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Blackburn magistrate in row over 'noisy prayers'

10:24am Friday 28th May 2010 in


A MAGISTRATE is at the centre of a noise row after prayers were broadcast over speakers at a charity event at his home.

Police attended the exclusive detached house of Zah Hussain in Meins Road, Blackburn, after complaints from neighbours.

Around 50 people were at the event which saw prayers and hymns broadcast inside the house for 90 minutes.

But some nearby neighbours said the sound levels disturbed the peace of the sunny, Sunday afternoon.

Mr Hussain, a local JP, said he and his wife were ‘very upset’ by the complaints.

It was the third year the family had staged the event, which is led by a specially-invited Imam from India, and raises money for the country’s poor.

Mr Hussain, the marketing director at a pharmaceutical firm, said: “A man turned up on my doorstep and said ‘Sunday is a Christian day. What is all this noise. We don’t want it here’.

“This is a cultural issue, not a noise issue, and it creates a sense of division.

"Being a magistrate, I know what noise pollution is and I wasn’t breaking the law.”

However, Tony and Wendy Egerton, of nearby Carrs Wood estate, described the noise as ‘horrendous’.

Mrs Egerton said: “We were trying to sit and relax. You don’t get too many days as nice as it was on Sunday.

“I rang the police and they said it was nothing to do with them, it was down to environmental health.

“We are not racist, we get on with everyone. We just wanted the peace and quiet that you expect in your back garden.”

“But it was like living outside a mosque.”

Mr Egerton said: “It is nothing to do with cultural issues.”

The couple are now to make a formal complaint to the Environmental Health department.

Another resident, who confronted the Hussains, denied telling Mr Hussain that Sunday was a Christian day.

He said: “Each to their own, but I told them that the rest of Blackburn didn’t want to hear it.”

A police spokesman confirmed they received a call about music and advised the caller to contact Environmental Health.

A spokesman for the council's Environmental Health department said no official complaint had been received.

Comments(48)

roversjeff says...
11:22am Fri 28 May 10

Seems to me it's just a fuss over nothing. The magistrate was organising a charity event, trying to raise funds for poor people. Surely ninety minutes of prayer and hymns won't hurt anyone. Good luck to the guy and his family, I hope they raised lots of money. I remember years ago the Salvation Army Band marching down our street every Sunday playing hymns, nobody complained about that! Carry on the good work Mr and Mrs Hussain.

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spyderleg says...
11:44am Fri 28 May 10

roversjeff wrote:
Seems to me it's just a fuss over nothing. The magistrate was organising a charity event, trying to raise funds for poor people. Surely ninety minutes of prayer and hymns won't hurt anyone. Good luck to the guy and his family, I hope they raised lots of money. I remember years ago the Salvation Army Band marching down our street every Sunday playing hymns, nobody complained about that! Carry on the good work Mr and Mrs Hussain.
Move up Audley Jeff, I suggest you'd soon change your tune!

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HarleSyker says...
11:44am Fri 28 May 10

He was quick on the race card and it isn't something I could even says to someone else.

But I do agree, if it was a charity even for something to do with the local church with rides etc blaring, i'll guarantee that wouldn't of been a problem.

That all said, I don't think I would of been impressed, and the rudeness of not even informing fellow neighbors they were holding the even is rudeness at its highest level.

Can't say I'm surprised though

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masterdebater.co.uk says...
11:53am Fri 28 May 10

I'm not for a neighbourhood having their peace shattered but if it is a once per year event and for a good cause then I don't see a problem.
Regular and pointless disturbances should be dealt with though.

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wrinkles says...
12:16pm Fri 28 May 10

On hot summer days sound carries a fair distance and quite a lot of us who have been bombarded with teenagers idea of 'music' will sympathize with the neighbours. As for marching bands such as the boys brigade and the sally army - there is no comparison as they're not static and march away pdq.

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Ken Shuffles says...
12:30pm Fri 28 May 10

Obviously, Keeping the Peace is fast becoming an alien concept for many Praying Magistrates in this town. This would never happen in an Atheist Magistrates back-garden.

