A COURT hearing which could have decided whether the new management committee of the troubled Lea Bridge Road mosque should be allowed to take office has been postponed.
The mosque, which is managed by the Waltham Forest Islamic Association (WFIA), has been at the centre of an ongoing power struggle between two rival factions since 2006.
After accusations of violence from both groups as well as repeated claims that the outgoing committee refused to hold elections, mediation was held through Waltham Forest police.
An election to choose a new management committee for the WFIA was finally held on August 16 and it appeared the group opposing the previous committee had won.
But the outgoing management claimed the election was not valid as invitations were not sent out to all registered voters at the mosque and sought a court order to stop the opposition taking office.
The hearing was due to take place on September 21 but has now been postponed, leaving the opposition group as the acting committee.
Tariq Mahmood, who represents the group opposing the previous committee, said: “The outgoing committee needed permission from the Charity Commission in order to take the Association to court.
“I think it's just a complete waste of time. The charity is now running fully with the new management.”
But he also claimed the outgoing committee had refused to hand over the charity's assets, including keys to a safe and the deed to a building bought for more than £1million.
Mr Mahmood added: “I just wish there was more understanding so that we can say, 'let's put things to one side' and move forward.”
But Imtiaz Qadir, who represents the outgoing committee, said the assets had all been handed to the new committee.
He said: “They have taken over everything. It was the police's way of handling the situation by giving them the keys. In their opinion it was a fair election.”
He added that another hearing could take place within a week and said it was only a matter of gaining permission from the Charity Commission.
The Charity Commission also carried out an investigation into the purchase of a building using WFIA funds and a report on the findings has yet to be released.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here