This October, GLMCC emptied its onsite knife bin, to distressingly find dozens of large knives and machetes.

As part of an ongoing knife crime campaign, run for over five years at GLMCC, the bin was emptied and the weapons safely disposed by local Bishop, Desmond Jaddoo. Jaddoo provides the knife bin as part of a campaign with GLMCC to eradicate knife crime which is regretfully increasing in the West Midlands.

Knife crime is within every community but more so amongst youth. GLMCC has made it a core focus for youth outreach, with consistent reminders, lectures and workshops on the dangers of the crime. GLMCC has a social media reach of over 1 million followers across its channels and welcomes approximately 300 youth each week, this ranges from Scouts, boys and girls Youth Clubs, sport activities and religious education. GLMCC uses all its platforms resiliently in fighting a crime that takes the lives of so many young people.

Earlier this year GLMCC delivered a lecture onsite to youth discussing the dangers and concerns impacting young people within the community. This led to an anonymous person being motivated to hand in a machete, the police were notified and removed the weapon from the mosque.

“GLMCC is working hard to prevent a crime that sadly destroys the lives of too many people. We must provide a safe place for people to change. Having a knife bin onsite does just that—people can access the bin anonymously and take that first physical step towards change. The knife bin is not just a way to remove dangerous weapons from our streets; it symbolises a life left behind, creating an opportunity for a new beginning.

In addition to this, our mosque and community centre provides young people with education and guidance on such crimes, whilst offering a variety of sports, social outings, and religious education to accommodate youth into a safe, welcoming environment. We see it as our duty, and the duty of all community leaders, to fight this crime and support young people for a better, safer future.”

Imam Mustafa Hussein

With a strong Islamic ethos to preserve life, take care of your neighbour and not harm others, the mosque and community centre will continue the campaign and work alongside WMP and others, to ensure every possible avenue of support and education is offered.

“If anyone killed a person (unjustly) – it would be as if he (or she) had killed all mankind,

and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he (or she) had saved the life of all mankind.”

Qur’an 5:32                                                                                                                                                                                       Quran 5:32

Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
20 Green Lane
Birmingham, B9 5DB
Tel: 0121 713 0080
Email: info@greenlanemasjid.org