DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - MISSOURI: LEGAL JIHAD IN ST. LOUIS - - - WE WANT THAT DAMNED ISLAMIC CENTER (SATELLITE TERROR OFFICE) COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

Dooley vows to resolve Islamic center issue
By Phil Sutin

CLAYTON — St. Louis County "will work something out" to resolve a zoning dispute and allow the Islamic Community Center organization to build at a site in south St. Louis County, County Executive Charlie Dooley says.

After Tuesday's County Council meeting, Dooley walked up to four people who had spoken out against the council's denial of a rezoning for the Islamic center. He told them "we'll work it out."

The group, whose members mainly are Bosnian, wants to build a structure of 25,000 square feet on 4.72 acres on the northwest side of Lemay Ferry Road, 75 feet northeast of Buckley Road near Mehlville High School. The four speakers were outside the council chamber when Dooley approached them.

In an interview a short time later, the county executive said he wanted to resolve the matter "before it gets out of hand." Advertisement

He said he could not be more specific because of a lawsuit challenging the council's denial of the rezoning in April. But he indicated the county counselor's office was discussing the matter with the attorney for the center.

At the council meeting, Councilman John Campisi, R-south St. Louis County, shouted "I'm no bigot" after Rick Isserman called the denial of the rezoning an act of bigotry.

The site is in Campisi's district. When the council rejected the rezoning in April, Campisi denied that religious discrimination was involved in his opposition. He said he received 60 calls against the proposal, with callers citing traffic and storm water control concerns.

As Isserman was leaving the speaker's podium, Campisi called him back. "First of all there is no bigotry," Campisi said. "I'm not going to let you call me a bigot ever!"

After the meeting, Campisi said he cannot make any further comments because of the lawsuit.

Isserman is a grandson of the late Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman of Temple Israel. Ferdinand Isserman was the rabbi in 1959 when the temple won a state Supreme Court ruling against Creve Coeur, which had blocked the temple's plans to move there.

Melissa Matos, executive director of the Missouri chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations, told the council that federal law does not allow governments to impose a greater burden on religious institutions than they would on private ones.

Khalid Shah, a member of the center, said the county's planning and zoning commission had voted 8-0 to recommend rezoning for the center. He called the council's rejection of the center xenophobic.

"It does not put you in a good light," Shah said.

Muhamed Hasic, the president and imam of the community center, said initially it would not include a mosque. If a mosque is added, it would not take up more than about 1,000 square feet, he said. The center would devote most of its space to activities such as child care and programs for youth, he said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Dooley vows to resolve Islamic center issue