Camberley ‘mega-mosque’ appeal rejected
A Muslim group holding extremist views have had their plan to build a huge £3 million mosque in Camberley, England, finally dismissed by local authorities. If the plans had been approved, the mosque would have had two 30-metre minarets overlooking the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and towering above the parade ground and the adjacent St Michael's Church. The proposal raised serious security concerns, especially in view of the frequent royal visits to Sandhurst. The Bengali Welfare Association had appealed against the rejection of the plan by Surrey Heath Borough Council in March 2010. The controversial plans to knock down the listed Victorian school currently used as a mosque and build the mega-mosque were initially approved by the council's planning committee. The Planning Inspectorate last week described the proposed mosque as ‘little more than a fairly traditional design transposed into Surrey from somewhere in the Near East or the Indian subcontinent.’
Praise: God for this change of plans and for listening to the people's concerns. (Pr.1:5)
Camberley ‘mega-mosque’ appeal rejected
A Muslim group holding extremist views have had their plan to build a huge £3 million mosque in Camberley, England, finally dismissed by local authorities. If the plans had been approved, the mosque would have had two 30-metre minarets overlooking the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and towering above the parade ground and the adjacent St Michael's Church. The proposal raised serious security concerns, especially in view of the frequent royal visits to Sandhurst. The Bengali Welfare Association had appealed against the rejection of the plan by Surrey Heath Borough Council in March 2010. The controversial plans to knock down the listed Victorian school currently used as a mosque and build the mega-mosque were initially approved by the council's planning committee. The Planning Inspectorate last week described the proposed mosque as ‘little more than a fairly traditional design transposed into Surrey from somewhere in the Near East or the Indian subcontinent.’
Praise: God for this change of plans and for listening to the people's concerns. (Pr.1:5)
India: Dalit Christians to protest for Scheduled Castle status
Churches in India have called for a three-day hunger strike July 25th, 26th and a rally to Parliament on the 27th demanding Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians and Muslims. It is a matter of great concern for the Church in India that its own people who belong to the Dalit community are denied Scheduled Caste status, the National Council of Churches in India statement said. NCCI along with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India have taken many initiatives but now realize it's imperative to step on the gas to achieve the goal. Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin have been seeking the right for equal Constitutional provisions on par with Dalits of the country. The campaign coordinators have obtained the letters of support for the cause from major political parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pray: for a fair Constitutional mandate that will allow Christian and Muslim Dalits Scheduled Cast status. (Ex.23:6)
Indonesia: Mission school attacked
A mob of approximately 85 Muslims attacked a mission training school after a prayer meeting in West Java. They raided every class and the living quarters, removing pictures of Jesus. They told the staff that the school must be closed. No students were on the premises as school was not in session that day. Several police officers and soldiers accompanied the mob from a nearby military base and neighbours did not recognise them as locals. The school was established in 1999 to train evangelists in Indonesia and has a good relationship with its neighbours. Mission leaders are attempting to follow up on the incident in the hope of preventing further violence. The leaders also urged Indonesian Christians not to retaliate but to remain calm and to pray.
Pray: for true religious freedom in Indonesia and for God to bless Muslim radicals with a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Ps.45:4)
