Expansion of Edmond mosque causing controversy

EDMOND, Okla. (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  There is a controversy in Edmond involving the expansion of a local mosque.

The small mosque, which has been in Edmond for 20 years, sits across from the University of Central Oklahoma. Officials have requested permits to expand the building to five times the size it is now.

When neighbors were notified about the expansion plan, letters of complaint began coming in.

In a hand-written note the writer asked planning commissioners to look at recent events in Murfressboro, Tenn., and "what our grandchildren are going to face." A 50,000-square-foot mosque is under construction in that small town where the Muslim population continues to grow.

Imad Enchassi, president and imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, said the Edmond Islamic Society is trying to decide how the mosque will expand. He said some society leaders want to build a new mosque building on the site and others want to add on to the current mosque building.

In one letter the sender called the mosque near UCO, "a headquarters for terrorist affiliate organizations."

Edmond Planning Commissioner Robert L. Schiermeyer says it is his job to make sure building plans meet certain codes and regulations. The permits have nothing to do with the activities inside.

"We are talking about fire protection, parking, curb cut locations and drainage. Those are the reasons we are going to look at it," said Schiermeyer.

The construction plans are now on hold because the mosque is considering some changes to the design. City planners say as soon as the mosque is ready to present its plans, the matter will be put on the Planning Commission agenda.

There is no date set for when the $500,000 rebuild will begin.

The letter describing the proposed mosque as a terrorist threat was accompanied by a flier circulated by an organisation called Oklahomans for Responsible Government ("This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. This is about treason and sedition"). As you can see from their website, the campaign draws its inspiration from Frank Gaffney's paranoid Muslim Brotherhood conspiracy theories.

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