More a problem of management than a clash of civilizations

It seems there are more and more campaigns across Europe objecting to the building of super-mosques. Currently a Polish group calling itself "Europe For The Future" is so concerned by the proposed building of a super-mosque in Warsaw and its funding from a particularly dodgy Saudi group, that it is running a poster campaign with the slogan “Stop the mosque of the radicals” (see the picture inserted). This will not be the last of such protests across European cities as more plans are drawn up for large mosques.

The criticisms are pretty similar in whichever country you hear them, whether it is complaints that the buildings are too imposing, or that they will attract thousands of Muslims into an area driving out indigenous (also read white, or Christian) populations. Some fear they will lead to ethnic ghettos that breed extremism. This is more hysteria than fact and utterly unfair. Democratically I see no reason why large religious populations should not be allowed larger sites for worship. After all there are plenty of imposing cathedrals around.

But there are problems. These developments should be managed and funded by local communities not Islamist sects of various shades which are funded internationally. Nevertheless, this not about Europe verses Islam, it is about management and funding. Even some of the UKs most integrated and socially responsible mosques have poorly managed their premises and unintentionally allowed radical societies to use their facilities unchallenged. A recent example was uncovered this year by a Channel 4 investigation into The East London Mosque. It is not Islamophobic to ask tough questions when trust has broken down. Indeed tough questions must be asked so that bad management can be improved, and reputations can be restored.

Local Muslim communities have a right to build places of worship, but they will need to first build the trust of the local communities they want to build in. Get the management right and the trust will come, keep getting it wrong and there will be both the legitimate backlash against extremist groups, but also the more hysterical fear. These are sensitive times and if you want to build something you know will stir up controversy, you must manage the trust, not just the funding and the architectural development.