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Ken Shuffles says...
12:37pm Fri 28 May 10

Clearly, It's a fine line between fund-raising in your own back garden on a sunny afternoon and having a prayer -party for the poor in one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in town.

How much was raised ? and received by the poor ? ?

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Ken Shuffles says...
12:44pm Fri 28 May 10

How much Peace did this back-garden event buy ?

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BjornAganeByka says...
1:20pm Fri 28 May 10

In fact, next weekend I'm going round to his house and rev the nuts off my Harley-Davidson.
Bikes are MY religion ( God rides a Harley, you know ) so let's see how Mr. and Mrs. Hussain like MY call to prayer.

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Jimmy Paterson says...
1:26pm Fri 28 May 10

God rides a Harley?
Only because he's the only one can keep it from breaking down....LOL

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CAG1 says...
1:54pm Fri 28 May 10

What's the relevance of him being a magistrate or working in marketing? What's that got to do with the story?

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defective typewriter says...
2:06pm Fri 28 May 10

one very rarely hears the vented opinions from the well to do classes
on any matter let alone the drone from the dome, but here we have it, it must be a first for the hill dwellers, could it be because now its in their own back yard , these hypnotic mind trancing drones are an insult to the ears of any truly patriotic citizen of this land, they resemble the annoying buzz of a fly that wont go away..a pest, but i guess thats the thought behind it five times a day and it's the thought that counts...right!
personally i always reach for the fly spray

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blackburn south says...
2:49pm Fri 28 May 10

Why not have a safari prayer party - spread it about a bit.

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Little Diamond says...
3:07pm Fri 28 May 10

Well said Roversjeff, it's a pleasant change to hear from reasonable people. It is difficult to comment without proper facts, and the LT is not best at supplying those so they can sex up a story.
My neighbours had a party on Sun pm out the back and they were going from just after lunch 'till evening. The music they were playing and some of the language was not to my taste, but we have to give and take.
If the music played by Kiran Hussain only went on for 90 mins what's the problem. I think it's very much an inconvenience when the Rovers play a home game. Noise, traffic drunken idiots. That however is British culture so we have to put up with it, personally I would prefer to attend Kiran Hussain's party. I know one shouldn't go off appearances but the 'photo of Tony and Wendy Egerton says to me NIMBY and ever so slightly racist

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gadjet_man says...
3:13pm Fri 28 May 10

(Asian and Muslim...just for the record...)

The reason why its being pointed out Mr Hussain is a Magistrate and a Director is probably just to hint at the fact that he is a hard working law abiding citizen otherwise.

Good on him for raising money, However I think he should have had the foresight to inform his neighbours (who I'm sure will also be law abiding hardworking people). It would have been courteous and if Mr Hussain had thought about it he could have invited his neighbours as guests too.. I'm sure they would have been grateful to take part in the proceedings as observers.

I've had a gathering in my terraced house most of my neighbours are white non muslims, I went out and informed them all what was happening and they ALL appreciated that and wished me well.

Drop the complaint Mr Hussain and go round and TALK to your neighbours take a peace offering too...

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fkhan says...
3:34pm Fri 28 May 10

these people should come and live in the bronx as we would call it, they wouldnt last a minute. Sad!

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shawman says...
4:48pm Fri 28 May 10

God rides a harley & Jesus rides a Triumph as it said in the bible the roar of is Triumph could be heard throughout the land. noisy sod. : )

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happycyclist says...
5:09pm Fri 28 May 10

What I don't understand is why the police refused to get involved. Is a 'breach of the peace' not against the law any more?
Surely they should have at least gone round to assess the situation and asked Mr Hussain to turn it down if it was too loud.
Conflicts like this can easily turn into violence -much better for the police to do their bloody job (preventing crime) and calm things down before tempers started to get too frayed and more serious crime committed.
Are Environmental Heath available 24/7? If not, then the police have a duty to get involved.

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Republican says...
5:15pm Fri 28 May 10

A one-off do for charity should'nt be an issue. I suspect this noise was no greater than the average sunny day muppet who thinks we all want to listen to his music while we are enjoying a bit of sun in the garden.

People complain about traditional British noise such as church bells and contrary to other opinions above even the Sally Army gets moaned at.

