Another Bloody Muslim Having Another Bloody Tantrum

Napkins spark row at mosque | EuropeNews

BORO born and bred Rasub Afzal’s passion is promoting understanding between Teessiders and his fellow Muslims.So the taxi driver was shocked to be caught up in a furious religious row – over paper napkins printed with a brewery’s name.

They were on the tables at a Middlesbrough mosque lunch for local Muslims who are strictly forbidden to drink alcohol. One guest was so offended by the Flying Firkin name, he started a stand-up row. Now 41-year-old Rasub who tried to calm the row says it has made him fear for the future of good community relations.

“What hope have we over really important things when there is such anger at something like this,” he said.

The storm brewed at a no-alcohol lunch in Middlesbrough’s Waterloo Road Mosque. Dozens of Muslims were there to hear a speech on unity by the Bradford-based Commissioner for Pakistan.

Suddenly one guest from Stockton became infuriated at the sight of the name on the napkins and began to criticise organisers.

Rasub, who was on his table, said: “He made a remark about the napkins and I tried to calm the situation by saying, ‘it’s not such a big issue’.

“I apologised even though he was rude and abusive to me. I even poured him a glass of orange.

“But I was quite intimidated by his attitude, in fact I thought he might hit me. He said it was against Islam because the napkins had the name of a drinks company.

“I was appalled at this man’s behaviour. A lot of people came up to me afterwards and said it was totally unacceptable.”

Rasub, a 41-year-old dad of three who lives in Longlands, prays three times a day at the town’s Central Mosque in Southfield Road.

“I was born at the Carter Bequest and my children are at school and university here,” he said. “I am a British Muslim and involved in local community relations, if I can help someone I will.”

Recently Rasub has talked about human rights to government ministers and met with local judge Peter Fox.

He said: “Lots of drunks get into my taxi and I don’t turn them away. If they are young girls who have (…)

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