A woman who fought for CCTV coverage at a Llanelli mosque where Muslims claim to have suffered years of abuse said the situation has now improved.

Anne Stevens-Bevan, of Llanelli’s Ethnic Minority Help Association, fought tirelessly for improved security at the mosque on Station Road after people going there to pray said they had been abused.

The issue was brought to the attention of the Muslim Council for Great Britain and the Home Secretary, and Carmarthenshire Council agreed to fund cameras outside the mosque last year.

Mrs Stevens-Bevan said she had not been made aware of any trouble since their installation. “This is what we fought so hard for,” she said. “We haven’t had any further notices of anything happening down there.”

She said religious freedom was a cause close to her heart – and vowed to keep fighting against prejudice. “If we all understood each other the world would be a better place,” said Mrs Stevens-Bevan.

The problems came to a head when a group of elderly women marking the festival of Ramadan claimed to have been followed into the building by two men. Metal bars were fitted over the mosque’s windows last year after reports were made that glass was smashed while someone was praying inside.

Carmarthenshire Council’s community safety partnership manager Kate Thomas confirmed there had been no issues since the CCTV camera was put in place. “The camera was installed in June 2012 and there have been no incidents reported to the police since, which is excellent news,” she said.

Llanelli Star, 27 February 2013

Via ENGAGE