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Luton Muslims in ferment over bingo hall called Mecca

A bingo hall named Mecca, after the name of the holy Muslim city, is at the centre of a row. As expected, it's the name that's the sore point.

For the Rank Group, which owns the hall, it was just one arm of their sprawling empire of 135 bingo halls, having changed the name of the Luton outlet from Top Rank to Mecca to consolidate the company's image. The plan backfired, for within days of its inauguration, in December, Luton's Muslims exploded into action.

The Muslims are determined they will settle for nothing short of a change in name. "Linking the heart of Islam with gambling and alcohol is blasphemy," says Akbar Dad Khan, secretary of Luton's Islamic Society.

The anger has, over the weeks, translated into violence. Muslim youths are suspected of petrol bombing an electric sign in Bury Park last fortnight, south of the city. Again on Christmas Day, windows of the bingo hall were smashed by a group which the police believe was similarly motivated.

"It could have been anyone. Our religious sensitivities have been hurt and there is bound to be anger," declares Khan.

It is not the first time that religious sentiments of ethnic minorities in Britain have been ruffled in this fashion. Two months earlier, the Hindu community in Birmingham rallied against Clarks, the huge footwear chain, which decided to christen two winter brands, 'Vishnu' and 'Krishna', after the names of Hindu gods.

The Hindus took the fight to the streets. Loud protests, followed up with demonstrations and even picketing at a couple of Clarks retail units, forced the management to withdraw the brand names of the shoes. "To link Hindu gods with shoes is disgusting and unthinkable. We would not have rested till the brand names were banished," says a priest in the Hindu temple in Neasden.

The Hindus were also fortunate that they had Labour MP Keith Vaz lobbying their cause. The rallies and protests paid off. Clarks obliterated the names of the Hindu gods. Their explanation for choosing the names in the first place was because they thought 'Vishnu' and 'Krishna' sounded 'catchy'.

Again, a French rubbish disposal service, 'Sita' was forced to change its name two years back in Birmingham. "Sita was the goddess of purity and you cannot have a garbage service called after her," says Maharaj Krishna, a priest.

In Luton, the stand-off continues. Mecca says they have been trading with this name for 100 years after it was founded by two Victorian merchants. It merged with Rank in 1990.

"I told them that there were few people of the Muslim faith in Britain then," says Akbar Khan. The Mecca management feels they are better informed of the position and have promised to reconsider.

"We are going to have some more meetings with leaders of the community where we hope something will be worked out," says Debbie Catt, a publicity spokesperson for Mecca.

The company's management have promised to bring out a set of proposals which will assuage the community's feelings. However, Muslim leaders are unwilling to accept a piecemeal solution. Leaders of the Inter-Faith (a conglomerate of other religions) in Luton have supported their cause.

Following a storm of protests against Nike, the giant sportswear company, it recently agreed to a multi-million pound redesign to running shoes whose logo, when viewed from a certain angle, resembled the Arabic for Allah.

"Mecca too can change its name even if it involves a couple of million pounds. It is after all not such a big price to pay," declares Akbar Khan.

EARLIER REPORT:
UK Hindus up in arms over shoes named after Vishnu, Krishna

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