Mosque open day promotes community relations (From Bucks Free Press)

Mosque open day promotes community relations

6:35pm Sunday 9th December 2007 in

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REPRESENTATIVES from the Islamic, Christian and Jewish faiths took part in a public meeting this afternoon to promote a better understanding of Islam.

The event, which took place in the mosque on Jubilee Road, High Wycombe, featured talks on the role of women in Islamic culture and the the relevance of Jesus to Muslims.

The mosque also put on a display highlighting different aspects of Islam, drawing attention to the faith's contribution to fields of study ranging from surgery to global exploration.

Imam Khalid Abdullah travelled from Leicester to give a speech. Speaking afterwards, he said: "The day has been very enlightening.

"I think we managed to see people from different beliefs and faiths coming together."

After the talks, Muslim believers held prayers, and non Muslims were invited to watch, or go upstairs for refreshments before a question and answer session took place.

Wycombe's MP Paul Goodman was present, as well as members of community group Wycombe Youth Action.

Mr Goodman, who himself spent two years as a Benedictine novice monk, was positive about the way that events like the one today open up Islam to a wider audience.

He said: "People ought to be able to feel that they can come through the door of a mosque and visit.

"It's much easier to do than they might think."