Muslims feel welcome in Swansea, the Imam of Swansea University mosque has said.
With acts and threats of violence against the West from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) dominating national news, Imam Mohsen El-Beltagi has discussed the experience of Muslims living in Swansea. “They feel safe and it is very rare there are racism issues in terms of faith,” the worship leader said, in an interview with Swansea University student Zina Hikary.
“They feel welcomed in the Welsh community, and we find Swansea people, Muslims, and other religions participating in our religious and cultural events.”
Originally from Egypt, Sheikh Mohsen gained his BA and MA in Hadith Sciences at Al-Azhar University, in Cairo and is currently researching for his PhD in Swansea.
More than your ordinary imam, he not only leads the prayers, but he also teaches Arabic language in the university through the medium of Arabic and English, as well as being someone people can turn to for advice about any issue affecting their lives.
That connection with the community in Swansea is essential in dealing with Muslims being influenced by Isis messages, the Imam believes.
ISIS works by influencing people to fight to get democracy from the West, he said, and it is targeting those with no knowledge of Islam.
“They are using some holy text from the holy Quran and statements from the prophet Mohammed in a very wrong way to influence other people,” he explained.
But the Imam believes that when encountering murmurs of radical views or disillusion, it is best to attempt to bring those individuals back into the community.
Nevertheless, he says that because of his relationship with the local authority, he has no hesitation in reporting this behaviour.
“I have discussed this issue a few weeks ago with the police,” he said.
“My point is if we isolate them, they will go back to the same route, they might get more violent and it will not solve the problem, so we need to be close to them and encourage people to accept them back into the community.”
Swansea Muslims oppose these radical views, he claimed.
However, what is a concern for him is people coming into Swansea from other areas, attempting to spread hate.
“An incident occurred two years ago,” he said.
“A group that call themselves Al Tahrir came from Cardiff and made a demonstration to influence others, but Swansea people kicked them out the same day.
“Isis is not the Islamic state, they are not a state at all, they are a small group and no one knows who supports them or where they’ve come from.
“No single Muslim in Swansea considers that they represent Islam.”
There have been claims in the national press of ISIS attempting to recruit from British mosques.
Sheikh Mohsen made assurances that nothing of the sort happens in his mosque.
He added, in fact, that he preaches regularly against Isis.
There is however a fear there that he hopes to continue combating.
That fear is of violence breaking out on the streets – making reference to the aftermath of 9/11 in America, where many Muslims feared to openly practice their religion.
“Integration with the community is needed, as is encouraging people to be engaged with different faiths and showing them the real Islam,” he said.
Of his work locally, the Imam is focussed heavily on this community engagement.
“I am involved in looking after the welfare of the local and international students by explaining the local culture and organising events and seminars to educate them and to encourage people to integrate with other religions,” he said.
“We have regular visits from local schools and educational institutions as last term we had six school visits, also myself and other representatives visit local schools and the prison.”
In regards to raising the awareness, he added: “We are trying to encourage people to be more engaged with the community and to have more workshops with the police.
“The mosque is open 24 hours and there are activities taking place, so whoever wants to come is welcome.”