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| Rabbi urges calm in row over plan to turn Golders Green landmark into a mosque | Rabbi urges calm in row over plan to turn Golders Green landmark into a mosque |
| (25 days later) | |
| Its audiences once thrilled to performances by Marlene Dietrich and Laurence Olivier. They sang along with Vera Lynn, laughed with Danny La Rue, and rocked with Status Quo. | Its audiences once thrilled to performances by Marlene Dietrich and Laurence Olivier. They sang along with Vera Lynn, laughed with Danny La Rue, and rocked with Status Quo. |
| But the Golders Green Hippodrome, which closed its doors as a theatre in 1968 and was home to the BBC concert orchestra until 2004, is now at the centre of a disturbing controversy after the Grade II-listed building was bought by an Islamic charity earlier this year. | But the Golders Green Hippodrome, which closed its doors as a theatre in 1968 and was home to the BBC concert orchestra until 2004, is now at the centre of a disturbing controversy after the Grade II-listed building was bought by an Islamic charity earlier this year. |
| Plans to use the venue as a Muslim community centre and mosque have divided the local population, which has a large Jewish presence. Most objectors have cited concerns about traffic congestion and parking, but a minority of comments have been Islamophobic, leading a local rabbi to denounce “threatening and misleading” language that echoed historic antisemitism. | Plans to use the venue as a Muslim community centre and mosque have divided the local population, which has a large Jewish presence. Most objectors have cited concerns about traffic congestion and parking, but a minority of comments have been Islamophobic, leading a local rabbi to denounce “threatening and misleading” language that echoed historic antisemitism. |
| The hippodrome was bought in July for £5.25m by the Centre for Islamic Enlightening, which serves the Shia community in London. The centre was delighted to have new premises in which it could hold conferences, seminars, lectures, youth activities, English language classes, after-school clubs and occasional prayers, spokesman Ahmed al-Kazemi told the Observer. | The hippodrome was bought in July for £5.25m by the Centre for Islamic Enlightening, which serves the Shia community in London. The centre was delighted to have new premises in which it could hold conferences, seminars, lectures, youth activities, English language classes, after-school clubs and occasional prayers, spokesman Ahmed al-Kazemi told the Observer. |
| Comments such as ‘there is a chance of infiltration of bombers’ are Islamophobia plain and simple | Comments such as ‘there is a chance of infiltration of bombers’ are Islamophobia plain and simple |
| “We will welcome people regardless of religion or background. We want to have good links with other faiths and integrate into the local community,” he said. | “We will welcome people regardless of religion or background. We want to have good links with other faiths and integrate into the local community,” he said. |
| The building had been used by an evangelical Christian group as a church for 10 years before the Islamic centre bought it. Last month, the centre submitted a planning application for change of use from “church” to “place of worship”, and to extend its hours of opening. | The building had been used by an evangelical Christian group as a church for 10 years before the Islamic centre bought it. Last month, the centre submitted a planning application for change of use from “church” to “place of worship”, and to extend its hours of opening. |
| A public consultation on the application, which closes on 26 October, has received more than 200 objections, while a petition focusing on congestion, air and noise pollution, parking problems and the “deterioration of the quality of our lives and our safety” has attracted more than 5,000 signatures. | A public consultation on the application, which closes on 26 October, has received more than 200 objections, while a petition focusing on congestion, air and noise pollution, parking problems and the “deterioration of the quality of our lives and our safety” has attracted more than 5,000 signatures. |
| However, some objections have gone further. “This is going to force the Jewish population to run away, and make this beautiful neighbourhood too crowded with loads of burkas and veils,” one resident wrote in a submission to the consultation. | However, some objections have gone further. “This is going to force the Jewish population to run away, and make this beautiful neighbourhood too crowded with loads of burkas and veils,” one resident wrote in a submission to the consultation. |
| Another suggested that “to place a large Muslim institution in the heart of one of London’s only two Jewish communities is a highly dangerous undertaking and one that can only result in violence and terrorism”. Many “undesirables” would be attracted to the area, the complainant added. | Another suggested that “to place a large Muslim institution in the heart of one of London’s only two Jewish communities is a highly dangerous undertaking and one that can only result in violence and terrorism”. Many “undesirables” would be attracted to the area, the complainant added. |
| Such sentiments have brought a sharp rebuke from Jewish leaders. Laura Marks, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said contributions to the private chat groups had “sent a shiver down my spine”. | Such sentiments have brought a sharp rebuke from Jewish leaders. Laura Marks, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said contributions to the private chat groups had “sent a shiver down my spine”. |
| Acknowledging there were valid concerns about congestion and noise, she said there was also “a use of language, and a strength of feeling, that makes me feel this is about something more. It’s about fear of ‘the other’, and specifically fear of Muslims. | Acknowledging there were valid concerns about congestion and noise, she said there was also “a use of language, and a strength of feeling, that makes me feel this is about something more. It’s about fear of ‘the other’, and specifically fear of Muslims. |
| “Comments such as ‘we don’t know what they are preaching as it’s all in Arabic’, ‘this will result in violence and terrorism’ and ‘there is a chance of infiltration of bombers’ are Islamophobia plain and simple,” she wrote in the Jewish Chronicle last week. | “Comments such as ‘we don’t know what they are preaching as it’s all in Arabic’, ‘this will result in violence and terrorism’ and ‘there is a chance of infiltration of bombers’ are Islamophobia plain and simple,” she wrote in the Jewish Chronicle last week. |
| Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, of the Golders Green Alyth Reform congregation, told the paper the language of the comments was “threatening and misleading”. | Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, of the Golders Green Alyth Reform congregation, told the paper the language of the comments was “threatening and misleading”. |
| He added: “I suspect it’s the same sort of thing said about Jews moving to Golders Green in the 1920s. 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.” | He added: “I suspect it’s the same sort of thing said about Jews moving to Golders Green in the 1920s. 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.” |
| By Friday, Barnet council had removed all but the most recent comments from its consultation web page, saying it had “a responsibility to ensure that people are not using council platforms to air views that are inappropriate”. | By Friday, Barnet council had removed all but the most recent comments from its consultation web page, saying it had “a responsibility to ensure that people are not using council platforms to air views that are inappropriate”. |
| Al-Kazemi said he was surprised by the objections, but not upset. “There might be people who don’t like us, but we don’t feel threatened. I have lived in Golders Green for 15 years, I have a Jewish neighbour and a Christian neighbour, and they are my brothers. | Al-Kazemi said he was surprised by the objections, but not upset. “There might be people who don’t like us, but we don’t feel threatened. I have lived in Golders Green for 15 years, I have a Jewish neighbour and a Christian neighbour, and they are my brothers. |
| “I would invite people who don’t know us, and maybe have said something nasty about us, to come and meet us, and have a cup of tea or share a meal. When people find out who we are and what we do, they will change their minds.” The centre would hold an open day in December, he said. | “I would invite people who don’t know us, and maybe have said something nasty about us, to come and meet us, and have a cup of tea or share a meal. When people find out who we are and what we do, they will change their minds.” The centre would hold an open day in December, he said. |
| The hippodrome, designed by leading theatre architect Bertie Crewe, opened in 1913. “It was a place of great optimism, with thousands of seats aimed not just at people moving to Golders Green but also as a hub of culture for the wider area,” said social historian Alan Dein, who lives nearby. | The hippodrome, designed by leading theatre architect Bertie Crewe, opened in 1913. “It was a place of great optimism, with thousands of seats aimed not just at people moving to Golders Green but also as a hub of culture for the wider area,” said social historian Alan Dein, who lives nearby. |
| It started as a music hall and theatre, with shows as diverse as ballet and magic. Later, it became established as a venue for pre-West End productions and popular dance bands of the late 1930s and 1940s. | It started as a music hall and theatre, with shows as diverse as ballet and magic. Later, it became established as a venue for pre-West End productions and popular dance bands of the late 1930s and 1940s. |
| “Suburban theatres were significant places in those days, and its mix allowed it to survive during the later dark years of the 1950s and 60s,” said Dein. “It struggled, but it hung on.” | “Suburban theatres were significant places in those days, and its mix allowed it to survive during the later dark years of the 1950s and 60s,” said Dein. “It struggled, but it hung on.” |
| But in February 1968, it put on its last performance, an extravaganza featuring many stars of the day. The BBC took over the lease and converted it for use as a concert hall and radio studio. | But in February 1968, it put on its last performance, an extravaganza featuring many stars of the day. The BBC took over the lease and converted it for use as a concert hall and radio studio. |
| As well as a venue for rock bands including Jethro Tull, Roxy Music, the Kinks and the Jam, BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night was broadcast live from the hippodrome. “It was a hugely popular show, listened to by a third of the population of Britain,” said Dein. | As well as a venue for rock bands including Jethro Tull, Roxy Music, the Kinks and the Jam, BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night was broadcast live from the hippodrome. “It was a hugely popular show, listened to by a third of the population of Britain,” said Dein. |
| “But by the early 2000s, the BBC decided enough was enough. The building was 90-odd-years-old and needed preservation and refurbishment. Then in 2003, the auditorium ceiling collapsed, and the decision was taken to sell.” | “But by the early 2000s, the BBC decided enough was enough. The building was 90-odd-years-old and needed preservation and refurbishment. Then in 2003, the auditorium ceiling collapsed, and the decision was taken to sell.” |
| By then, the hippodrome had Grade II-listed status and it took time to find a buyer. In 2007, an evangelical organisation, the El Shaddai International Christian Centre, bought it for £5m and occupied the site for 10 years before putting it up for auction earlier this year. | By then, the hippodrome had Grade II-listed status and it took time to find a buyer. In 2007, an evangelical organisation, the El Shaddai International Christian Centre, bought it for £5m and occupied the site for 10 years before putting it up for auction earlier this year. |
| Now, new prayer carpets have been laid in what were the stalls, and the dress circle has been screened off for women attending events. But high on each side of the stage, atop giant Doric columns, charioteers drawn by lions still look down on worshippers, and light floods through stained-glass windows on to the marble staircase. | Now, new prayer carpets have been laid in what were the stalls, and the dress circle has been screened off for women attending events. But high on each side of the stage, atop giant Doric columns, charioteers drawn by lions still look down on worshippers, and light floods through stained-glass windows on to the marble staircase. |
| “We can’t touch it, it’s listed,” Razi Zadeh, the centre’s manager, said. “Anything we want to do, even paint the walls, we have to put an application in to the council. | “We can’t touch it, it’s listed,” Razi Zadeh, the centre’s manager, said. “Anything we want to do, even paint the walls, we have to put an application in to the council. |
| “But it’s very nice as it is, and we like the lions very much.” | “But it’s very nice as it is, and we like the lions very much.” |
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