THE leader of Bradford Muslim Women's Council last night said MP Naz Shah should meet it face-to-face to talk if she has concerns over its proposals for the UK's first women-managed mosque.

Yesterday, a mixed audience of women and men packed Carlisle Business Centre as part of a public consultation over the plans for Bradford to haver the first mosque of its kind.

Despite an invitation, Bradford West Labour MP Ms Shah was not among them but had made her views known in a national newspaper report.

Ms Shah wrote she disagreed with the idea because she did not want to see even more gender-segregation saying: "It seems to me that having a women-managed mosque is completely the wrong approach because the community and faith are stronger whenMuslim men and women work in partnership as equals.

"I don't want to see greater gender segregation, or women's involvement pushed to the margins. What we need is good examples of mosques and madrassas that are inclusive of both men and women."

Bana Gora, chief executive of the Muslim Women's Council said she had read Ms Shah's comments and added: "What I'd say in return is we are based here at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham so come and talk to us. We are interested to hear what anyone has to say whether they are an elected person or not. This is why we are having the public consultation."

When the Telegraph & Argus asked specifically about Ms Shah's comment on not wanting to see more gender segregation, Ms Gora said: "It's non-segregational. It's a non-brainer."

The Muslim Women's Council has been looking at facilities in the city's 117 mosques, which led to the project to create a women-led mosque.

Not only would it be a place of worship but it would also be a centre of excellence to encourage more women to get active in management at there Bradford mosques.

During yesterday's consultation event at Carlisle BusinessCentre, the audience had a chance to ask questions, with speakers including Shaykh Akram Nadwi, dean of Cambridge Islamic College; Dr Shuruq Naguib, a lecturer and co-chairman of the British Association of Islamic Studies; and Dilwar Hussain, the founder and chairman of New Horizons in British Islam.

During that question time, Selina Ullah, a director of the Muslim Women's Council, said: "We want to put our stamp on how a mosque should be run. We are not excluding men. They will be on our advisory body. We also have scholars and imams who will work with us. We are not ignoring men."

The Teegraph & Argus was not able to contact Ms Shah last night.