Community News (V14-I15)

Mosque hosts rally for Trayvon Martin

MINNEAPOLIS,MN–A public event called The Lights to Unite: We Are All Trayvon wAS held at the Masjid An-Nur Mosque on Sunday April 1, 2012  evening, where members of Project Minnesota, MADDADS, Shiloh Temple International Ministries and north Minneapolis activists spoke out against gun violence.

Attendees signed a  a petition for freedom from gun violence and commit themselves to acting against gun violence.

Speakers at the event included VJ Smith, president of MADDADS, Mary Johnson, founder of From Death to Life/Two Mothers, Heather Martens, executive director of Protect MN: Working to End Gun Violence, Bishop Richard Howell, of Shiloh Temple International Ministries,Imam Makram El-Amin of Masjid An-Nur.

Thefts at mosques

NEW YORK,NY–Mosques are spiritual places where worshippers come for comfort and solace. However, they are now being targeted by thieves across the USA. In some instances the culprits are from within the community. Recently, a Queens man was arrested for allegedly stealing from the Jama Masjid Mosque in North Bellmore.   Nassau County Police arrested the 48 year Muslim old man after he was seen stealing from the donation box on a CCTV camera. It was apparently not the first time that he had done the deed. Footage from a few days earlier also showed him stealing from the donation boxes

In the meanwhile, police in Rochester,Minnesota, are trying to catch a thief who stole around $6,000 from the  Masjed Abubakr Al-Seddig. The mosque has CCTV cameras and hope that it has captured the images of the thief.

In January, thieves stole purses from the purse bin at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn.

Wilmar allows conditional use for mosque

WILMAR,MN–The Planning Commission of Wilmar has allowed the Islamic Society of Wilmar to use a former school for a mosque. The conditional approval places two conditions: that the Islamic Society must have a site parking plan approved by the city engineer, and that there be no outside sound after 9 p.m.

The neighborhood where the former school is located is zoned R-2 for single-family and twin-home residences, and houses of worship are an allowable use with a conditional use permit within that zoning area, according to the city zoning ordinance.

The commissioners had no objections to the seven affirmative findings that they must consider when approving a conditional use permit.

Those include: no factual demonstration of substantial or appreciable negative impact on neighborhood property values; that adequate measures have or will be taken to provide ingress and egress to minimize traffic congestion and maximize public safety; and that the conditional use will be maintained in a manner that is compatible with the existing or intended character of the neighborhood.

Some residents have spoken against the approval citing traffic and other concerns during Ramadan.

Maryland Muslims meet state politicians

ANNAPOLIS,MD–Muslims from various parts of state travelled to Annapolis for the the  Maryland Middle East American Legislative Night. The Frederick County Muslim Council helped organize the gathering with the governor, state Cabinet members and other elected officials, along with the Maryland Middle East American Chamber of Commerce and the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs.

The government officials gave brief presentations centred on jobs, education and health care, according to a flier for the event. During the event, the local Muslims were able to meet with Sen. Ron Young and talk about issues that were important to them including education and health care, as well as the widening of I-270.

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