Motives questioned when mosque building permit denied
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Posted 3:06PM on Monday, December 30, 2002
MARIETTA - Muslims in Cobb County are asking questions about a government decision preventing construction at a mosque. <br>
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The city zoning board has denied a mosque's request to build a 70-foot spire even though the city granted two similar variances for church steeples in 1998. <br>
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The Masjid Al-Hedaya mosque needed a waiver to build the 70-foot minaret in an area zoned for a maximum of 35-feet-tall structures. The local zoning board said the denial was not on religious grounds. <br>
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``We said no because of the height and the objection of neighbors,'' Chairman James Mills said. ``If the neighbors had supported it, it would have passed in my opinion.'' <br>
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The request was denied by a 4-2 vote. Now the mosque's 200 members are wondering why churches in similar areas were allowed to build much higher steeples. One church was allowed to build a 175-foot steeple; another raised a 102-foot spire with the zoning board's blessing. <br>
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``They are not similar at all,'' said board member Roy Schults, who voted against the mosque minaret. ``I don't care to discuss it any further. It would be inappropriate in the neighborhood. I voted against it, and that's all I've got to say.'' <br>
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At least one zoning board member says the denial was based on religious bias. Board member William Wilkerson said the height of the tower was never brought up by the opposition. <br>
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``People did not object to the height of the tower, they objected to the mosque being there in the first place,'' he said. ``The only thing missing from that meeting was white hoods and white robes.'' <br>
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The proposed 20,000-square-foot mosque still will be built, just without the spire. Mosque director Amjad Taufique said his congregation hasn't decided whether to appeal the denial for a minaret. <br>
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Taufique said he was shocked by the backlash and opposition to the plan. <br>
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``I was quite surprised,'' he said. ``I did not expect so many people to show up and for it to become such a big issue. ... I think there is some fear of the unknown.''