Mosque Plan Sparks Backlash In London’s Jewiest Neighborhood

Golders Green residents voting in 2016. Image by Getty

By Ari Feldman October 13, 2017

An Islamic group’s plan to build a mosque in a major center of London’s Jewish community has sparked outrage among Jewish residents — and outrage over the outrage — the Jewish Chronicle reported. The backlash began after a former concert venue in the Golders Green neighborhood was bought by the Center for Islamic Enlightening.

A petition against the mosque plan has garnered 4,000 signatures. Most of the complaints refer to concerns about noise and added foot traffic in the area around the mosque.

But a vocal minority are concerned that the mosque will lead to Jewish-Islamic tension.

A prominent local rabbi has attempted to quell concerns over the mosque by comparing the situation to how Jewish integration into the neighborhood was opposed over 90 years ago.

“I suspect it’s the same sort of thing said about Jews moving to Golders Green in the 1920s,” Rabbi Mark Goldsmith told the JC. “Golders Green is not entirely Jewish. It’s a special place to live in and we all get along together. That’s what London is about.”

Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.