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Kuwaiti million will kickstart Islamic centre

Steve Hammond
2/10/2006

THE Kuwait government has made a £1.1 million donation towards creating the UK biggest Muslim heritage centre in Manchester.

The Kuwait Justice Minister and the Kuwait Ambassador to Britain handed over the cheque for the amount at a ceremony held in the Victorian mansion which will house the centre in Whalley Range.

Asian community leaders behind the project have already bought the centre on College Road for £4.2 million and the Kuwait donation means phase-one of the project can begin soon.

This will involve refurbishing the inside of the centre, which was formally a GMB union training college.

Features of phase-one will be a Islamic public information centre, conference rooms and a restaurant serving dishes from all over the Islamic world.

The keynote speaker at the cheque ceremony was Kuwaiti justice minister Dr Abdullah Al-Matouk.

He told the 300 guests that the government of Kuwait saw the centre as a vital step in challenging extremists who were spreading lies about Islam.

He said the Kuwaiti government had launched a 'Middle Path' committee which attempted to reach out to non-Muslims as well as educate Muslims in the principles of other religions.

He said: "This committee has the aim of introducing Islam in its true form and countering the allegations of the minority of extremists.
"It also has the job of introducing Islam to non-Muslims and introducing Muslim youth to the teachings of other religions."

He added: "I hope and pray our initiative is going to come up with practical solutions that will establish bridges between the British community and the Muslim community."

Kuwaiti Ambassador Khaled Al-Duwaisan said these were painful times for the Muslim community in Britain.

"Unfortunately we have seen evil acts carried out falsely in the name of Islam.

"To correct this false image of Islam we must encourage the development of centres like this."

The former Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Afzal Khan thanked the Kuwaiti government for the donation but quipped he wanted more.

He said: "This will become a unique national centre for everyone. We will be preserving the heritage of Manchester by protecting and improving this Grade 11 listed building.

"We plan to create a beautiful Islamic garden open to all so people of this city will not have to spend £1,000 travelling to Spain to see the Alhambra Palace."

Previous major donations to the Muslim heritage project have included a £1 million cheque from the Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, presented in May by the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud.