Support a prayer space and community centre in Piccadilly’s Trocadero – push back against lies, hate, racism, Islamophobia and far-right scaremongering.

A planning application to turn an unused basement of the Trocadero into a prayer space with a contemplation room and community seminar room has been submitted to Westminster City Council by the Aziz Foundation charity, which supports British Muslims in higher education. The prayer space would allow the hundreds of Muslims who live in, work in and visit the area to pray. The nearest prayer spaces have no facilities for women and men have to pray on the streets due to shortage of space.

The basement space has been empty since 2006 and takes up less than 1.5% of the Trocadero building. There is strong support from the local community, churches and LGBT organisations. The centre will open from 11am-7pm, Mon-Fri and will include a contemplation room open to all. There will be a seminar room for local community activities.

This will join the community of prayer spaces already available nearby: Church of England, Catholic, French Catholic, French Protestant, Baptist Chapel, Chinese Church, the Macedonian Orthodox Chapel, and the Radha-Krishna Temple and others.

The far right, including white nationalists and Islamophobes have tried to scaremonger and peddle hate by spreading lies about this application. It is not a mega mosque. There will be no change to the exterior of the Trocadero and no noise audible outside. For further information,see : http://azizfoundation.org.uk/piccadillyprayerspace/

To support: https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=Q54UPMRPFSO00