ORGANISERS of a march which attracted a record-breaking 15,000 Muslims say it is now the biggest event of its type in Europe.
An extra 5,000 people joined the hour-long march in Blackburn from Oak Street Mosque, through Whalley Range, Barbara Castle Way, Chester Street and Audley Range before ending in Newton Street. They came from across Britain and the world, with participants from Pakistan, Norway, Germany and Canada.
The march celebrates the birthday of the prophet Mohammed and the teachings of Sufi Khawaja Mohd Aslam, a grand sheik teacher and preacher who died five years ago. He was based in Blackburn, prompting Muslims to come to march.
Initially, just a few hundred people took part. Some 35 years on, it has grown unrecognisably into a global event.
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