JOINT STATEMENT FROM MOSQUES OF BIRMINGHAM From: The undersigned Birmingham Mosques & Islamic Organisations Date: 12th June 2020 Subject: Statement on Places of worship re-opening for individual prayer The UK Government has confirmed that Places of worship across England will be permitted to reopen for individual prayer from Saturday 13th June. Although individual prayer will be permitted, the guidance does not allow for communally led prayer, which is the main purpose of the mosque. For the Muslim community, this means that our mosques will have to remain closed for the five daily congregational prayers and Friday Jumuah prayer. The Muslim community is eager for the full reopening of the mosques for congregational prayer and we hope that we can stay on course for the original forecasted date of 4th July 2020, respecting that this will be dependent on the situation closer to the time. The Birmingham mosques are working with the BCC Public Health Department to ensure that the safety of our congregations and the public is at the forefront of any plans to fully reopen on the 4th July, and we are incorporating social distancing and other protective measures to prevent infection. The Muslim community has shown great patience over the past few months with the closure of the mosques, to help prevent the spread of infection and save lives. We now advise our communities to remain patient until the mosques fully reopen for congregational prayer and religious gatherings. “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly Allah is with those who are patient.” (Qur’an 2:153) Undersigned mosques: Birmingham Central Mosque, Kowneyn Community Center and Mahmud Sabir Masjid (Al Highgate Masjid Attarbiya, Nechells Furqan), Tyseley Green Lane Mosque & Hodge Hill Masjid and Community Wisdom Islamic Cultural Centre, Community Centre, Small Heath Centre, Hodge Hill Nechells Witton Islamic Centre, Aston Al Hijrah Masjid, Small Heath Eidgah Academy, Perry Barr Jami Mosque and Islamic Centre, Small Heath Sultan Bahu Trust, Birmingham Masjid Ali, Saltley Islamic Education Centre MAB Birmingham Minhajul Quran international Alum Rock Muslim Students House Masjid, KSIMC of Birmingham, Balsall Mohammadi Masjid, Alum Rock Balsall Heath Heath The Amanah Masjid (part of the Paigham-E-Islam Trust Masjid, Jamatia Islamic Centre, Sparkhill Muath Trust), Sparkbrook Sparkhill Anjuman-E-lslam Masjid Trust, Huda Masjid and Community Sparkbrook Islamic Centre, Aston Centre, Newtown Sparkbrook Alum Rock Islamic Centre, Alum Masjid Al Falaah, Aston Quba Islamic Centre, Nechells Rock Abrahamic Foundation, Arrahma Islamic Centre, Small Masjid Attarbiya, Nechells Heath Smethwick Minhajul Quran International, Jamiatus Salam, Ward End Zia ul Quran Masjid, Alum Rock Alum Rock .