Knife amnesty to be launched at Green Lane Mosque, Birmingham

The Birmingham Mail reports on an initiative involving the unveiling of a knife surrender bin outside Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre to help combat crime in Small Heath, Birmingham.

The initiative follows on from news that the mosque has conducted funerals for a number of local stabbing victims. The murder of Mohammed Saleem, 75, who was fatally stabbed with a machete close to his home as he walked alone after prayers at the mosque in April 2013, is one incident reminding the local community of the danger of knife crime. His racist killer, Ukrainian student Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, who also planted three bombs near mosques in Wolverhampton, Tipton and Walsall was sentenced to 40 years in prison at the Old Bailey two years ago.

Green Lane Mosque spokesman, Amer Ijaz, said: “Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre believes that it is for each of us to take responsibility for the society in which we live. It is with this in mind that we have joined forces with the Birmingham Empowerment Forum on the Lives not Knives project. This initiative will empower individuals and groups to break out of a cycle of violent crime by joining this knife surrender in a trusted location. God willing, such initiatives will pave the way for a new start for those previously involved in crime and will make our communities a safer place for everybody.”

Community Activist Desmond Jaddoo, from the Birmingham Empowerment Forum, who is behind the initiative said: “This is just continuing Lives not Knives with all communities working together and taking responsibility for making our streets safer for our neighbours, families especially our children in the ever changing face of Birmingham”.

The bin is to be unveiled on Friday morning by the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito and Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood.

With last month’s findings that knife crime has increased by 13% in England and Wales, the knife surrender initiative involving Green Lane Mosque is one of a number of initiatives by Muslim communities in Britain seeking to improve the local areas in which they live.