Unfinished Cumbria Mosque Opens Early for Ramadan Congregational Prayers
On a cold night before Ramadan, a group of men conducted health and safety checks inside the partially completed South Lakes Islamic Centre (SLIC) in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria. The building remains a shell with exposed bricks, hanging wires, and no fitted lights or heaters, but a large area has been cleared of construction materials to host nightly congregational prayers during the holy month.
A Community's Long-Awaited Milestone
For years, Cumbria's Muslim community, primarily healthcare professionals working in Barrow-in-Furness, has had to rent function halls for Friday prayers, navigating other bookings and spending approximately £600 monthly. The nearest mosque was over 50 miles away in Lancaster, with only three mosques in all of Cumbria.
"In Ramadan, we don't have any other place to go," says Aban Hussain, 40, the mosque's chair and a senior engineer who has lived in Barrow for 18 years. "Hence, we have to open it in a manner where it's not 100% ready, but it's still something we can use. Ramadan only comes once a year, so this is the time, even if it's a bit uncomfortable for us, to go for it."
Dr. Ghulam Jeelani, 76, a retired GP who has resided in Barrow for four decades, notes that the lack of Islamic facilities led many doctors to leave after short stints. "A lot of doctors only stayed a year and a half, and then left, because there were no facilities for Islamic education, prayer or community here," he explains. This prompted the community to seek land for a permanent centre.
Overcoming Planning Hurdles and Far-Right Opposition
In 2022, Barrow council approved a planning application from local doctors to build a three-storey mosque and community centre in Dalton-in-Furness. The group engaged with locals, addressing concerns despite the low Muslim population in Barrow and Dalton, which stands at only 0.4%. Fundraising efforts for the £2.5 million project have been ongoing.
However, the project faced significant backlash after being featured on GB News, where it was inaccurately described as a "mega mosque" in the Lake District. This catapulted SLIC into the crosshairs of far-right groups, with activists from Ukip and Britain First regularly demonstrating outside the construction site, waving flags and hurling insults. One local even fundraised to hire a specialist barrister to challenge the planning permission.
"All of a sudden, this wave of protests started happening, and everything was in our face, all the hatred, all the harassment," Hussain recounts. "They started harassing the local businesses who were working with us, harassing the labourers who were working with us, calling them traitors." He emphasizes that most protesters traveled from outside Barrow, surprising the community with the hostility.
Local Support and Counter-Protests
Despite the opposition, many in the community have rallied behind SLIC. Paul Jenkins, 58, a Barrow resident for over 30 years and a campaigner with United Against Fascism and Stand Up To Racism, has been involved in monthly counter-protests at the site. He states that the Ramadan opening creates "a fantastic feeling for the community."
"What has been really encouraging has been the response of local people who continue to oppose the racists," Jenkins says. "The far-right wanted to claim that they speak for all local people. Our solidarity events have completely shattered that idea. Any further protests from the far-right will continue to be opposed."
Jeelani remains optimistic, looking forward to praying in the mosque despite potential protests. "This is a great achievement," he declares. "This year, we won't hire the community centre. We will start prayers in our new mosque. I cannot express how much we feel about this."
Looking Ahead to the Official Opening
The South Lakes Islamic Centre is expected to officially open in July, with plans for inter-faith events and school visits to foster community integration. For now, the early opening during Ramadan symbolizes resilience and hope for Cumbria's Muslim population, who have long awaited a dedicated space for worship and community building.
