Seen and Heard: Tuesday's Mosque Hearing

Here’s a sampling of comments from after Tuesday’s Lilburn City Council’s approval of Dar-E-Abbas’ mosque expansion plan:

Angel Alonso, resident of Hood Road.

--“I think it sucks. I think it was unjust. City Council took advice of lawyers. Lawyers did back-door deals. We’re the citizens of Lilburn.”

On his plans moving forward:

--“I will have to talk to attorneys. We are going to the Governor’s office to let him know what is happening. We’re the citizens of Lilburn. They [city council] decided to listen to lawyers. Now the people of Lilburn have to speak up. If they are going to listen to lawyers we don’t need to have city council and the mayor.”

Wasi Zaidi, founding member of Dar-E-Abbas.

--“It feels good. We will be the best neighbors in the future. We still love each other after all of this.”

-- “Hopefully five years down the line we can start building the mosque.”

Thor Johnson, resident of Lilburn.

--“I’m glad the court and the Justice Department dragged Lilburn into the 21^st century.”

--“Most folks tell you it’s not about religion. They are not telling the truth. It is virtually all about religion.”

David Owen, Hood Road resident.

--“It [the decision] was expected. I didn’t feel I was wasting my time. I submitted items of concern, and I feel the new proposal tried to address some of the items.”

--“I don’t know how much fight there is left. Seems the decision has been made. They [mosque members] are being very cordial with us right now. As long as they keep it like that, I will keep being cordial as well.”

Robin Stinson, Lilburn resident.

--“If this was a white southern Baptist church this would never have happened. People say take religion out of it. But you can’t. It is all about religion.”

--“Every spiritual path admonishes us to love one another. The opposition does not reflect true Christianity.”

Melissa Baxter, Lilburn business owner.

--“This will not bring in developers and business owners. As a church that is exempt from taxes, what will they add [monetarily] to Lilburn?”

Syed Zaidi, mosque member.

--“I’m glad the right decision was made. It’s been a long time. I am just very thankful.”

Although heated arguments and rhetoric have come out of the mouths of opponents and proponents of the mosque for nearly two years, the night ended with calm heads.

Alonso, the loudest and most active member of the opposition, had a cordial conversation with Dar-E-Abbas leader Zaidi. Owen was having a discussion with several mosque members about the future of their relationship. The mosque leaders pledged to several Hood Road residents that they would work with them to find a peaceful way to co-exist.