It’s a situation that has the president of a local mosque pondering his next move.
“I believe in all my heart that this is somewhat of a discrimination,” said Shafik Hammami.
The Islamic Society of Mobile has called East Drive home for over 20 years. The buildings however, are much older, and that’s why Hammami wants to rebuild.
But many residents in the area are against building a bigger building, saying traffic is a major problem.
“There’s not enough room. There’s not room for the cars. Really it’s a small area to expand a school and a church,” said neighbor Beverly Montgomery.
The Mobile City Council agreed, blocking his construction plans. Hammami feels the traffic concerns are just a mask to cover people’s prejudices about the Islamic faith.
“Does it have anything to do with them being Muslim?” I asked Montgomery. “Not really, no. Of course it’s, you know we have feelings. Terrorist that came from that particular mosque, makes you think,” she said.
And that terrorist is Omar Hammami, who is Shafik Hammami’s son. He is on the America’s Most Wanted list for supporting the terrorist organization Al Shabaab and recruiting terrorist for the organization.
“I don’t blame the American people for having the fear, but I do blame people who do not pursue the truth. The truth is we are a peaceful religion, and we have nothing to do with the terror acts going on all over the world,” said Hammami.
On East Drive you’ll find a Jehovah’s Witness hall, an apartment complex, cut through traffic coming from Airport Boulevard and the University of South Alabama just up the street. One couple who is new to the area feels a new mosque would not make a difference.
“It never affects the whole through street. Only the student traffic,” said Beth Burgert. “I wouldn’t have a problem with them expanding it. I think they should be able to build on their property,” said Tyler Mason.
Hammami also says that because city councilwoman Bess Rich lives in the neighborhood and is against the mosque rebuilding, her vote should have been considered a conflict of interest.
I asked Hammami if just picking up and moving would be an option and he told me no, saying the property is owned by the Islamic Umbrella which does not allow anything else to be built there other than a mosque. Hammami tells me he plans to seek legal counsel.