From an Aug. 31 press release on Newton County’s website, announcing the county’s intention to lift a moratorium on permitting houses of worship:
“As a result of the County’s quick and efficient review of our zoning ordinances, I plan to vote in favor of lifting the moratorium at the special called meeting on September 13,” District 3 Commissioner Nancy Schulz said. “Newton County is rich in diversity and hospitality, and we are happy to see residents of all faiths and backgrounds live and worship together in our community.”
“We thank and commend the Newton County commissioners for pledging to lift the moratorium on permits for houses of worship,” Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Executive Director of CAIR Georgia said. “Although Newton Muslims will once again have the right to proceed with building a cemetery and house of worship, they plan to first spend more time building bridges with their neighbors.”
Imam Mohammed Islam, the leader of Masjid At-Taqwa in Doraville, has accepted invitations to attend Sunday service at different churches in the area over the next four weeks.
“We believe that building bridges with our neighbors is far more important than immediately building a new house of worship and cemetery.”
“As a County Commissioner, I encourage us to create a community where people from all walks of life and backgrounds are proud to live, work and play in Newton County. I will vote in support of removing the temporary moratorium at the September 13, 2016 special called meeting,” District 2 Commissioner Lanier Sims said.
From an Aug. 22 myAJC.com story about a Newton County public hearing on the mosque and cemetery proposal:
“To say we wish to disallow this project based on religious discrimination … is ludicrous and hypocritical,” said a woman who did not give her name. “They are discriminating against us by calling us infidels who do not believe in their religion.”
“We have the right to protect ourselves and our country,” she concluded. Her comments were met with whoops and cheers from the 300 people in the audience.
From an online reader comment about the Aug. 22 story:
“Terrorism is not an enemy it is a TACTIC used by an enemy. The terrorists are not the radicals of islam, they are the ones simply obeying their Koran and doing what it tells them to do. The libtards in Europe are paying in blood for their stupidity and their good intentions only mock them now.”
About the Author
