The UK Sunday Times reports on what looks like a serious proposal to errect a massive mosque capable of seating 40,000 worshippers in the heart of London, adjacent to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games. There are several problems with this plan.

1. Muslims tend to see architecture as an expression of dominance. In Bethlehem, they errected a mosque taller than the Churh of the Nativity. That was before Islamic terrorists invaded and desecrated the Church itself. And it was no coincidence that the WTC Twin Towers were attacked, and when destroyed, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur became the undisputed tallest inhabited struictures int he world. The Pertamina Towers incorporate Islamic design themes.

2.  "Tablighi Jamaat, a worldwide Islamic missionary group that is proposing the mosque as its new UK headquarters.... Tablighi Jamat has come under scrutiny from western security agencies since 9/11. Two years ago, according to The New York Times, a senior FBI anti—terrorism official claimed it was a recruiting ground for Al—Qaeda. British police investigated a report that Mohammad Sidique Khan, leader of the July 7 London bombers, had attended its present headquarters in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. In August, Bavaria expelled three members of the organisation on the grounds that it promoted Islamic extremism."

3. " Ali Mangera, the London and Barcelona—based architect who is designing the mosque, said: 'People in this country build mosques with fake domes and plastic minarets to look like the mosques back home.   Islam has traditionally been at the forefront of technology and change. The Markaz will reflect this. It will be more than a mosque. The whole idea behind it is to break down barriers.'" The first assertion is nonsense, but the second is unintentionally informative.

For all sorts of reasons, this plan is very wrong—headed. Unfortunately, it has a good chance of being realized. Money, obviously, will be no obstacle, since contributions from abroad are to be solicited. Say hello to Londonistan.

Thomas Lifson  11 27 05