Councillors Advance IT Communications for Rochdale Mosques

Date published: 30/03/2008

Two Councillors, Zulfiqar Ali and Mohammad Sharif, saw the successful completion recently of an ambitious project, designed to improve communications among a number of mosques in the Borough.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion commented: "I am often advised by various statutory and voluntary organisations that it can be difficult to contact our Mosques committees, even in urgent situations. A main cause of concern has been that mosques did not have adequate communication tools.

Following consultations with various Mosque Committee representatives, the need to improve communications in today’s ever-changing society was deemed a priority. I was lucky to receive strong encouragement from my colleague, Councillor Sharif, to secure the necessary backing. Project work over the past six months will now ensure effective communications between our Mosques and the Police, the Fire Service, community groups, etc."

Councillor Ali added: “I wish to sincerely thank the Mosques committees for their co-operation and teamwork. Moreover, Advance Technologies, who installed the range of IT equipment, have been excellent. They put the needs of the Mosques and community before other considerations and we appreciate their commitment in ensuring that the project was delivered with timely efficiency.

“After six months’ endeavours, Rochdale now has Mosques in Wardleworth, Spotland and Deeplish equipped with the appropriate information technology. It’s crucial that, in my role as Community Cohesion Cabinet Member, I also work to ensure that our Muslim communities are involved in promoting safer, accessible and friendlier environments for all concerned. I believe the wider community will witness these positive results in the months ahead.”

Councillor Sharif, the Portfolio holder for Regeneration, stated: “Community cohesion includes bringing communities closer together, and this initiative ensures the Mosques can now come into that process. The mosque representatives are attending a key meeting, on a regular basis, to ensure their own contribution to Rochdale’s beacon status for community cohesion. As my colleague Councillor Ali commented, we all want a safer, healthier environment for everyone, and having both efficient and effective communications is vital to this effect.”

The mosques involved were required to ensure their own investment of an available office within the centres. The Chairman of Jalalia Mosque in Wardleworth commented: “I feel confident that, with the induction and augmentation of IT equipment in Rochdale’s mosques, there will be significant progress in interactions between us, the communities, the Police, Rochdale Council and diverse community stakeholders. Together with my own colleagues at the Bilal Jamia Mosque, the Golden Mosque and the Minhaj Centre of Education & Culture, I wish to thank Councillor Ali for his assistance in bringing the initiative to our attention.”

Mohammed Saqib from Neeli Mosque in Deeplish added: “The mosque and neighbourhood community wish to particularly thank Councillor Sharif for ensuring our awareness of and inclusion in this ‘Communications Project.’ We do appreciate the need to liaise and work with our principal statutory bodies and with the wider community overall. We have benefited from an excellent working relationship with Councillor Sharif and look forward to playing our own role in meeting the challenges ahead, with regards to positive, cross-sector interactions.”

The Golden Mosque President Tahir commented: “We were Rochdale’s First Mosque and, over time, have simply not been able to afford the necessary IT equipment to improve our communication channels with the wider community. However, with a new Mosque being constructed, we wholeheartedly agree with both Councillors Zulfiqar Ali and Mohammad Sharif regarding making the ‘new’ Golden Mosque a future centre for all the community. This vital equipment will allow us to begin communicating and working with our key statutory partners and the wider community with immediate effect.”