A female Channel 4 newsreader has been thrown out of a mosque on what has been the national "Visit My Mosque Day".
Cathy Newman expressed surprise that she had been turned away and explained that she was there to mark the nationwide event organized by The Muslim Council of Britain.
It is not clear whether the mosque in Streatham, south London, which turned Miss Newman away, was participating in the event.
The event saw mosques nationwide opening their doors to the general public and has been designed to ease tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims after the terrorist attacks in France. Mosques shared tea and cakes and gave an insight into the day-to-day goings on of a busy Muslim centre of worship. Mosques also invited leaders of other faiths.
Cathy Newman 'ushered out of mosque' on national open day
Channel 4 presenter's treatment at a mosque in Streatham, south London, sparks online sexism row
Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter Photo: Adam Lawrence
By Victoria Ward
01 Feb 2015
Daily Mail
Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter, was ushered out of a London mosque, despite being “respectfully” dressed on Visit My Mosque Day, she has revealed.
The journalist expressed surprise that she had been turned away and explained that she was there to mark the nationwide event organized by The Muslim Council of Britain.
She revealed on Twitter that she had later been given a “warm welcome” at another mosque nearby.
A number of mosques across the country have opened their doors to the general public for Visit My Mosque Day.
Today's nationwide Visit My Mosque Day, which saw the general public invited to participating mosques around the country, was designed to ease tensions in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks
It is not clear whether the mosque in Streatham, south London, which turned Miss Newman away, was participating in the event.
She wrote on Twitter: “Well I just visited Streatham mosque for #VisitMyMosque day and was surprised to find myself ushered out of the door.”
“I was respectfully dressed, head covering and no shoes but a man ushered me back onto the street. I said I was there for #VisitMyMosque but it made no difference.”
She said she went on to receive a “wonderful warm welcome” at the nearby Hyderi Centre, where she enjoyed tea and cake with other visitors.
Miss Newman's comments sparked debate on Twitter, with some suggesting she had fallen foul of sexism.
Louise Mensch, the former Tory MP, wrote online: “Giant misogynistic fail of #VisitMyMosque, @MuslimCouncil, shutting @cathynewman out. Statement?”
Streatham Mosque, south London
More than 20 mosques were expected to open their doors to the public for Visit My Mosque Day, an initiative designed to reach out to the public after heightened tensions caused by the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
Streatham Mosque is not listed on the Muslim Council of Britain's list of participating mosques, although it is not thought to be exhaustive. The Hyderi Centre is on the list.
Neither the Streatham Mosque nor the Muslim Council of Britain could be contacted for comment.
Visit My Mosque - Open Day - 1st February 2015 - Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)
Cathy Newman 'ushered out of mosque' on national open day - Telegraph
Cathy Newman expressed surprise that she had been turned away and explained that she was there to mark the nationwide event organized by The Muslim Council of Britain.
It is not clear whether the mosque in Streatham, south London, which turned Miss Newman away, was participating in the event.
The event saw mosques nationwide opening their doors to the general public and has been designed to ease tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims after the terrorist attacks in France. Mosques shared tea and cakes and gave an insight into the day-to-day goings on of a busy Muslim centre of worship. Mosques also invited leaders of other faiths.
Cathy Newman 'ushered out of mosque' on national open day
Channel 4 presenter's treatment at a mosque in Streatham, south London, sparks online sexism row
Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter Photo: Adam Lawrence
By Victoria Ward
01 Feb 2015
Daily Mail
Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter, was ushered out of a London mosque, despite being “respectfully” dressed on Visit My Mosque Day, she has revealed.
The journalist expressed surprise that she had been turned away and explained that she was there to mark the nationwide event organized by The Muslim Council of Britain.
She revealed on Twitter that she had later been given a “warm welcome” at another mosque nearby.
A number of mosques across the country have opened their doors to the general public for Visit My Mosque Day.
Today's nationwide Visit My Mosque Day, which saw the general public invited to participating mosques around the country, was designed to ease tensions in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks
It is not clear whether the mosque in Streatham, south London, which turned Miss Newman away, was participating in the event.
She wrote on Twitter: “Well I just visited Streatham mosque for #VisitMyMosque day and was surprised to find myself ushered out of the door.”
“I was respectfully dressed, head covering and no shoes but a man ushered me back onto the street. I said I was there for #VisitMyMosque but it made no difference.”
She said she went on to receive a “wonderful warm welcome” at the nearby Hyderi Centre, where she enjoyed tea and cake with other visitors.
Miss Newman's comments sparked debate on Twitter, with some suggesting she had fallen foul of sexism.
Louise Mensch, the former Tory MP, wrote online: “Giant misogynistic fail of #VisitMyMosque, @MuslimCouncil, shutting @cathynewman out. Statement?”
Streatham Mosque, south London
More than 20 mosques were expected to open their doors to the public for Visit My Mosque Day, an initiative designed to reach out to the public after heightened tensions caused by the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
Streatham Mosque is not listed on the Muslim Council of Britain's list of participating mosques, although it is not thought to be exhaustive. The Hyderi Centre is on the list.
Neither the Streatham Mosque nor the Muslim Council of Britain could be contacted for comment.
Visit My Mosque - Open Day - 1st February 2015 - Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)
Cathy Newman 'ushered out of mosque' on national open day - Telegraph
