Supervisors Approve Muslim Prayer Services
Supervisors in San Bernardino County, California, voted Tuesday, May 21, to allow an Islamic center to operate in an unincorporated area of the county near Chino.
The temporary use permit, approved on a 3-1 vote, allows the Al-Nur Islamic Center to hold prayer services at an existing house on the 1.54-acre site between Chino and Montclair.
Last year, supervisors approved plans for a 7,000-square-foot mosque on the property but opponents sued to block it. A judge ruled in February that the county must conduct an analysis of whether the project has enough sewage capacity but dismissed claims related to traffic, noise and other issues. The sanitation issue is expected to be dealt with separately later.
Warren Inouye, an attorney for the Islamic center, said the center is within its rights to use the house for prayer services until the mosque project proceeds but sought the temporary use permit “to eliminate as much controversy as we can.”
The one-year permit allows for up to 30 worshippers for prayer services, five times a day.
Opponents said they object due to land use and other issues, not the religion of the worshippers. But mosque members say their Islamic faith is driving some of the opposition.
Last August, the center reported that two women had hurled pig carcasses at the house while Muslims were worshipping inside. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork or any pig byproducts.
Sheriff’s officials investigated the incident as a hate crime and vandalism of a place of worship.
No arrests have been reported.
Source: pe.com
Last year, supervisors approved plans for a 7,000-square-foot mosque on the property but opponents sued to block it. A judge ruled in February that the county must conduct an analysis of whether the project has enough sewage capacity but dismissed claims related to traffic, noise and other issues. The sanitation issue is expected to be dealt with separately later.
Warren Inouye, an attorney for the Islamic center, said the center is within its rights to use the house for prayer services until the mosque project proceeds but sought the temporary use permit “to eliminate as much controversy as we can.”
The one-year permit allows for up to 30 worshippers for prayer services, five times a day.
Opponents said they object due to land use and other issues, not the religion of the worshippers. But mosque members say their Islamic faith is driving some of the opposition.
Last August, the center reported that two women had hurled pig carcasses at the house while Muslims were worshipping inside. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork or any pig byproducts.
Sheriff’s officials investigated the incident as a hate crime and vandalism of a place of worship.
No arrests have been reported.
Source: pe.com
