http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News/121mph-drivers-late-for-prayers-15062012.htm TWO students caught speeding at 121 mph in separate cars on the A9 told police they were trying to get to a prayer meeting at an Inverness mosque.
Mohamed Mubarak and Syed Safiullah were clocked on a 70mph stretch of dual carriageway at Daviot.
Twenty-three-year-old Safiullah was driving behind Mubarak (24) when they were stopped by police on mobile patrol on the approach to the Fort Augustus junction.
Safiulla’s solicitor Craig Wood told inverness Sheriff Court yesterday that the offence was committed at 11.18am on 6th April and both men had been trying to get to the mosque for noon prayers.
“He is a Muslim,” Mr Wood said.
“His god is Allah and he has to undertake specific religious rites every day and on a Friday he is required to attend communal prayer.
“He is well aware he shouldn’t have been driving at that speed but if someone is determined to exceed the speed limit that stretch of dual carriageway is as good a place as any because it’s dual carriageway on a downhill stretch and lengthy visibility.”
Mr Wood said Safiullah had a law degree studied over five years in India.
He was attending Warwick University studying for an M.Sc. and was planning to go back to practise corporate law in India.
Duncan Henderson, solicitor for Mubarak, said his client was also at Warwick University studying innovation and entrepreneurship.
Mubarak told police he had not looked at his speedometer.
Both men, from Coventry, admitted driving dangerously and each was fined £500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
After the case, Northern Constabulary said 121mph was one of the fastest speeds its officers had recorded on the A9, dubbed Scotland’s most dangerous road.
“Too many drivers continue to drive at excessive speed or in a dangerous and careless manner on roads in the Highlands and Islands, potentially putting their lives at risk and the lives of other road users,” said a spokesman.
“Our message is quite clear and that is speeding and inappropriate driving will not be tolerated and we will deal robustly with any incidences of that...
As a matter of interest, I knew a Muslim who was here before there were many mosques and he would pop into a local church to pray. Is there really a rule that you have to get to a mosque in time? And what is the problem with a local one?
Topic: 121 mph because late for prayers...