Saturday 28th March, 2026
Darul Ihsaan Barking Statement on Recent Media Coverage
86 Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8SF | www.darulihsaanbarking.org.ukOfficial Statement from Darul Ihsaan Barking
**
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
We are aware of the recent article published by the Daily Mail concerning our approved planning application for a new community hub at Darul Ihsaan Barking.
We were contacted the night before Eid about this article, while we were preparing to serve hundreds and thousands who joined us for Eid and Jumu’ah prayers. This clearly showed bad faith and a lack of understanding of basic Islamic values.
We will not be responding directly to the Daily Mail, the Jewish Chronicle or GB News. These outlets have a long and well-documented history of peddling Islamophobia and devastatingly cheerleading ongoing genocide in Gaza. We are not surprised by their attempt to distort our work causing division between British communities.
Our focus is and remains firmly on serving the local community, something we have done consistently for years. The new facility will be a comprehensive community hub open to everyone in Barking, regardless of faith or background. It will include a mosque for worship, yes, but also a gym for health and wellbeing, a crèche to support young families, educational classes for seniors, adults and children, and a mental health hub offering support services and volunteering opportunities.
We have completed a thorough consultation process in which local residents had every opportunity to raise their views. The local authority has now made a legally binding decision. We will continue working closely with our neighbours to deliver a much-needed community resource in one of the poorest boroughs in the country, where 42% of children are living in poverty and vital services have been decimated by decades of neoliberal austerity.
Barking has a proud history of rejecting hate and division. Darul Ihsaan Barking will continue firmly in this tradition, standing unwaveringly for justice, unity, and bringing communities together against those who seek to divide us.
Concerns raised in the article regarding Shaykh Mahmood al-Madani have been taken completely out of context and further reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of Islam. We addressed this matter in a previous statement and will not allow it to be weaponised to distract from the genuine benefit this project will bring to all residents of Barking.
Our work benefiting the community , through worship, education, wellbeing, and support services, will always continue, insha’Allah. We remain committed to building a space that promotes unity, opportunity, and wellbeing for everyone.
We thank our local community, supporters, and all those who have shown solidarity. Your trust and participation are what matter most to us.
Wasalaam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Signed,
Darul Ihsaan Management Team
For media inquiries, please contact: info@daruIIhsaanbarking.org.uk
ENDS