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 An affable, smiling 24-year-old, Ismail Amaan has a big job for such a
relatively young man. Ismail is Director of the North London Muslim Community Centre on
Cazenove Road, which occupies two four-storied buildings set back from the road next door
to the mosque and is the only single source for advice, education and guidance for
Hackney's 40,000 Muslim population.
Born in Lancashire, he came south to live in Stoke Newington as a child when his Gujurati
father, like many of today's local Muslim residents, moved away from the north of
England's declining textile industries to find work in London. He attended state school in
Stoke Newington and Homerton, and graduated from Queen Mary's College with an honours
degree in English. Did this loquacious and articulate man experience any discrimination or
racial prejudice in his formative years in the area? 'None at all. In fact my friends,
including white and Afro-Caribbean, were fascinated by Islam and we used to discuss the
faith at length.' His devotion to Islam, and his strong desire to benefit his community,
saw him take up a position at the Council of British Muslims and then, in 2000, he
became Director of the Centre.
The Community Centre was founded in the crypt of St Thomas's Church on Clapton Common in
1978 and its original aim was to involve the Muslim youth in the area in sporting
activities. Its cricket team the Young Muslim Cricket Club soon became feared throughout
London. The organisation outgrew these cramped premises and moved to its present location
in 1982, where its operations expanded to include, among other services, an advice centre,
mental health centre, luncheon clubs, careers advice and education courses, the last in
conjunction with Hackney Community College, offering expertise in subjects as diverse as
child care and IT. In 1999 the Centre took over the freehold from Hackney Council for
ninety years, in return for a peppercorn rent so long as the Centre was used for community
purposes, and the building is now being refurbished and expanded.
The Centre is a focus for the many different nationalities in Stoke Newington -
principally Turkish, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani, but also whites, Afro-Caribbeans
and others who have 'converted' to the faith - who comprise the Muslim community in the
area. Indeed, a few days ago in the well-equipped reading room (which, incidentally,
stocks several Asian newspapers and magazines unavailable anywhere else in the UK) Ismail
observed six nationals from different countries quietly scrutinising the reading
materials. The building also operates an open door policy and Sikhs and Hindus are
welcome, as are followers of other religions and faiths. Since the mosque was established
in 1972 the first mosque to be opened in Hackney - two other mosques, both Turkish, have
followed in Stoke Newington. The most recently built mosque in the borough is the
Suleymani on the Kingsland Road, one of the biggest mosques in Europe and a splendid
example of contemporary Muslim architecture. Despite the ethnic diversity of the Muslim
community, followers of Islam are welcome at all the centres of worship, as Ismail stated
that Islam transcends nationhood.
I asked Ismail, therefore, whether local Muslims view themselves as primarily British or
as Muslims who happen to live in Britain. Is assimilation in the wider society a desirable
objective or has it the potential to weaken the core of the faith? He considered this, and
replied that Muslims welcome the opportunity to live in this country but also have their
own ethical and religious standards. Perhaps from time to time these are not compatible
with the prevailing view in British society but they emphasise tolerance and respect for
the rights of others.
We discuss the perception of Islamic youth, recently the focus of media attention. Why
were the disturbances and violence in the North of England not replicated in Stoke
Newington? Ismail's view is that the social situation in the North is one of polarisation,
with whites and Asians exhibiting mutual suspicion and the Muslims living in what are
virtual ghettos. In Stoke Newington, the multi-ethnic diversity of the area militates
against such stark confrontation. Although there are poorer and wealthier areas here, for
historical reasons we do not have the ethnic bundling and social stigmatisation of, say,
Oldham and Bradford. He has also noted the tendency for young males to rebel against the
strictures of Islam, only to return to the faith in later years with renewed vigour and
enthusiasm.
And women? Ismail dismisses what he considers to be the preconceived western notion of the
female sex as the oppressed partners in Muslim society. He describes the 7th century Koran
as not only the first bill of rights but also as the first charter of the equal, if
segregated, rights of women. He mentions the increasing tendency of Muslim women to adopt
the veil, and cites a trip to a local market with a friend and her husband. 'Why do you
have to make your wife wear that veil?' asked a trader. 'You tell her to take it off - I
can't,' the husband replied.
Our discussion concludes, inevitably, with world events post-11 September. Ismail
describes the attack on the World Trade Center as 'an evil atrocity The murder of innocent
people is against the teachings of the Koran.' However, the bombing of Afghanistan is
'just as bad. No justice has been demonstrated and the rule of law has been ignored. There
has been a complete lack of concern for the innocent people of Afghanistan. The US did not
pursue all the avenues available and the west are bullies.'
What about the widely reported press stories of young men going to fight with the Taliban?
'I know of no one from Stoke Newington who has gone to Afghanistan. Perhaps a few from
Britain but no one from round here.'
What has been the impact of these events on local Muslims? Although relations with other
communities in Stoke Newington have been, and generally remain, harmonious, there have
been some anti-Islamic incidents. A youth leader was stopped on his way into the Centre
and asked 'Are you happy, now?' Comments such as 'effin Muslims' and 'there's Osama Bin
Laden' have been overheard, beer bottles have been thrown at Muslims and women have been
spat at, leaving many afraid to leave their homes. Regrettable though such unthinking
bigotry is, Ismail feels that this anti-Islamic sentiment has now largely died away. To
prevent these incidents from recurring what is needed is 'more understanding of Islam from
other ethnic groups. We have been misrepresented and this causes a lot of damage.'
In spite of the importance of the Community Centre to local Muslims, it is in danger of
having its range of activities cut back by Hackney Council. As part of their massive
spending cuts, the Council is proposing a 47 per cent reduction in spending on the Centre.
Although there is some other co-funding - from such as Help the Aged and East London
Health Authority - Hackney has been the main benefactor and Ismail reckons that the cuts
will mean, for instance, that the availability of the advice centre will decrease from
thirty to twelve hours per week. This will have a serious negative impact on many of the
more vulnerable in the Muslim community, particularly on the homeless, elderly and those
who may have difficulties with the English language.
The Centre has raised petitions, organised protests and appealed to local and central
government to re-consider the cuts. It would be a step backwards in mufti-ethnic
integration and understanding in Stoke Newington if such an essential resource was to
suffer because of financial constraints.
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