LEADING Muslims in York said today they were praying for peace in the wake of the latest developments in Afghanistan.

Dr Shujja Din, chairman of York Muslim Association, said members already shocked by the death toll in New York were hoping that no more innocent lives would be lost.

The association, which is based in Tang Hall, serves a community of around 200 York Muslims, whose families originate mainly from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and East Africa.

Dr Din, a retired consultant from York District Hospital, said it was a low-profile association concerned with running the premises, which are used as a mosque and also for weekend education for children.

"These are decisions being made by Governments and states and we are not a political organisation," he said.

He and association secretary Aziz Karbani, said they were all praying for peace. Mr Karbani said: "Islam is a very strict religion and it doesn't say to hurt people - to do anything against innocent people like the people who did this thing in America is against the basic principles of Islam."

They said that Muslims in York had not suffered any backlash, as far as they were aware, following the attacks in New York, which, for Dr Din, had had a personal dimension too.

He said his brother had been at work in pharmaceutical company offices very near to the World Trade Centre in New York when the attacks took place, but was safe. He also has two nieces there.

"I don't think they've come across hostility but the atmosphere for them there is not good," he said.

Dr Din also has relatives in Pakistan where he said there had long been a steady flow of refugees from Afghanistan.

Updated: 14:46 Monday, October 08, 2001