The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the University of Montana to reopen a mosque that was closed, renovated and is scheduled to be redesignated as a residential building or, in the alternative, establish a different prayer space of sufficient size for Muslim students.
A university-owned house was used as a mosque to Muslims until renovations began in the summer of 2023. In place of the mosque, a small room in the University Center at UM was offered to Muslim students. Students say the room is far too small to accommodate prayer, and images show that students have been forced to pray in the hallway outside the room.
A university official tole local media that once renovated, the house will be reopened as residential housing, not a mosque.
SEE: Missoula Muslim community forced to adapt as prayer space closes
“We urge the university to maintain the status of the renovated facility as a mosque that can serve the religious and spiritual needs of Muslim students,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “In the alternative, the university should offer a larger space to Muslims students who wish to gather and practice their faith. Forcing Muslim students to pray in a room the size of a closet and spill into the hallway is not acceptable. The university must ensure that students of all faiths have an appropriate amount of space to worship.”
He noted that CAIR offers a booklet, “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” containing information on Islamic religious practices, dietary needs, as well as tips on curriculum issues and family life sex education. Its focus is on K-12 settings.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com