The University of Westminster Students Union has just reported that CCTV cameras have been installed in prayer rooms in Westminster University.

The Director of Faith Matters, Fiyaz Mughal, made the following comment to the Quintin Hogg, the online news-site for the Students Union.

“This is very concerning and utterly ludicrous, students who want to reflect and pray should have the ability to do so without intrusion.”

The installation of CCTV cameras raised the question of intrusion into the private space of students who simply want to pray and also brings into focus the fact that Muslim students who will probably use the prayer spaces more, will feel that they are being observed and ‘spied upon.’

Fiyaz Mughal also stated:

“The level of fear around cameras and ‘being spied upon’  within Muslim communities has been exacerbated by some groups who simply want to create a ‘them and us’ narrative. Therefore actions like this simply feed this narrative, however well-meaning they may be.

The University of Westminster did not comment on the piece that was sent to Students Union online site.