On a cold night before Ramadan, men checked safety inside the partly built South Lakes Islamic Centre (SLIC) in Cumbria. The building is still rough with bare bricks and hanging wires, but a space was cleared for nightly prayers. “In Ramadan, we don’t have any other place to go,” said Aban Hussain, the mosque’s chair. Barrow-in-Furness, where many Muslim healthcare workers live, had no mosque nearby; the closest one is over 50 miles away. They used to rent halls for prayers, spending about £600 a month. Dr Ghulam Jeelani, a former GP, said many doctors left due to lack of Islamic facilities. In 2022, Barrow council approved plans for a three-storey mosque and community centre in Dalton-in-Furness. Fundraising has raised £2.5m for the build. However, the mosque became a far-right target after GB News called it a “mega mosque.” Groups like Ukip and Britain First protested loudly, harassing workers and local businesses. “They started harassing the local businesses who were working with us, harassing the labourers who were working with us, calling them traitors,” Hussain said. Most protesters came from outside Barrow, surprising local residents. Despite protests, many locals support the mosque, planning interfaith events after its July opening. Paul Jenkins, a local anti-racism campaigner, praised community support against far-right groups. “The plan to open for Ramadan is creating a fantastic feeling for the community,” Jenkins said. Jeelani said, “This is a great achievement. This year, we won’t have to hire the community centre. We will start prayers in our new mosque.”