Meet Londonderry's growing Muslim community

Muslim men gather for Friday prayers at the offices of the North West Islamic Association

Friday prayers have never been busier in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

It’s something that Muslims do in places around the world, in line with the teachings of the Qur'an, Islam’s holy book.

In Londonderry, the growing number of Muslims in this traditionally Christian city worship Allah in an industrial estate, in between a bowling alley and a pub.

Gatherings like this would have once been unheard of in Derry.

But the city is rapidly changing and about 1,000 followers of Islam now call it home, coming from the likes of Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Iran and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

There are doctors, students, refugees and asylum-seekers, and one – Sadou Diallo, from Guinea - even plays professional football for Derry City.

Derry City footballer Sadou Diallou, from Guinea, is part of the city's growing Muslim community

The former Manchester City player moved from west Africa to England at the age of seven and went on to play for Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining the Candystripes two and a half years ago.

The 24 year old is the only Muslim Derry City player and often uses the Brandywell dressing room for private prayer, as well as talking to teammates about his faith in Islam.

'It's a way of living'

"Obviously, Derry is quite small compared to Manchester or Birmingham," he said.

"It was quite a shock at the start but I've had no problems whatsoever. People just accept you for who you are.

"It's my life being a Muslim. It's the most important thing to me.

"It's like a direction for life in terms of everything: discipline, how to talk to people, things like that.

"It's more than just religion. It's a way of living."

Dr Heba Ali and husband Ahmet Marzouk, from Egypt, are both consultants in Altnagelvin Hospital and live in Derry with their two children, Mohamed and Jana.

(Left to right) Ahmed, Heba, Mohamed, Heba's mum Bousy and daughter Jana

They moved to to Derry from London more than five years ago and "fell in love" with the city.

"I like the people," said Heba.

"When I came here five and a half years ago, it wasn't very diverse.

"I think I was the only lady doctor wearing the head scarf or hijab in the hospital.

"I felt very welcome from my patients and my colleagues.

"People in the street would smile at me and this wasn't the case in London."

Their children go to grammar schools in Derry.

"They are just part of the community now," said Heba.

"They blended very well and they consider this home.

"Although London is more diverse, I felt more welcome here.

"I think this is a very good city in everything: safe, nice people, friendly, good education. What more do you want?"

Dr Sameh Hassan is chairman of the North West Islamic Association

Dr Sameh Hassan, from Egypt, works as an engineer in Seagate and is chairman of the North West Islamic Association, where he leads Friday prayers.

He moved to Derry from York almost 15 years ago and now describes himself as "almost like a native".

He has noticed a definite change in the city's demographics.

"The place has not been as diverse in the past, which has been changing over the last years, I think," he said.

"But overall, our experience was very good."

He said Derry's Muslim community continues to thrive with support of the locals, especially in the last four or five years.

"We had a very open attitude towards the community," Dr Hassan said.

"We open our doors to the community. We do lots of outreach activities.

"We welcome community groups, youth groups to our centre.

"We try to build as much bridges with the local community as we can. It gives people in the city a chance to meet Muslims, perhaps for the first time."

Refugee Adnan Khamis fled the civil war in Syria

More than 120 people regularly attend Friday prayers in the association's office.

For Adnan Khamis, the move to Derry was a matter of life and death, as he and his family fled the civil war in his native Syria.

They have now found peace in a place which has endured conflict in the past.

"We escaped in 2013, due to the war situation that appears in our country," said the 22 year old who is studying to be a civil engineer.

"I have been welcomed very well since we came here in 2017," he said.

"I have seen a lot of lovely people, friendly people, welcoming us all over the place.

"People have supported me to keep going.

"Also, I'm Muslim but I didn't experience any issues at all with that.

"We have a lot of love in our religion. We aren't so different from Christianity - there are a lot of similarities."

Aqib Javed moved to Derry from the disputed Kashmir region between Pakistan and India

Aqib Javed is a 30-year-old Pakistani from the disputed Kashmir region.

He is doing a postgraduate computer science degree at Magee and lives on the fringe of the Bogside.

He says he has learnt a lot since moving to the city.

"The computer science department in Derry is one of the best in the world," he said.

"The work they're doing is at the same level as Oxford, so that is the reason that brings me here.

"Initially, it was a cultural shock. You're far away from the family, you're far away from the culture and everything.

"But the thing I find here, even knowing that there is not a good reputation of Northern Ireland, the people of Derry are very hospitable, especially in the initial days when you are struggling to find accommodation."

He said there were some similarities between Kashmir and Northern Ireland.

"It's a line on the land but people on both sides, they share the same families, they share the same festivals, they share the same cultures."