POCATELLO — A variance request hearing that was supposed to be focused on parking and public safety concerns surrounding the placement of an Islamic Center at 1513 S. Fifth Avenue turned into testimony about religious tolerance and fear of Islam Thursday night.
Originally scheduled for the small Paradise meeting room in Pocatello City Hall, the hearing was moved to the City Council Chamber to accommodate more than 100 people — most of them Muslims.
Hearing officer Jim Mullen tried to limit input to planning and zoning issues, but citizen comments soon expanded — at times resembling a spirited religious debate.
A doctor from Portneuf Medical Center and a native of Somalia, Jamal Mustafa strayed from zoning concerns in his opening remarks in favor of the Islamic Center and talked about the growing needs of Muslim students at Idaho State University.
“For the past 10 years ISU has quadrupled its Muslim student population,” Mustafa said, adding the new center would expand the chance for students to practice their faith and pray.
“This is for the benefit of Pocatello,” Mustafa said.
Later in the hearing when opponents to the variance spoke, they said the mosque would actually hurt Pocatello and put its residents in danger.
The Rev. Jim Jones of the Blazing Grace Church in Pocatello brought a copy of the Koran to the lectern. He said Islam faith preaches intolerance of others and promotes the killing of Christians and Jews.
“I get very fearful because I live close to this place,” he said about the proposed Islamic Center.
Several local pastors and the Portneuf Valley Interfaith Fellowship lent their support to the application including Janie Gephardt of Pocatello’s first church, First Congregational Church of of Christ. Gephardt said when her church started back in the 1800s, it didn’t have to ask for permission.
“It’s important for us to support one another,” she said.
“There are certainly a lot of things that could go into that space that would be less beneficial to the neighborhood than a religious center,” said pastor of the Pocatello Unitarian Church, Duffy Peet.
However, opponents continued to take aim at the Muslim faith itself instead of any zoning issues related to the fact the proposed mosque is in a commercial area that requires a variance.
Rick Frasure said because of the threats of Islamic war and jihad, the Islamic Center in Pocatello posed a grave danger.
“The more inroads into this city, the more dangerous it becomes,” Frasure said.
Other opponents talked about their fear of Islamic violence and the faith of people in the Middle East with one emotional woman saying she would sell her house and move if the variance was approved.
The only person to speak as a neutral party during the hearing was Pocatello deputy city attorney Kirk Bybee. He said he just wanted to invite any of the religious leaders in the room to volunteer to provide the invocation that begins every City Council meeting.
“Pocatello welcomes diversity,” Bybee said.
The council chamber erupted in applause as Bybee left the room.
Hearing officer Mullen said he would make a decision on the variance request by Feb. 18. Any appeal of that decision would have to be made within 10 days and would go before the City Council.
According to a presentation on P&Z findings given by assistant city planner, Terri Neu, the proposed plan for the Islamic Center has adequate parking with 41 off-street spaces and another six on-street parking slots.
“They are well over what is required by law,” she said.
Neu also explained that variances are not required for churches to locate in residential areas because the city always promoted the idea of places of worship being within walking distance. A large part of the Muslim community in Pocatello consists of Idaho State University students and the new mosque would be located close to the campus.
Another zoning concern brought up at the hearing involved potential noise from a loud speaker at the Islamic Center that would call its faithful to prayer. Alamin Almahie, who was representing the Islamic Society of Southeastern Idaho, said any loud speaker would be inside the church.
“What about a bell?” someone in the audience quipped.
(13) comments
I applaud the religious leaders in Pocatello for supporting the mosque. I'd love to sit down with the Reverend who believes Muslims are allowed to kill Christians and Jews. It's unfortunate, but some people of all faiths interpret their own or other peoples Holy books incorrectly either for their own agenda, or to put other religions down. The KKK is a religious group who reads the Bible and says they are Christians. However, most Christians would agree the KKK is not a good representative of Christianity. Some slave owners in America justified slavery because it was justified 'in the Bible'. Of course mainstream Christianity would not agree with the slave owners. Unfortunately Muslims interpret the Holy Koran in their own way, and they make Islam look bad.
My advice to the Muslims in Pocatello. If, God willing, you get your mosque, have an open house. The open house is not to try to covert people to Islam, but to tell people what Islam is and what Islam teaches. Another good idea is to have an interfaith event as well. Please invite the reverend who thinks Muslims are against Christians and Jews. One of my favorite interfaith events I attended was when members of a synagogue and a mosque got together to share each other's faiths. The first night was at the synagogue and the next night was at the mosque. It was a beautiful event, and I'll never forget it.
The mosque is a good opportunity for the Muslim men and women to get out in the community and represent Islam for what Islam truly teaches, and not what you see on TV. May God bless people of all faiths and ideologies!
