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Mosque Official Blames Anti-Muslim Feeling in Norwalk

NORWALK, Conn. – A Norwalk Muslim who is in charge of expressing the bitter disappointment his community feels over the rejection of their proposal to build a mosque says there is a vibe in Norwalk that isn't pretty.

"These anti-mosque people are anti-Muslim people," said Farhan Memom, spokesman for Al Madany Norwalk Islamic Center. "Not only do I feel that vibe, but I have been told that by Norwalk rabbis and ministers."

"The statement is purposely inflammatory and disparages those who voiced their opinion," Margaret Everson, a member of Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential, said in an email.

Members of the zoning commission cited the density of the mosque proposed for 127 Fillow St., as well as traffic and parking concerns, in their denial of the application Wednesday night. One commissioner talked about the religious diversity of Norwalk, which Memom took issue with.

"There are four centuries of religious diversity and religious tolerance in Norwalk," Mike Mushak said. Norwalk was founded by Puritans, Mushak said, who built the Congregational Church. Seventy five years later, the Congregational Church donated the land for St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which had a Jewish member as one of its four founders. Later, Protestant churches collected money to help build St. Mary's Catholic Church.

"The history of Norwalk is all about religious diversity and we need a mosque," said Mushak. "Unfortunately, and sadly, this location is not the proper location for that purpose."

"I recognize that diversity and I appreciate that history," Memom said."On the other hand, we also have to remember that were lots of people who were excluded from that history, namely African Americans. We should also remember that historically we know that 40 to 50 percent of African Americans were Muslim. So while there is that sort of history of diversity, we also have to recognize that there was a history of discrimination against African Americans, and had they had the same rights as white Americans 400 years ago, they would have built mosques 400 years ago and we wouldn't be having this discussion today."

"We offered time and time again to meet with the condominium associations that are opposed to this," Memom said. "They refused categorically to sit down and talk. ... they are opposed to any mosque in their neighborhood, even a modified version of what we put up here tonight. These anti-mosque people are anti-Muslim people. I don't think they represent the whole of our community in Norwalk and we are going to fight vigorously to make sure that we have a presence on that property as a religious place of worship."

Most members of Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential who spoke at the hearings said they opposed the mosque for traffic reasons. "I'd be here if it was a Catholic church or a synagogue," said Bill Gaugh, a resident of Stepping Stone Road.

"Other religious people in this community have heard from some of the people who are opposed to this project what they really think," Memon said. He was referring to Norwalk rabbis and ministers and said people who are against the mosque assumed that "just because they wear a collar they must be anti-the mosque."

"We feel very strongly that our community does not have a place to worship right now," Memom said. "As Americans we have a constitutional right to worship in a place of our own and that's what we're fighting for over here."

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