Anger after Manchester Airport prayer room closed
25.02.11
An islamic prayer room at Manchester Airport that was damaged in a suspected arson attack has been shut for ‘health and safety’ reasons, the MEN reports. The portacabin was used by taxi drivers and airport staff for worship but was closed by airport bosses earlier this week.
The room is separate from the five prayer rooms in the airport terminals, which are part of the airport’s multi-faith chaplaincy. Two ceremonial garments inside the room were deliberately set ablaze on September 11 last year – the ninth anniversary of the attacks on New York’s Twin Towers. Now the room, on the airport’s taxi feeder park in Ringway Road, has been closed permanently, because the airport says the building is dangerous and would cost too much to repair.
Taxi drivers have reacted to the news with with anger, claiming around 500 people use the site every week and that it forms a crucial part of their daily routine. One driver told the newspaper: ‘We’ve used it for about a decade and are disgusted that it has shut without warning. We were all very upset when it was set on fire on September 11 and this feels like another kick in the teeth.’
An airport spokesman said the cabin is unsafe and that they have told the drivers that they can now use their other prayer rooms.
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