University accused in prayer room call
Islamic students have accused Oxford University of breaching legal requirements by failing to provide Muslim students with an area in which to pray.
Oxford University Islamic Society (ISoc) is currently campaigning to secure a prayer room. They claim the University is breaching a legal requirement by not providing the room, a facility that nearly every other university in the country provides for its Muslim students.
Emran Islam, President of ISoc, describes the lack of a central prayer room as "a fundamental problem", as Muslims must pray five times each day.
A University spokesperson said: "We have existing arrangements which provide spaces for Islamic prayer - including access to facilities within the Islamic Studies Centre in central Oxford."
However, the Islamic Studies Centre, the only centre in central Oxford, is only open from nine to five, and so may not sufficiently accommodate the required five prayers a day. The Central Mosque is situated on Cowley Road, a considerable distance from the city centre. This is in stark contrast to the ample facilities for Christian students across the colleges.
The alleged lack of sufficient provision means Muslim students often have to pray in public places. Hasan Rahman, an ISoc member at Lincoln College, told The Oxford Student: "I have resorted to praying in libraries in the past. It's obviously hard to concentrate, and it's very uncomfortable both for me and for people walking past."
Fahd Mahmood, ISoc Ramadan Officer, said: "Praying is a necessity, as much so as tutorials or lectures. There is a constant worry that you need to pray, but we have no certainty over what location we can use."
Islam explained that in the Muslim community a prayer-room represents more than just a room to pray in, describing it as a "social hub, where people can get together, and just chill out", something he feels is of particular importance given that drinking alcohol is prohibited in Muslim culture, but plays a large role in college life.
Islam said: "According to recent legislation, I would say it's a clear form of discrimination. It is an obligation for a university to provide a prayer room for the community, and it's quite shocking that it's not been provided." The legislation in question is the Employment Equality (Religion of Belief) Regulations 2003, whose scope includes regulating universities.
ISoc argues that Oxford is discriminating indirectly against Muslims by putting them at a "particular disadvantage" compared with other non-Muslim students through the lack of prayer room, although the provision would not apply equally to persons who did not share the same religion.
A University spokesperson emphasised that the matter is currently being looked into: "Representatives of the Oxford University Islamic Society have recently suggested that these arrangements should be reviewed and the University is awaiting further information on their concerns before it can consider them."
18th Nov 2004