Visit of Labour MP Naushabah Khan to Gillingham Masjid

Assalāmu ʿAlaikum wa Raḥmatullāhi wa Barakātuh, dear brothers and sisters,

Visit of Labour MP Naushabah Khan to Gillingham Masjid

We would like to inform the community that Naushabah Khan, Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham, recently visited Gillingham Masjid and met with the KMWA management and trustees.

A number of important matters were discussed, including the new Masjid project and ways in which she can support the KMWA and the wider Muslim community.

Some of the key areas discussed were:

• New Masjid project: Support with promoting the donations campaign and raising awareness of the project.
• Media and public relations: She offered to support the KMWA in addressing negative or inaccurate media coverage relating to the new Masjid project and, where appropriate, is willing to meet with journalists and news reporters.
• Future Eid prayers: The possibility of using the new Masjid site for larger congregations, including a future Eid Ṣalāh, was discussed. KMWA management will work on the necessary planning and Health & Safety requirements, while Naushabah offered to support discussions with Medway Council regarding the relevant permissions.
• Community surgery: Naushabah is keen to hold a surgery at the Masjid to listen to concerns and issues affecting members of the Muslim community and to offer support where possible. KMWA management will liaise with her team regarding suitable dates, which will be announced in due course.
• Engaging with Muslim youth: She is also keen to meet with Muslim young people and share her career journey, with the aim of encouraging and motivating them to become more engaged in public life and politics.

Overall, it was a positive and constructive meeting. Naushabah also joined the trustees for dinner, and some photographs from the visit are being shared with the community.

The KMWA trustees would like to sincerely thank Naushabah Khan for taking the time to visit Gillingham Masjid and for her enthusiasm and willingness to support the new Masjid project and the wider community.

Jazākumullāhu Khayran,

Irfan Aziz
General Secretary, KMWA