MR GASH'S letter (Stop them preaching hate, Harrow Observer, October 29) on behalf of the SIOE (Stop the Islamification of Europe) is disingenuous and inaccurate.
He claims that Harrow Mosque is new when in fact it has been there for 25 years - not that I would object to a new mosque or indeed a new church or new temple or new synagogue.
Local residents who objected to the mosque being built did so not because it was a mosque or anything to do with Islam, but because they were concerned, quite reasonably about the issues of its size, possible disturbance and parking problems.
The planning committee considered these issues very carefully and added extra conditions to take on board some of these concerns.
Harrow Central Mosque does not and never has preached hatred or violence, nor has it ever proposed holding a sharia court there. Mr Gash knew all this before he decided to go ahead with the demonstration in September.
Indeed, he was invited to visit the mosque to see for himself and to meet the mosque leaders. Despite this he went ahead with the September demonstration. His reasons for having a demonstration in December are as spurious as they were in September. Having had very straight answers to the issues raised by him, I would urge Mr Gash to call this demonstration off.
If he is not prepared to do so, then we will know that the SIOE simply wants to stir up division and hatred, where none exists, anywhere it can.
Anyone who has doubts about this should be aware that the SIOE website claims that 'Islamaphobia is commonsense'.
COUNCILLOR BILL STEPHENSON Leader of Labour group
