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AIBU?

To complain about this prayer house?

30 replies

Chocolocolate · 26/08/2011 22:41

There is a house at the end of our road, that seems to have been converted into some sort of Islamic prayer house (forgive my religious ignorance).

We drive home from work and past it around 10.15pm every evening and there are lots of men inside and arriving, all in religious dress and appear, from what you can see through the obscured glass window, to be praying.

The problem that we have is that all of the visitors park there cars (most of which seem to be large BMW-type cars) right next to the house and really crowd the road. They park on either side of an already narrow road making it really difficult to get our car through.

Anyone pulling out of our street couldn't see either direction and it's very difficult to squeeze our car through the cars and down our street.

There is ample parking around the residential area so if the visitors were willing to park a little further away there would be no problem.

WIBU to complain? If so, who to? The prayer house, the police he council?

OP posts:

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JuJuMoo · 27/08/2011 21:36

Yep I'm pretty sure it will all be over by Wednesday or so when Eid (end of Ramadan) is predicted to take place. However I do think it is worth mentioning the problems the parking has caused directly to the masjid (mosque) itself, as the committee are normally very good with working with the community, and taking into account their views, safety and wishes- I'm surprised they didn't consult with residents beforehand tbh. Maybe even if you drop a note in and ask somebody to call you.

I'm Muslim and attended a talk last Ramadhan, it stands out in my mind in fact, as the Scholar reinforced the rights neighbours have over us in the Islamic belief system, and reiterated that if even one neighbour was troubled or inconvenienced by the way a Muslim had parked at the masjid, then it would have been more rewarding to have read the prayer at home rather than cause a problem for someone else. So I am hopeful you'll receive a positive response if you mention the problems, and ask what solutions they are looking at. Hope it gets resolved.

Chocolocolate · 27/08/2011 18:24

You've all really helped. If this is only going on until next week, there's not that much point complaining.

Hope no emergency vehicles have to get through though as there's only just room for our car!

I'm not sure whether the parking is legal or not: both sides of the street, right near the junction so that only a small car can fit through.

The fact that it's a prayer house was only mentioned in the OP to try to explain why it was a problem at the same time every night (unfortunately when we're on our way home from work). Also, I have to admit that I was curious when the praying first started happening.

I suppose I should be thankful that, with it being a prayer house, the obstruction is only at certain times of day and not all the time!

OP posts:

OTheHugeRaveningWolef · 27/08/2011 13:02

IIRC Eid is next Wednesday. So if you can hold out till Thursday the parking problem may go away on its own.

gorionine · 27/08/2011 12:29

right even!

gorionine · 27/08/2011 12:26

You are rught solidgoldbrass but I would go straigt to them rather than straight to the council though as IMHO it is better to try ans solve things amicably. Obviously if amicable does not work going to the council is probably the next apropriate step.

solidgoldbrass · 27/08/2011 12:23

It really really isn't relevant that it's a mosque, mini-mosque or whatever, any more than if it was a sewing club or a tennis court. They need to obey the parking regulations, that's all.

Corvax · 27/08/2011 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gorionine · 27/08/2011 12:18

That is very for me to hear Andrewwofog as it obviously gives a bad image to the people practicing my faith but IME most mosque's officials are very keen on having good relationships with the wider community, not only the Muslim one, and will try to change things once they are aware causes a disturbance.

As an example of involvment into the wider community , throughout the summer our mosque holds charity raising fund events for a lot of neighbouring institutions (non muslim) who have no grounds and cannot hold them on their premises. It is always a joy, and a pride I must say, for me to see the wide mix of people those event attract.

worraliberty · 27/08/2011 12:10

I'd have a word with the council if it's causing that much of a problem.

They may be in breech of some sort of planning rules and regs.

Does it disturb/annoy anyone else in the street?

Andrewofgg · 27/08/2011 12:08

built not build, bugger it!

Andrewofgg · 27/08/2011 12:07

Some councils are too terrified of the racist card to do what they should. I know of a mosque now under construction with planning consent for an underground car park for when they host events. It has been build twelve feet higher than permitted and part of the car park has been built as a store room instead - so there will be more on-street parking. And the council have done damn-all about it.

gorionine · 27/08/2011 12:05

I was going to say like Applepies.

In the particular mosque I visit, there is not a single big event at the mosque (Friday prayer/Eid/Tarawih(evening prayers during Ramadan) Where the Iman does not insist on the importance of respecting the mosque's neighbours and be considerate in the way people park and get out from the mosque's car park onto the main road. I think it is ok for you to have a word with the person/people in charge of the mosque to solve the problem amicably.

ThePosieParker · 27/08/2011 11:59

You should park 10ft away from a junction.

ThePosieParker · 27/08/2011 11:57

Legally doesn't mean considerately. Bloody daft talking about racism. And parking near junctions is not legal.

applepies · 27/08/2011 11:54

leave it a week to see if its still a problem after ramadan

IF (as it seems from your OP) they are parking legally then I am not sure what or why you would be complaining about them - it almost makes the thread seem like a stealth racist post. You would need to take it up with the council and convince them that there was a real need for them to pay to put extra double yellow lines down

If they are parking illegally after tnext week then you shouold talk to them about what the mosques all do in my town which is put traffic cones out on the double yellow lines near the mosque to prevent congestion

TigerseyeMum · 27/08/2011 11:07

We have this problem a lot here but the council tends to turn a blind eye. We live in a very traffic-jammed town and cars park all over the place for places of worship.

A client of mine told me of one run-in he had with a local community church, he couldn't get by on his bicycle so in exasperation he said 'Look, you're parking all over the road!' to which the response was 'Fuck You!' He was so outraged he ranted at them saying, 'Oh is that your church then, the Church of Fuck You?!' It's not funny but it did make me chortle a bit.

My point being, just because it is a religious community don't expect them to act reasonably and considerately. If they were considerate they would not park causing an obstruction. Take it to the council, make a complaint, but don't expect much by way of action.

ThePosieParker · 27/08/2011 10:47

I agree with SGB, concentrate on the parking issue.

PonceyMcPonce · 27/08/2011 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

solidgoldbrass · 27/08/2011 10:38

It doesn't matter whether they are praying, having an orgy or discussing stamp-collecting, they are causing a parking obstruction so get in touch with the local council and concentrate on the parking issue.

eurochick · 27/08/2011 10:32

We had this where I used to live - what was supposed to be a community centre was actually operating as a mosque and the parking at prayer times was horrific (and the noise of the call to prayer used to annoy those who lived very close by). I didn't bother to complain because neighbours told me there had already been many requests to the council to do something about it but nothing ever been done.

Iggi999 · 27/08/2011 10:27

People pray more during Ramadan, so maybe a sort of overflow mosque was needed? But if it's a permanent set-up you'd like to know.

ChairOfTheBored · 27/08/2011 08:01

I'd go an speak to them, before I went to the council to be honest. I know it's a pain when people park next to junctions, especially if there's is room elsewhere. But well, they're praying. It's not a crack den or something. If you ask them politely the worst that can happen is that they ignore you, the best, that they didn't realise, and mend their ways.

And I agree, this may well only be until the end of Ramadam (31 August I think)

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Spartak · 27/08/2011 00:14

I'd phone the local council and ask to speak to the enforcement officer in the Planning Department. There might be a direct number on their website to call.

It sounds as if its an unauthorised change of use, and the Planning Department should have the necessary powers to help. It would assist them if you tell them if the problem is worse at a specific time of the day and on certain days of the week.

Your details should be kept anonymous, and you may find that other people have already complained to the Council.

magicmummy1 · 26/08/2011 23:58

Might be just for Ramadan, in which case, it'll all be over in a week or so. :)

ThePosieParker · 26/08/2011 23:09

Pop a note through the door? Or on the cars?

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