ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Friday that it is investigating the city of Alpharetta's decision to deny an Islamic center's request to expand its facility.
Last spring, the Alpharetta City Council denied the Islamic Center of North Fulton's request to expand on Rucker Road, citing concerns from the nearby Fairfax neighborhood that it would snarl traffic.
Homeowner's association board members told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik that the center also had a written agreement with the association that it wouldn't expand.
"It's not like we want to build this into a huge building, but something that meets our needs," said Dr. Moiz Mumtaz, chairman of the center's board of trustees.
Mumtaz said the current facility is outdated and is no longer adequate for mosque members, some of whom pray at the center upwards of five times a day, seven days a week.
"We are trying to provide them the comfort, the facilities, the standard of living which we live at our houses," said Mumtaz.
The center has since sued the city, claiming civil rights violations.
Attorney Andrea Cantrell Jones told Petchenik she feels the city hasn't treated the center fairly, especially since there are several churches in other residential neighborhoods up and down Rucker Road.
"I think there's a lot of prejudice in the country, and I'm sure Alpharetta's not immune," she said.
This week, the center learned the Anti-Defamation League, which traditionally fights anti-Semitism, has filed a brief in support of the center's lawsuit.
"This may not be discrimination against Muslims," said ADL Southeast Director Bill Nigut. "But it is calling into question whether they (Alpharetta) have listened to federal law, which tells them any religious faith ought to be able to put a facility in place up there."
Nigut said federal law requires governments to give religious institutions more latitude when it comes to planning and zoning issues.
William Jordan lives next door to the center and opposes its expansion.
"Our concern was the type of architecture they were using," he said. "It's not fitting to the neighborhood in any way."
Jordan echoed the sentiment of the Alpharetta city attorney, who said the opposition has nothing to do with religion.
In a statement to Petchenik, attorney Sam Thomas outlined the city's position:
"Religion played no role in the Council's decision to deny the expansion," he said "The Council welcomes and respects the right of the members of the Center to continue their worship activities at this site as they have done for many years now. The Council did not feel that the expanded scope of the project was suitable at this site for many reasons as outlined in the City's filings with the Court. The City also supports the right of the members to construct a larger facility at a more suitable location and has identified several of these locations to the members. We don't have any further comment at this time. The parties have filed cross motions for summary judgment with the US District Court and we will await the Court's decision."
WSBTV
