The battle began to brew on Monday, as Muslim leaders hoping to build a mosque in St. Anthony were told a moratorium had been placed on their plan to convert part of an office building into an Islamic Center. Now, the Council of American Islamic Relations is blaming the delay on fear and discrimination.
No decisions have been made on whether give the green light to the project or shut it down. So far, the City Council has only asked for more time to study the plan because of confusion over zoning ordinances.
“We need to look at it and find out exactly what it is and say, ‘How does it fit?’” said Mayor Jerry Faust. “I’m not pre-judging it. I don’t think any of us are. We just don’t have information. We need to take the time to look at it.”
On Tuesday night, however, city leaders got an earful from leaders in the Muslim community who worry their dreams are being derailed because of discrimination.
At the meeting, it was clear that controversy surrounding the proposed Islamic Center is reaching a fever pitch.
“I’m against it,” said Jessica Kaufman, a St. Anthony resident. “I don’t want it where I live.”
Though the proposed mosque wasn’t on the meeting agenda, it was front and center during a tense Planning Commission meeting.
“There is a need for us to build community and society,” said Kadir Abdi, a supporter of the Abu-Huraira plan.
A Muslim group has a purchase agreement to buy a large office building along Old Highway 8. They plan to let the current tenants stay, but want to convert the basement into an Islamic Center and prayer space.
Ferdinand Peters, an attorney hired by the buyers, has suggested the delay from city leaders may be discriminatory; however, city leaders have repeatedly insisted it is simply a zoning issue.
Right now, the building is considered light industrial and open for use as an assembly, meeting lodge or convention hall. Churches, temples and synagogues are to be built in residential areas.
The City Council has promised to have come to a decision by the middle of June, but a civil rights coordinator for the Council on American Islamic Relations was at the meeting on Tuesday to explain that 35 mosque projects have been rejected by communities across the country over the last two years. She pleaded with the St. Anthony leaders not to add their city to that list.