One-off no big deal, repeat performances, no thanks.

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retired one says...
8:13pm Fri 28 May 10

I am sure the police would have attended if it was the magistrate complaining about noise nuisance.

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Davidoff says...
9:20pm Fri 28 May 10

God rides shotgun.

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NKone says...
10:58pm Fri 28 May 10

There have been occasions when we have had party goers making an awful racket outside, till all hours of the night... drunks singing and neighbours who love playing loud, screeching music - do we complain.... NO!!! why? cos we like to think we can be tolerant if it's not on a regular basis!! What's wrong with people these days?? Instead of being so **** insensitive and sarcastic, lets show that we can live and let live!!

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dg666 says...
11:31pm Fri 28 May 10

If you read the article properly it actually says they where raising money for charities in India the country of the specially invited Iman.
Not that this has a bearing on the issue, but with the state of the home town of this upsatnding member of the community, and the serious issues it faces in the future, dont you think that charity should start at home?

Just a thought.

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abdullah says...
12:53am Sat 29 May 10

So nice to see a Asian person move into a mixed neighbourhood.He seems to have done well in his profession.This seems like a very minor problem which no doubt can be sorted over a nice cup of tea.In the future Mr.Hussain should let his neighbours know about any events at his house,to avoid any future problems with the ever so slightly bigoted neighbours.Maybe this is just a outlet these bigots needed to vent their frustrations of having a asian neighbour.**** their goes the neighbourhood,the for sale signs no doubt are going up soon.Charity begins at home which means try to be nice neighbours,having a asian neighbour isnt the end of the world.

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dg666 says...
2:46am Sat 29 May 10

abdullah....

Listen no bad feelings, but your quote of mine, 'Charity Starts at Home' and neighours not being too happy about an asian neighbour....What a load of BOLL***s. I personally have many as you call them 'Asian' freinds and also very prevalent people too, both white and as you say asian.

What is the definition of Asian? Asia is a Continent that as far as i am aware is both Muslim and Christian, if you wish to call me an athiest as i dont believe in your 'god' then that is fine.

Ibelieve in my Town my people (including as you say Asian's') and i want what is best for it. This stupid divide between the two is very sad, i am more than happy to meet you and discuss, at any place in my beloved town. I will happily meet you in your comfortable area, as this has gone too far and is being too silly. I am happy to broker our relationship are you?

Bless

Deano

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abdullah says...
7:35am Sat 29 May 10

Asian background as in people of Pakistani,Bangladesh
i,Pakistani,Sri Lankan origin.Yes we have muslims,sikhs,hindus
,christians,buddhist
s,sikhs,atheists,bah
ais.Dont put words in my mouth dg,if you are an atheist then thats youre choice,live and let live,i have no issue with that at all.Lets just be honest and lets just say this particular issue is about yes not being happy with having a asian neighbour,lets acknowledge that.As for youre meeting up for a discussion name a place buddy,anywhere in Blackburn,we have one thing in common we both have a love for this great town,so thats a good start.

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madari says...
8:27am Sat 29 May 10

Madari the snake charmer says:

Long live diversity.....Happy days!!!!

God rides a tandem!!!!!1

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brfcianbrfc says...
9:51am Sat 29 May 10

I have never read such crap. Why is it all about people not wanting to live next to an asain. Why does it always come down to people being racist. If you kept the noise down there would be no story.. end of..

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Ken Shuffles says...
1:29pm Sat 29 May 10

I remember the days when Religious People were killing the poor for God -nowadays it seems we are raising money for the poor in the Magistrates back garden ? How much MONEY did the poor actually get ?

Were any of the poorest invited to this thinly disguised fundraising event organised by the Magistrate or were only a select group of religious deal-makers invited to participate.?

I get the impression this has more to do with the Magistrates relationship with money and the monied than anything else

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Ruby Rocks says...
1:31pm Sat 29 May 10

Mr Hussain seems to suffer from double standards. A few months ago I was walking down the footpath that connects Billinge End Road and Meins Road,this path runs right alongside Mr Hussain's house. I had no choice but to step on the gentlemans block paved driveway as building work had made the footpath dangerous. He appeared from nowhere and told me, in quite an impolite manner, that I was trespassing and not to step on his driveway again. Yet, last sunday afternoon it was quite acceptable to invade the serenity of my back garden with his raucous anti-social broadcasting. As a magistrate he should realise that he has social responsibilities, even though, in his own mind, he may not consider that he is operating outside the letter of the law.

