Claims misinformation about new Barrow mosque shared by far-right groups to 'whip up' tensions

ITV Granada Reports correspondent Elaine Wilcox went to Dalton-in-Furness to meet the local Muslim community

Misinformation about a new mosque is being shared by far-right groups to 'whip up tension' in the area, it has been claimed.

Members of Barrow's Muslim community say they are hurt by the crusade which is aiming to close the area's first mosque before it has even been built.

The building was granted planning permission in 2022 without any controversy to provide a place of worship for around 50 Muslim doctors at the Furness General Hospital and their families.

But after far right group Britain First became involved just weeks ago around 70,000 people have now signed a petition calling for that planning permission to be revoked.

They have called it a 'super mosque' in the heart of the Lake District - despite the fact it sits eight miles from the boundary of the national park.

Mohammed Ramzan and his wife were met by locals at the site who say they support the building, and it is a small minority who oppose it. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

Currently Barrow does not have a mosque, with Muslims praying at the local cricket club, and in a room in the town's hospital.

To visit a mosque they currently have to make a 100 mile round trip to Lancaster.

The community fundraised for the site, in Dalton-in-Furness, themselves, raising money to buy the land, and

Mohammed Ramzan: "It's just the animosity that's been caused, and the misinformation that's been spread around the area.

"Some of those comments have upset me, they've really upset me.

"You think that these people that you've shared bread with, you've gone out with, you've drank with, you've had a life with an all of a sudden these big bad Muslims are coming in, and they're not, we've already been here.

"We're not big and bad, it [the mosque] is for people like myself, my wife, my children."

Critics call it a 'super mosque' in the heart of the Lake District - despite the fact it is eight miles from the national park boundary. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

Tensions have become so bad workers have been hiding their faces, while local suppliers initially pulled out of the site fearing reprisals.

But local residents say it is a small minority, supported by far right groups, and right-leaning broadcaster GB News, whipping up tensions.

The controversy has forced Westmorland and Furness Council, to put out a factsheet - correcting claims by GB News that an application for a children's home, which was dismissed by planners, was on a different site, and addressing concerns about a "mega mosque in the Lake District".

"There has been a great deal of misinformation spread to whip up local tensions around this application," Councillor Matt Brereton said.

"The fact of the matter is the Furness peninsula I know is a really welcoming place.

"It's clear the misinformation being spread online is not being done by local people because anyone who is local knows that Dalton-in-Furness is about a 30 minute drive away from the nearest boundary to the national park."

Community tensions have become so bad workers have been hiding their faces, while local suppliers initially pulled out fearing reprisals. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

Refugees who have made Barrow their home say they have been shown nothing but kindness.

Faizudin Ahmedi, 33, was a defence lawyer in Afghanistan forced to flee from the Taliban, and now works at Barrow’s community garage.

He was brought out of the country with help from the British government - and has been granted settled status as a refugee.

"The people in Barrow are very kind," he said. "We are very happy about the mosque."

His boss, Thomas Henderson, supports the mosque, and made a donation to their fundraising campaign.

Faizudin Ahmedi was forced to flee Afghanistan from the Taliban, and says he has been welcomed by the local community. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

The Islamic centre still has to raise more than a million pounds, but are confident they’ll reach that target and hope the mosque will be open at the end of 2025.

Michelle Scrogham, Labour's MP for Barrow and Furness, said, “We have always been a community which supports one another, and which will always oppose racism and discrimination of any kind.

“We must stand up to those organisations – like Britain First - who are looking to create division and turn people against each other and I am concerned by the misinformation and rhetoric that is being spread to increase tensions locally.

“This development was given cross-party approval by the members of the local authority planning committee at the end of 2022, and construction is now underway.

“People of any faith deserve somewhere where they can get together to pray and celebrate their faith – and our local Muslim community should be no different. Doctors and nurses at Furness General Hospital, or anyone else, should not have to travel over 100 miles round trip to their place of worship.”

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