Ground Broken for Mosque in East Montgomery
May 25, 2017
Local Muslim leaders have broken ground on the first mosque in east Montgomery.
The mosque will be the first place of worship for Muslims on the east side of town. It will be located on Vaughn Road, near the Deer Creek subdivision. Meetings about the construction were held at City Hall and with the Deer Creek neighborhood association, and there wasn’t always a lot of support. But Thursday, local pastors and city leaders were on hand to help break ground.
This mosque will be nearly 6,000 square feet once it’s finished. It should take about 6 months to a year to complete.
May 25, 2017
Local Muslim leaders have broken ground on the first mosque in east Montgomery.
The mosque will be the first place of worship for Muslims on the east side of town. It will be located on Vaughn Road, near the Deer Creek subdivision. Meetings about the construction were held at City Hall and with the Deer Creek neighborhood association, and there wasn’t always a lot of support. But Thursday, local pastors and city leaders were on hand to help break ground.
This mosque will be nearly 6,000 square feet once it’s finished. It should take about 6 months to a year to complete.
East Montgomery Islamic Society Breaks Ground on New Mosque
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -Thursday was a huge day for the East Montgomery Islamic Society. A groundbreaking was held for a new mosque, set to be built near the Deer Creek entrance on Vaughn Road.
“It has been a long time coming,” Aya Zaied, the youth leader for the East Montgomery Islamic Society, said.
According to Zaied, the project has been 10 years in the making. Members originally came up with the idea in 2007 and in 2011 were able to raise enough money to purchase the property.
The Montgomery Board of Adjustment approved the society’s proposal to build a mosque in August.
“The goal we have is to promote diversity and to promote tolerance. We are taught to be good neighbors,” Zaied said “We want our kids to grow up in that environment- a safe and tolerant environment.”
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -Thursday was a huge day for the East Montgomery Islamic Society. A groundbreaking was held for a new mosque, set to be built near the Deer Creek entrance on Vaughn Road.
“It has been a long time coming,” Aya Zaied, the youth leader for the East Montgomery Islamic Society, said.
According to Zaied, the project has been 10 years in the making. Members originally came up with the idea in 2007 and in 2011 were able to raise enough money to purchase the property.
The Montgomery Board of Adjustment approved the society’s proposal to build a mosque in August.
“The goal we have is to promote diversity and to promote tolerance. We are taught to be good neighbors,” Zaied said “We want our kids to grow up in that environment- a safe and tolerant environment.”
The Man Behind the Mosque: Dr. Mahmood Zaied
August 17, 2016
Dr. Mahmood Zaied has lived in Montgomery for 16 years.
Montgomerians might know him as a pediatrician who, besides being Chair of the Pediatric Department at Baptist South and Chief of Pediatrics at Health Services Inc., practices at just about every local hospital and some private practices. Those who don’t know Zaied from his healthcare work might know him as the man who wants to build a mosque in east Montgomery.
August 17, 2016
Dr. Mahmood Zaied has lived in Montgomery for 16 years.
Montgomerians might know him as a pediatrician who, besides being Chair of the Pediatric Department at Baptist South and Chief of Pediatrics at Health Services Inc., practices at just about every local hospital and some private practices. Those who don’t know Zaied from his healthcare work might know him as the man who wants to build a mosque in east Montgomery.
Board Approves East Montgomery Mosque Proposal
(Source: WSFA 12 News) MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - The Montgomery Board of Adjustment has approved the East Montgomery Islamic Society's proposal to build a mosque in east Montgomery.
Thursday night's board meeting at Montgomery City Hall was packed. Representatives from some area churches came to show support for the proposed mosque, which has been the subject of heated debate all summer.
Packed house inside City Hall, decision on Mosque moved to last agenda item pic.twitter.com/J66mFJUjLR
— Kacey Drescher (@KaceyD_WSFA) August 18, 2016
Board OKs exemption for Mosque near Deer Creek
The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved an exemption to allow a mosque to be built on the property just outside the Deer Creek neighborhood on Vaughn Road on Thursday night.
Board Chairperson John Stanley had reservations about neighborhood residents walking across the grass to go to the mosque and also voiced concerns about a playground being too close to neighboring houses.
