‘We want a clear, loud Islamic voice’ Eric Pickles tells Hackney mosque

Communities Secretary ErIc Pickles shakes the hand of student Humairah Garasia. Photograph: Ella Jessel

“We want a loud, clear, Islamic voice,” Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told religious leaders as he visited a Hackney mosque today.

Eric Pickles, who is the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, was invited to Madina Mosque on Lea Bridge Road by his party’s parliamentary candidate for Hackney North, Amy Gray.

Members from the Muslim and Jewish communities attended, including Rabbi Glock and Munaf Zina from the Muslim Jewish Forum.

The Reverend of St James the Great Church on Lower Clapton Road and ex-Conservative councillor Linda Kelly also came to hear the senior politician speak.

Pickles said he wished to address the “bit of bother” caused by a letter he wrote in January to 1,000 Islamic leaders across the UK, calling on them to demonstrate how Islam can be “part of British identity”.

He told the crowd that the letter had been misunderstood: “I said that I wanted the Muslim community to demonstrate that they were part of British society. This is what I meant”, he said, gesturing around the room.

“It is not about a demonstration of loyalty, it is about showing to the wider community what makes Islam tick.”

“I think we are coming to a world where people feel they have to say ‘I’m a Muslim but I’m harmless’. You do not need to do that. Everybody understands that. Everyone who has a bastardised view of Islam will win if we say that. Because being Jewish or being a Muslim is now an integral part of what makes up British society.”

Munaf Zina, Chair of North London Muslim Community Centre said: “We are grateful to our neighbours who stand with us and we stand with them. The Muslim community in Hackney is very dynamic and very active.”

“As Muslims we are proud of our nation for providing us with what we need. The biggest dangers now facing us are the threats posed by extremists and terrorists. We do not support such acts and we must stand together to oppose them.”

Parliamentary candidate Amy Gray said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Eric to Hackney so that he could see firsthand some of the great work which the Madina Mosque does and he has an open invitation to return at any time.

“As Eric said, British Muslims and British Jews are an essential part of what makes up modern British identity and nowhere is that more true than here in Hackney.”

Mr Pickles said that attending the meeting at Madina Mosque had “cheered him up”.

He said: “I am terrifically heartened to see three faiths working together. Not trying to dilute what you stand for but having distinct voices.

“We want a loud, clear, Islamic voice. We do not want you in any way to dilute that loud voice, because we would be lost without it. But what we do want and desire is your full participation.”