Hawzah News Agency (Isle of Lewis, Scotland) - A derelict building in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis has been converted into a mosque following a crowdfunding campaign which raised more than £94,000.

The local Muslim community, thought to number more than 50 people including a number of Syrian refugees, now has a dedicated place of worship for the first time.

Aihtsham Rashid, a mosque builder from Leeds, led the construction project.

He said: “We’ve got the job done in about four weeks, probably the fastest mosque that has ever been built.

“We wanted to have it ready in time for Ramadan.

“It’s been very positive. A lot of people are happy in the community.”

There is said to have been a Muslim community in the area since 1945.

Ramadan starts on May 15 this year in the UK.

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