you are launching. Well done! I have nothing but admiration for what MWNUK do. Despite many challenges, the continued robust existence of MWNUK with a mission is its greatest testimonial."
Chair of Luton Multi-agency Steering Group on Forced Marriage and
Honour-Based Violence and also Chair of UNA-Luton
- "Some fantastic work being carried out a big thank you. The mosque is a great starting point and I am delighted with your campaign."
supports women and children in times of crisis by providing refuge and support).
- "I believe in women's rights and support this campaign."
- "Men and women both need to work together, great news."
- "This really is excellent news, there is NO DOUBT that the community need to address issues like this."
- "I am so impressed by what the Muslim Women's Network UK is doing. I felt sad, hurt and powerless regarding the situation of my "muslim sisters" but now I am feeling more positive and I am starting to fill myself with hope."
- "This campaign is much needed so that our services are not as overstretched as they are. We can have upto 11 new cases a day. "
- "Once again thank you so much, you do some great work on women's issues."
- "Thats great news (about Birmingham Mosque pledging support). I am sure other mosques will follow too. It is a cultural issue that often gets merged with Islam. Domestic violence is a crime and shiuld be treated as such. However educating men is the way forward for long term benefits. Well done."