VIDEO: Bridges built after army's visit to Dewsbury mosque
British Army officers took part in a special visit to a Dewsbury mosque recently.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2016, 16:08 BST
Updated 16th May 2016, 18:11 BST
Mandatory photo credit: Corporal Max Bryan RLC. Pictured: Farook Yuna and Colonel Mike Butterwick, Commander of the British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade meet outside Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May 2016. The British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade staff visited the Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May after an invitation by Farook Yunas, from the Kumon Y'All Community Group. The British Army have recently started engaging more with this community and are beginning to build a positive relationship, breaking barriers in the community and building on mutual understanding which now developed to the stage where they have been invited down to the area to visit one of their mosques. NOTE TO DESKS: All images remain Crown Copyright. Photo credit to read - Corporal Max Bryan RLC
The aim of the visit, organised by local charity group Kumon Y’All, was to build relationships between the Army and British Asians in the area.
The Army officers from 4th Infantry Brigade in Catterick, North Yorkshire, visited the Zakaria Mosque in Chapel Street.
There they were shown the prayer rooms and classrooms and were also introduced to the ritual washing of hands, face and feet by Molana Farook Yunus, who is the project manager of Kumon Y’All.
Mandatory photo credit: Corporal Max Bryan RLC. Pictured: Farook Yuna and Colonel Mike Butterwick, Commander of the British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade meet outside Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May 2016. The British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade staff visited the Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May after an invitation by Farook Yunas, from the Kumon Y'All Community Group. The British Army have recently started engaging more with this community and are beginning to build a positive relationship, breaking barriers in the community and building on mutual understanding which now developed to the stage where they have been invited down to the area to visit one of their mosques. NOTE TO DESKS: All images remain Crown Copyright. Photo credit to read - Corporal Max Bryan RLC
The soldiers also visited the Institute of Islamic Education, a boarding school and darul uloom (Islamic seminary) in South Street.
The school provides a full-time education as well as training Imams, Islamic studies teachers and scholars in order to benefit the communities to which they return.
The students gave a presentation to the military visitors on respecting parents, teachers and elders.
Colonel Mike Butterwick, the Deputy Commander of 4th Infantry Brigade, addressed the school and soldiers on the similarities between them all.
Mandatory photo credit: Corporal Max Bryan RLC. Pictured: Farook Yuna and Colonel Mike Butterwick, Commander of the British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade meet outside Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May 2016. The British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade staff visited the Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May after an invitation by Farook Yunas, from the Kumon Y'All Community Group. The British Army have recently started engaging more with this community and are beginning to build a positive relationship, breaking barriers in the community and building on mutual understanding which now developed to the stage where they have been invited down to the area to visit one of their mosques. NOTE TO DESKS: All images remain Crown Copyright. Photo credit to read - Corporal Max Bryan RLC
He said: “It has been a fantastic day – we have learned so much and we have been warmly welcomed by everybody we have talked to.”
Molana Farook said: “The Army is a lot of very powerful people and I am very passionate about tapping into that resource and using it for the betterment of society.
“I feel that our relationship is getting better and stronger.”
