A LEADING Gwent politician had an interim injunction imposed to stop him from interfering with prayers at two Newport mosques, it was revealed in court yesterday.

The interim management committee of Jamia Mosque in Commercial Road and Al-Noor Mosque in Harrow Road requested the order against Tory South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar on Tuesday amid allegations about the only Muslim Assembly Member’s support for a man said to oppose mosque elections.

But the injunction was lifted yesterday after a Cardiff County Court judge told the two parties to come to a private agreement.

The claimants withdrew the case, and Mr Asghar said he felt “vindicated” and that the way the case was brought was “very inappropriate”.

He denied claims he stated on December 9 at Jamia Mosque that he did not want a mosque member removed.

The interim injunction ordered neither Mr Asghar nor another man, Abdul Rehman Muhjahid, interfere with the peaceful offering of prayers at their usual times at the Jamia Mosque in Commercial Road or the Al-Noor Mosque in Harrow Road.

The interim injunction was obtained by the interim committee earlier this week at Cardiff County Court, but yesterday Judge Terry John at a hearing said he could not grant a further order.

He said the statement of case from committee chairman Manzoor Ahmad asked for an anti-social behaviour order injunction, which the judge said there was no justification for given the circumstances.

He suggested immediate problems could be better dealt with by an agreement.

He said there was also a property dispute that should be dealt with separately.

Shazata Hayat, speaking for Mazoor Ahmad, said the committee was working into the early hours to resolve the issue amicably.

Ryan Amesbury, barrister for the respondents, told the court the interim committee was “self-appointed”, adding: “What you have here is a power struggle in the mosque.”

The two parties yesterday afternoon signed an agreement stating no-one from the interim committee or the original committee of the mosques could interfere with religious worship.

It also states disputes over mosque management would not be discussed in the mosque.