|PIC1|For the first time supporters and opponents of the proposed Olympics mega-mosque in East London will meet to debate the key issues surrounding the proposals, at a public meeting 7 September in Stratford.

Following the recent petition against the mosque which attracted over 250,000 signatures on the 10 Downing Street website, a tense atmosphere will be expected as both sides put forward their arguments head-to-head in front of an open audience.

Support for the mosque will be led by Abdul Khaliq Mian, a former mega-mosque project manager and spokesman, and also a former parliamentary candidate (East Ham 2005) and local council candidate (Newham 2006) for George Galloway's Respect party.

Leading those opposing the mega mosque plans will be Councillor Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance group on Newham Council.

The debate has been organised by Newham Muslim voluntary sector group 'Islamic Circles' and is open to the public.

|PIC2|"I'm delighted we are to debate the mega-mosque issue face-to-face at last," said Cllr Craig, who has been the leading East London opponent of the project. "I first asked for discussions with mosque promoters Tablighi Jamaat over a year ago but they have always refused to meet. This is the first real opportunity to do democracy, and I expect the debate to be hard-hitting but civilised."

Cllr Craig also criticised the stance taken by Ken Livingstone over the mega-mosque. "This debate will also serve to publicly discredit the Mayor's offensive and unfounded slur that opposition to the mosque is by nature Islamophobic and BNP-inspired," said Alan Craig. "It isn't. Many Muslims oppose the Tablighi Jamaat mega-mosque, and non-Islamic local opposition is rational, reasoned and based on respect for our Muslim fellow citizens. We stand against BNP hate-mongering."

The Christian People Alliance leaders concluded: "Of course the Mayor's unreasoned biased backing for the mega-mosque simply strengthens the cause of all opponents.

"Fortunately he has no planning powers over the Olympic zone, so he cannot directly impact the final planning decision about the mosque."

The debate is to be held at 6.15pm on Friday 7 September at Ithaca House in Stratford, East London.