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mikebuk says...
1:34pm Sat 29 May 10

If the neighbours were so concerned about Sunday being a Christian day, do we assume they had been in church that morning ? - unlikely.

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Ken Shuffles says...
1:48pm Sat 29 May 10

How many deluded religious Magistrates do we need to give favours to in this country ?

I think it's a.s.b.o.lutley ridiculous!

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Ken Shuffles says...
2:01pm Sat 29 May 10

If this involves someone from India raising cash then this is probably a story about religious gravy and corruption. It's funny how the well heeled love to fundraise and often without there being any record of any cash transactions. I would suggest the fraud squad investigate some of these private arrangements our Magistrates are making in their back-gardens. How much was involved ?

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Ken Shuffles says...
2:02pm Sat 29 May 10

Those who remove themselves so far away from the poor can hardly expect themselves to be regarded as united with or on the side of the poor.

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wrinkles says...
3:43pm Sat 29 May 10

When did being a considerate neighbour vanish? It should be the norm to mention that you're holding a party, have a building project, or a small bonfire, etc., which you hope doesn't inconvenience anyone.

It would have been wiser for the magistrate to advise his neighbours of his proposed charity event which would have allowed them to make alternative arrangements if they so wished. We don't know if the noise level would have taken longer or was cut short to 90 minutes because of the objection. Nobody on this thread has thought that a neighbour might have worked through the night or was ill and needed peace & quiet or sleep.

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Ken Shuffles says...
3:53pm Sat 29 May 10

Wrinkles,

The problem with considering the neighbours, is that no cash is going to change hands by simply being considerate of People.

It's more fun to handle cash undercover of the poor than consider anyones need for Peace.

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Ken Shuffles says...
2:50pm Sun 30 May 10

It's about God for everyone and Cash for some in the Magistrates back garden!

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Zah247 says...
3:32pm Sun 30 May 10

Hi all to those commenting on the above story. I am Mr Hussain and want to clarify a few points. I am from a poor background myself and my late father was a cotton mill worker, I like my family am grateful to the Queen for inviting us to this wonderful country and allowing us to prosper. I have worked extremely hard all my life and never taken from the state, in fact I have been a 40% tax contributor all my workinglife. The event in question was not 9 minutes of music, there was a lecture and approx 25 minutes of instrument free hyms prayed by the imam, not the guests. The money raised is for an orphanage in Indis where children have no family, no belongings and live off 2 simple meals a day. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be where I am and this should not mean I do not share a thought for the needy. Mr Ken Shuffles, I can assure you the £400 pound raised will all go to the needy and not in someones back pocket. I acknowledge I shuld have contacted the neighbours, but not having any issues over the last two years I felt there was no issue. The neighbours invloved dont live next door to me, in fact the immediate neighbours did not come and complain. The cuple pictured live in an estate across the road, shielded by trees, I accept some sound may have carried but having been outside the noise levels were considerably lower than a lawnmower. With the world cup looming and BBQ's coming out fo the shed, i believe we should live and let live. This is something out of nothing, all my neighbours and commetors are welcome for a cup of tea at my home, as we are proud blackburnians and Ken, I also donate to Red Cross and Children IN need. The lady who was on my drive was asked politely of the public footpath, I apolgise if you thought differently, I do not have double standards. As for Carl, I am not sure the telegraph got the point right about which neighbour stated it was sabbath and sunday is a chrisitan day and we should not pray msulim hyms on this day, I can assure you this is the truth but like a level headed person I ignored and hope they will become culturally aware rather than ignorant. Finally I did not raise the story and nor do I have an issue with anyone, it was the telegraph who were contacted by the other party. The police did drive by and stated there was no noise issue, and this can also be verified by the lcal station at bank top. i'll post an ad in next years telegraph for those who would like to come along. Here's to a great summer and England bringing home the World Cup!

