Public raise over £1,000 to repair Birmingham mosque windows after horror attack

After the windows of a mosque in the Sparkhill of Birmingham area were smashed by a dangerous individual last Friday (4 November), people have come together and raised money to have the windows repaired. 

Within days of a GoFundMe campaign being launched around £1,300 was raised to replace the broken windows.

Faiq Rehman, a regular worshipper at the mosque in Fulham Road, was appalled by the attack – which some locals have described as a “terror attack during the start of Islamophobia Awareness Month“ – and wanted to help restore the smashed windows.

Mr Rehman, said: “I am a regular worshipper at this mosque. As well as a regular worshipper, I also learnt my Qur’an at this mosque during my youthful days, like many others within the area.

“This mosque supports the local community on the last Friday of each month by handing out food to the poor and needy.”

Mr Rehman appealed to the local community to “show our support” and give “back to the mosque” by helping to “pay towards the windows” and uniting against those who spread division and hate.

The mosque was attacked on Friday which unnervingly coincides with the day of the Jummah (congregation) service which is a significant and important prayer for the Muslim community and the timing of the vandalism has left the Muslim community fearful.

The Paigham- E-Islam mosque which is situated in Fulham Road, off the main Stratford Road, was targeted by a man carrying a backpack containing bricks and stones shortly after 6:30am last Friday.

The CCTV footage from the location shows the offender walking around in a predatory and orchestrated manner. The attack on the mosque appears to be calculated and deliberate rather than a casual act of vandalism.

Local residents are worried about the fact that the prowler arrived at the location carrying concealed offensive materials with intent to cause damage.

West Midlands Police arrested a man in his 40’s and charged the suspect with causing criminal damage.

A police spokesperson stated that the motive for the attack remains unclear and the suspect’ s mental health is being assessed.