MP storms out of Muslim constituents' wedding after he was segregated from his wife

A Government minister today told how he and his wife walked out of a Muslim wedding after being segregated into male and female areas.

Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, the minister for food and farming, said the strictly-enforced rule threatened community cohesion in the heavily Muslim area of Whitechapel, East London.

Mr Fitzpatrick, 57, said he and his GP wife Sheila have attended many mosque weddings before but have never witnessed such an arrangement.

And he fears the growing trend is due to the influence of the Islamic Forum of Europe, proponents of Shariah law, who have links to the wedding venue.

'We've been attending Muslim weddings together for years but only recently has this strict line been taken, he said.

'The segregation of men and women didn’t used to be as much of a strong feature.
'But it is an indication of the stricter application of rules that is taking place that didn’t exist before.

'We left so as not to cause offence.'

The MP for nearby Poplar and Canning Town, added: ‘It is a disappointment. I think the stranglehold influence of the IFE is present more than ever before.

‘We are trying to build social cohesion in a community but this is not the way forward.’

The wedding between two members of his constituency took place on Sunday at the London Muslim Centre – part of the East London Mosque.

Mr Fitzpatrick said they had no idea they would be separated and when it became clear that his wife would be forced to sit in a different hall, they walked out.

It is a popular venue for community weddings but rules state all ceremonies must be held in accordance of Sahriah law, the Islamic code

It states: ‘Wedding hire at the LMC is only available for Islamic weddings.

‘Hirers should ensure they require a wedding that complies with Islamic Shariah in which there is no free mixing between sexes and where proper Islamic dress code and etiquettes are observed.

‘When both halls are booked for a wedding, women must use the Hajja Um Aref Hall (first floor) and men must use the Main Hall (ground floor)

Spokesman Mohammed Shakir said: ‘We are saddened to read that Jim Fitzpatrick MP did not like the arrangements at a wedding he attended with his wife at the London Muslim Centre.

‘Segregated weddings have always been popular in the Muslim community; the London Muslim Centre has facilitated them for over five years.

‘It is part of the attraction for Muslim families so they can celebrate their happy day in a religious atmosphere, a custom which is also found in other religious traditions represented in Britain.

‘We have always allowed non-Muslim guests to be seated together without segregation, but this is entirely at the discretion of the families who have hired the halls.'

He refused to comment on the suggestion that the IFE had influenced the centre, but a member of staff at the centre next to the East London mosque said they were surprised by Mr Fitzpatrick's comments.

He added: ‘It's just not true. We have our own policies.’

Mr Fitzgerald and his wife have been involved in the Muslim community for many years including a visit to Bangladesh with the World Health Organisation last year.

But the politician says he has been growing increasingly concerned about the divisive influence of ‘hardline’ Islamic influences in the area.

The Islamic Forum of Europe, is described as ‘moderate’ group with headquarters at the London Muslim Centre but with branches across the continent.

The organization was widely credited with George Galloway’s election victory in 2005.

Tuhel Ahmed, a spokesman for the Islamic Forum of Europe said: ‘How we influenced the private arrangements of this wedding is beyond me.

‘I cannot see what the link Mr Fitzpatrick is making here.

‘This was a personal choice of the bride and groom. How they choose to seat people and conduct their wedding is entirely up to them.

‘He and his wife were invited to a wedding and if they have a problem with the arrangements then my advice is don’t attend.

‘This is the first time an MP has criticised us as an organization.

‘To suggest we are hardline and responsible for damaging community cohesion is utterly ridiculous.

‘He is simply mistaken and silly to blame an organization for an individual’s wedding choices.

‘Labour is in complete disarray, maybe Mr Fitzgerald is worried about the election next year.
‘It’s yet another case of “let’s just blame the Muslims”.’