-Shaylene Haswarey
Author of "The Hijabi Club"
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (those Mormons ;-) ) I would like to remind, or inform those holding, or voicing disparaging thoughts on this non-issue of our 11th article of faith given by Joseph Smith to a newspaper;
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Another thought regarding the right of the Muslim community to assemble to worship affecting our personal safety, how long have these fine individuals already been a part of our community without incident? Why would you suppose and infer the use of a building would bring to the surface an alterior motive for them being here putting up with we infidels? There are extremists in any belief system. That doesn't define the individual or as a whole.
Ben Franklin warned about letting liberty, in the guise of short term safety, infringe upon freedom. He stated, simply, people who let themselves fall into this mindset deserved neither.
A spiritual gathering place to leave the cares of the world outside is a wonderful sanctuary. I am glad to have such a place in our community and wish all the same.
Freedom of religion... Period! The debate at hand is whether or not Mormons will be able to practice unconstitutional tyranny.... as exemplified by Joseph smith.
I testified that the Muslims should get the variance because in America we tolerate all religions as long as they obey the laws.
A bunch of right wing Christians were trying to tear down Islam and say the the Muslims should not get a variance.
I don't like Islam much nor the right-wing Christians either, but we have to tolerate them. That is why I am an agnostic though. Religion just seems to lead to hate as was demonstrated Thursday night.
Amen, EMBarrus!!!
As a resident of this wonderful city my whole life, I welcome our fellow citizens to have their place of worship. Since all of the rules have been followed for zoning etc, there is not a reason for this to be an issue. I was raised in the University area of Pocatello and I remember as a child waking to the wonderful church bell of St. Anthony's. That was a wonderful sound knowing that it was time to wake and give praise for another day or a harsh reminder that I had stayed out too late the night before. I also joyed watching the families of the LDS Caldwell Park Ward, Central Christian, and the Presbyterian churches drive down my street in cars and mini vans full of kids and parents heading to their places of worship. I was lucky to be able to either drive or walk to my house of worship.As far as a place of worship being build in a residential area... All places of worship are primarily in residential areas. They offer those who may not be able to drive to another place, but have the desire to worship that opportunity. Please take a look throughout many of our neighborhoods there are multiple LDS Churches specifically that stand out and there are other churches too. Therefore, the argument of being in a residential area is null and void. From what I am hearing in the article is all fear. Fear of the unknown. Some fear that our safety is in danger. I fear for my child's safety by sending him to school. I fear for my life driving on our streets. That is because of the society we live in. True enough we were attacked 9/11, but we have not shut down as a country. We all have gone one. We have a great opportunity in our city to set the tone and new expectation of how people are welcome to live and worship and the behavior that is expected in our town. Instead of being consumed with fear that makes us look more ignorant, step out in your faith and lets show the world United We Stand in Pocatello Idaho!!
How does one move to another country and then start rejecting the way that country lives, protest, demand conforming to their life style, and then call it Islamophobia? I did not know that Islam forbids bacon until the people of Islam moved to the country that I live in, worked our jobs, then protested our stores for having bacon, claiming that we violated their rights. I learned that Muslims shout Allah Akbar why beheading Americans.
Islam ABSOLUTELY is hostile against non-Muslims. Why are Muslims trying to conceal this fact? The only way Muslims can "tolerate" non-muslims, let alone consider them fellow humans, is if they willingly subdue themselves to Islamic law as 3rd class dhimmis in an islamic state.
A preacher teaching his "flock" intolorance and fear....shame on you Jim Jones. I'm ashamed of you.
I am not Muslim; and am 100% in favor of this. There are extremists in EVERY faith; it does not represent the whole.
Come on can you not read? Where in this line say LDS?
The Rev. Jim Jones of the Blazing Grace Church in Pocatello brought a copy of the Koran to the lectern. He said Islam faith preaches intolerance of others and promotes the killing of Christians and Jews.
In fact just for you I read back through the article looking for an LDS comment, I did not see one?
Religious freedom is one of the back bones of this country and our Muslim brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors should have the right to enjoy and practice their faith in a proper building.
Why has it came down to an argument over zoning? is there not 2-3 different places of worship in the same neighborhood? There will be no harm to the area and the Mosque will probably help increase business in the area not hurt it.
I'm excited for my Muslim friends who need a bigger mosque to worship in. I've loved getting to know them and hope more people will take the time to welcome them into the community. Religious freedom is a beautiful right that no one should be able to take away.
How many different churches are there in Pocatello alone just for one religion known as LDS. Just because you don't agree with ones choice in who to worship doesn't mean they cannot. I don't agree with any religion, yet I don't go around town preventing others from believing and worshiping their "God"..
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