(RALEIGH, N.C., 3/20/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), The Mosque of the Late King Khalid bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, Inc., and concerned members of the Raleigh community are calling on the City Council of Raleigh, N.C. to deny Shaw University’s attempt to rezone school property that includes King Khalid Mosque for mixed use development.
On April 4, the city council is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on Shaw University’s petition to rezone the property for mixed-use development. Last Friday, CAIR and King Khalid Mosque invited Raleigh residents to send messages to the council members and Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin calling on them to reject the university’s zoning request. In just three days, community members have already sent over 100 messages.
TAKE ACTION: SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE RALEIGH CITY COUNCIL TODAY
Built in 1983 with one million dollars from the niece of the late King Khalid of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the King Khalid Mosque is an important part of the Raleigh Muslim community. Worshipers at the mosque and local community are urging the City Council of Raleigh to block Shaw University’s attempt to rezone and block public worship at this sacred community space.
Below is a copy of a message being sent to the members of the City Council of Raleigh, NC:
“I join the Raleigh community, members of the King Khalid Mosque, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and others in calling for the denial of Shaw University’s application to rezone the King Khalid Mosque. Many Raleigh citizens believe Shaw University’s closing the mosque to public worship and attempt to rezone it is an anti-Muslim cash grab and act of gentrification.
“The administration of Shaw University has unequivocally voiced its support for the erasure of the local Muslim community praying on campus from its history. After more than four decades of existence and contribution to the fabric of Shaw University and the surrounding community, the current administration at Shaw has officially closed the mosque to the public for good. Their decision to close this house of worship, which was established with money from the Muslim community for the purpose of serving the Muslim community, is disappointing and possibly motivated by Islamophobic bias.
“These actions are especially egregious in light of the circumstances surrounding the mosque’s inception. In the early 1980s, Shaw University wanted a new building to be used by its students and staff. The local Muslim community wanted a mosque. A Muslim professor at Shaw University facilitated a deal for everyone to get what they wanted. The International and Islamic Studies Building provided a mosque for the Muslim community at large and classrooms and offices for students and staff. Everyone received what they desired. But while the university continues to benefit from this deal, they made it a point to prevent the Muslim community from doing the same.
“In March 2020 we were told the mosque was closed because of COVID concerns. We initially understood this reasoning. But our understanding transitioned into mistrust when we saw with our own eyes that the university’s chapel was having public religious services and various programs throughout the pandemic. In response to a demand letter highlighting this hypocrisy, David Byrd of the university’s administration admitted that “…the Chapel, through the Divinity School, does hold worship services.”.
“After several media inquiries, the administration said the mosque was now supposedly open to students but closed to the public. Meanwhile, they refused to address whether or not the chapel was open to the public. Following a written inquiry from CAIR, Reverend Dr. LaMont Johnson of Shaw University issued a letter shockingly stating, “Neither the mosque nor the campus chapel is generally open to the public for standard church meetings, prayer vigils, or worship services…”. It is clear that at least one person, if not more, has been lying to the Muslim community ever since March 2020.
“Although for the last three years Shaw’s administration explained COVID-19 was the reason for the closure, the university’s most recent statement issued by V. K. Fields & Co. PR PROS states, ‘Shaw University will no longer host a public mosque.’ No reason was provided for this change. We only know Shaw University’s statement on closing the mosque to public worship comes two weeks before the Raleigh City Council is scheduled to vote on the university’s mixed use rezoning application.
“Shaw University should fully reopen King Khalid Mosque to students, staff and local community members so that they can worship in peace as they have done for years. Shaw University is part of the community, and the community is part of Shaw University. By not doing so, it is clear that they do not have any interests in protecting the very existence of the members of its own community. Change in urban areas is often seen as a threat to the survival of those with longstanding ties to a community.
“If the Raleigh City Council approves Shaw University’s request to rezone, you will be complicit in this act of gentrification that has played out in so many minority communities across the nation. Please distinguish yourself from the countless other decision makers in government who have voted to wipe away the legacy of entire local minority communities for the financial gains of a few.”
BACKGROUND
In response to recent community calls on the university to reopen the mosque, the public relations firm hired by Shaw University, V. K. Fields & Co. PR PROS, coordinated the release of the following statement: ‘Shaw University will no longer host a public mosque.’ Shaw’s rezoning application is causing concern among the Muslim community that the university is erasing the mosque in order to profit from the land that was developed with financial support from the Muslim community for the purpose of serving the Muslim community.
This mosque has been an important place of worship for Muslims in Raleigh, North Carolina, for 40 years. However, in 2020, the mosque was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Shaw University has recently reopened other religious buildings, including the campus chapel, and resumed other religious activities, the mosque has been closed to the public for good.
Despite Shaw University previously telling the media that the mosque is open to students, the local CBS 17 news station revealed that “there’s a sign on the door of the International Studies building clearly stating the Mosque is closed until further notice” and Friday prayers have not resumed.
SEE: ‘It feels horrible’: CAIR, activists urge Shaw University to reopen on-campus Mosque | CBS 17
This closure has caused great distress to the Muslim community who have relied on the mosque for prayer, fellowship, and community support. Local community members have been in contact with CAIR about this issue, and protests asking for the mosque to be reopened to all have occurred.
On Sunday, March 4, CAIR and The Mosque of the Late King Khalid bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, Inc. participated in a town hall and advocacy training hosted by the nearby Islamic Center of Morrisville, NC to raise further awareness and community support.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected], CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]