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useyourhead says...
11:55pm Mon 31 May 10

tsk tsk tsk, in our modern world could they not have used some sort of ipod wireless headphoney things lol. those that want to join in can tune in, after all most of our youth seem to be in some sort of uncontactable 'noise bubble'. problem solved.

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Ken Shuffles says...
1:10pm Tue 1 Jun 10

ZAH247,

Me and my Atheist friends will look forward to your next fund-raising back garden invitation. Does the Imam accept cash from Atheists?

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AnthonyUK says...
2:21pm Tue 1 Jun 10

Yeah,you would kiss this get's backside and stick up for him ken,wouldn't you? I hope the couple who are complaining about this event to BWDBC environmental health department manage to get it banned from happening in the future and serve an injunction on this man to prevent him from doing it ever again in the future with the threat of eviction for ignorance of the order. People's rights to peace and quiet on a nice warm weather sunday come first NOT the rights of some dogooder fundraiser for the poor in some far flung backward country half way across the world to make a horrible freaking racket that disturbs those who want a quiet pleasant sunday undisturbed by this unwanton nuisance and rubbish wailing out on loudspeakers spoiling it for the local residents. This is england not stakipan or india!

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Ken Shuffles says...
3:49pm Tue 1 Jun 10

ANTHONY,

These people you are talking about that complained do npot even know what Peace looks like. Sunday Peace and Climate Peace are always going to be variable. The Magistrate has a different version of variable Peace than the serial complainants he has for neighbours. If Peace is variable from one individual to the next, from one day to the next, from one sunday afternoon to the next, then the variable Peace they cherish so much will inevitably lead to conflict.

Hopefully, these silly twittering neighbours will have learnt that Real and Absolute Peace does not reside and cannot be found in their own back garden and to expect that it should is delusional. Get a life, but you do make me laugh.

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Ken Shuffles says...
3:54pm Tue 1 Jun 10

Those grown-ups with the maturity and intelligence to underststand will know that sometimes you get the pleasurable sunday afternoon you want and sometimes you don't.

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AnthonyUK says...
4:48pm Tue 1 Jun 10

Do the neighbours HAVE to know what real and absolute peace is on a Sunday? This country is a CHRISTIAN country not a MUSLIM one,and NOBODY deserves to put up with 90mins of wailing groaning rubbish interrupting their sundays because of a charity event to help a country in asia, I do hope BwDBC see sense to ban and or curtail these events because they are unnecessary intrusion on peoples lives and right to peace and quiet on a sunday.

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Ken Shuffles says...
5:07pm Tue 1 Jun 10

Let go of your delusions Anthony. Are there any Christian Trees, birds, flowers, bees, forests, oceans, clouds or raindrops. Does the sun only shine on Christians ? Can you tell me which english specks of dirt are Christian and which Arab specks are Muslim ? Which rays of the sun are Christian and which are Muslim ? Stop dividing up the world according to some retarded nonsensical and cruel religion.

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Ken Shuffles says...
5:19pm Tue 1 Jun 10

People have a sense of variable Peace. When things go as they expect, on their own terms, then they have a sense of peace and all is well. If things don't go the way they want they soon find themselves in abject frigging turmoil and their whole world falls apart. They fall apart because that sense of Peace is subject to variations. Like the weather varies so does their sense of well-being and peace. They may have a sense of peace on a sunday and variably they may not. You can't blame the Magistrate for that. There is no ABSOLUTE RIGHT to Peace on sundays in england except in some strange racist fantasy the neighbours in Meins Rd. are clinging on to.

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Ken Shuffles says...
5:44pm Tue 1 Jun 10

I'm not sure if religious people, and by religious people I mean those with a tendency to accept any information which they are unable to show or provide any evidence for. I mean do we want fantasists with a psychological disability sitting and ruling in places where evidence and judgment is crucial. ?

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Ken Shuffles says...
5:51pm Tue 1 Jun 10

When is something going to be done about the psychological condition of those engaged in the running of the legal system.

In the Real world, where the crims are real, I expect a Magistrate to be someone with at least a degree of Realism, if not an actual sense of Reality.

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