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World News

Mosque three times bigger than St Paul's Cathedral rejected

by Hannah Tooley

The 16 year battle has finally come to a head with the Government blocking plans by an Islamic group, with alleged links to fundamentalism, to build a mega-Mosque. 

The Tablighi Jamaat group has been accused by some of being a gateway to terrorism, according to The Sunday Telegraph, however some experts say it is a peaceful organisation.

The group is a very conservative branch of separatists who do not think Muslims and non-Muslims should integrate.

The group proposed a mega-Mosque that would have three times the floor space of St Paul's.

The proposed site, near the Olympic Park in East London, would have housed around 9,300 faithful in male and female prayer halls, as well as accommodating a further 2,000 people in another hall.

The struggle has involved street blockages, racism accusations and High Court action.

The scheme was rejected by Newham Council in December 2012 when supporters were told the building was too big.

In 2014 the Tablighi Jamaat appealed this and a three-week public inquiry was conducted.

The results of this were handed to the government at the start of the year however news is only just beginning to surface due to the sensitive nature of the proposal.

The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that sources close to the Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, say he has made a final decision to block it.

A source is reported to have said: "This proposal has created a great deal of division in Newham.

"That would get a lot worse if the thing was built."

Alan Craig, a former Newham Councillor who led a campaign against the building said: "This is fantastic news.

"For a decade and a half, Tablighi Jamaat has pulled out every stop to get its way, but at last the spectre is over."

Concerns were raised after Mr Craig featured in an online video titled "In memory of Councillor Alan Craig" where pictures of him and his family were shown - the Mosque website provided a link to the video on YouTube.

Far-right white extremist groups protested against the Mosque online.

Tablighi Jamaat already has a temporary Mosque that houses 2,500 worshipers.

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