More than 1,000 worshippers heard an Islamic charity worker discuss the issue of domestic violence, in the aftermath of the Recorder’s focus on the subject last week.

Shaykh Adnan Sohail addressed a mixed gathering of men, women and children during Friday prayers at Minhaj-ul-Quran Mosque in Forest Gate as part of a series of talks on social and community issues affecting Muslim residents in Newham.

He said the murder of Amina Bibi, who used to pray at the mosque, showed that there was a “silent majority who need to come out” about their suffering. The devoted mother-of-two who was murdered by a hitman hired by her husband had put a brave face on her domestic troubles.

Shaykh Adnan said: “More needs to be done. I think we need to talk about domestic violence in the mosque, that we need to bring in a lot of social issues. It is within the mosque environment that we can try our best to help them but they need to help themselves.

“I have interactive sessions in the mosque and I ask the men “How often do you cook for your wives?” It just gives them the message that they need to do more as husbands.”

Shaykh Adnan said domestic violence is a topic which affects people of all backgrounds.

“Domestic violence is a taboo topic within the community but we have to get away from the thinking that it is a Muslim problem - it’s a cultural problem. We need to remove the tag line that says it is a Muslim problem.

“Islam gives equality to both men and women but it can sometimes seem that women are over protected and imprisoned in their homes.”

He said the mosque was a safe environment in which scholars could give advice to young people as well as adults.