A MOSQUE is at the centre of claims surrounding alleged falsified documents.

Officials of Bury's Khizra Mosque claim two membership application forms submitted to the Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) are bogus.

Now, the town's race relations chiefs have set aside the affiliation process for the mosque until an inquiry into the allegations is concluded.

A statement on behalf of the mosque's executive committee claims that on one of the forms an amendment has been made to substitute the original representative to the REC on one of the forms.

They claim the name of Dr Mazhar Uddin has been erased and replaced with a different name.

And on a separate affiliation document, the religious leaders say the signature of Khizra Mosque president Mr Mohammed Amin has apparently been forged.

The statement said Mr Amin was unaware of the application and added: "He denied all knowledge of this application and was shocked and horrified to learn his signature had been illegally falsified on an important document without his personal knowledge or consent."

Now, the mosque leaders have demanded the BREC take "positive steps to stop and eradicate this illegal practice of falsifying documents and signatures."

They said the apparent bogus forms, lodged on behalf of the mosque and the Khizra Funeral Committee, were uncovered at a time when the mosque had not discussed BREC affiliation matters.

The mosque leaders have urged BREC to bring in tougher criteria, rules and guidelines for its membership panel.

They want officials to fully investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice.

Speaking just days before she resigned as chairman of Bury Racial Equality Council, Mrs Val McGrory, said she was aware of the complaint.

"The membership process involving the Khizra Mosque is being set aside pending a full investigation," she added.

The race body's membership panel is now handling the inquiry into the complaints made by the mosque, which also embraces the Khizra welfare and cultural centre.

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