In the end, however, the board approved the exception and the Deer Creek Homeowner’s Association representative Brett Garrett even gave somewhat of a blessing.
“We are satisfied, Deer Creek is,” Garrett said of the agreements made concerning lighting, trees and other stipulations.
Dr. Mahmood Zaied assured the board that he and the East Montgomery Islamic Society would do everything possible to comply with city regulations and the wishes of the Deer Creek Homeowner’s Association.
“I’m feeling very happy that this thing we have worked on for the past five years got through. I’m happy for myself, for the community, for everybody,” said Zaied, himself a Deer Creek resident. “I was expecting this from this city. I came here 16 years ago. I love this city, I love the people, I love my neighbors, and I love Deer Creek.”
The Board of Adjustment unanimously approved an exemption to allow a mosque to be built on the property just outside the Deer Creek neighborhood on Vaughn Road on Thursday night.
Board Chairperson John Stanley had reservations about neighborhood residents walking across the grass to go to the mosque and also voiced concerns about a playground being too close to neighboring houses.
In the end, however, the board approved the exception and the Deer Creek Homeowner’s Association representative Brett Garrett even gave somewhat of a blessing.
“We are satisfied, Deer Creek is,” Garrett said of the agreements made concerning lighting, trees and other stipulations.
Dr. Mahmood Zaied assured the board that he and the East Montgomery Islamic Society would do everything possible to comply with city regulations and the wishes of the Deer Creek Homeowner’s Association.
“I’m feeling very happy that this thing we have worked on for the past five years got through. I’m happy for myself, for the community, for everybody,” said Zaied, himself a Deer Creek resident. “I was expecting this from this city. I came here 16 years ago. I love this city, I love the people, I love my neighbors, and I love Deer Creek.”
Josh Moon: Don't just allow Montgomery Mosque, Help Build it!
We should be smart enough to do that in the U.S., and especially in the South, by simply relying on the history of religious schemes that have sought to divide us, whether based on race, religion or sexual orientation.
For decades, the Ku Klux Klan committed unthinkable atrocities against minorities and justified its actions by using the Christian Bible. There have been abortion clinics bombed, cold-blooded murders, brutal beatings, all supposedly done according to the word of the Christian God.
Scandals involving the exploitation of children have been carried out and covered up by some of the most well-respected Christian leaders in the country.
But we know that isn’t the true portrait of Christianity – that the actions of that tiny percentage in no way reflect upon the true, peaceful, kind religion that billions of others practice.
There’s no reason Islam shouldn’t receive the same consideration, because the statistics are basically identical.
The terrorist attacks will very likely continue. But thoughts of isolating ourselves, or giving Muslims in this country some sort of goofy test, only feed into the rhetoric that groups use to sway people into joining their cause.
We should be smart enough to do that in the U.S., and especially in the South, by simply relying on the history of religious schemes that have sought to divide us, whether based on race, religion or sexual orientation.
For decades, the Ku Klux Klan committed unthinkable atrocities against minorities and justified its actions by using the Christian Bible. There have been abortion clinics bombed, cold-blooded murders, brutal beatings, all supposedly done according to the word of the Christian God.
Scandals involving the exploitation of children have been carried out and covered up by some of the most well-respected Christian leaders in the country.
But we know that isn’t the true portrait of Christianity – that the actions of that tiny percentage in no way reflect upon the true, peaceful, kind religion that billions of others practice.
There’s no reason Islam shouldn’t receive the same consideration, because the statistics are basically identical.
The terrorist attacks will very likely continue. But thoughts of isolating ourselves, or giving Muslims in this country some sort of goofy test, only feed into the rhetoric that groups use to sway people into joining their cause.
Board Approves East Montgomery Mosque
A plan to build a mosque in East Montgomery was approved Thursday night by the city Board of Adjustment.
The East Montgomery Islamic Society proposed to build the 6,000 square foot mosque on Vaughn Road next to the Deer Creek neighborhood.
Some residents expressed concerns about the mosque and how it would affect the neighborhood. Thursday night though, a representative for the neighborhood said that their concerns had been satisfied.
After numerous speakers and debates, the plan was approved by a unanimous vote by the Board of Adjustment.
The East Montgomery Islamic Society says they hope to break ground in the next few months.