The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg (ICOF) has cancelled its Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, community meeting as a safety precaution.
“[W]e are saddened by the increasingly violent threats and actions reported against both individual Muslims and various mosques in the U.S.,” ICOF leaders said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of concern for the safety of the Muslim community and the many kind people of other faiths who have promised to support us, we have decided to postpone the Community Meeting planned for December 11.”
The meeting was scheduled to discuss the center’s plans for a new 8,000-square-foot, two story mosque on land they own at Andora Drive and Old Plank Road in Spotsylvania County.
The ICOF has been in Fredericksburg for 27 years, the last 15 at their current location on Harrison Road. “We have badly outgrown the facility, and the site is not big enough to allow expansion,” said Samer Shalaby, ICOF Chairman of the Board.
The December 11 meeting was to be the rescheduled meeting following the one on November 17, 2015, which was disbanded by a Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office deputy after about an hour, as tempers continued to escalate. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that this [new mosque] does not happen,” shouted one man. “You can say whatever you want, but every Muslim is a terrorist.”
The ICOF board said it will continue to move forward with the Spotsylvania County application process for the new mosque in the New Year.
The ICOF Board’s Full Message
**CANCELED** Community Meeting on building a new Masjid
The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg remains grateful for the outpouring of support we continue to receive from individuals of many faiths, including residents of our own community as well as citizens across the country. At the same time, we are saddened by the increasingly violent threats and actions reported against both individual Muslims and various mosques in the US. We offer our prayers that God will comfort those suffering from all kinds of violence here in America and around the globe.
Out of an abundance of concern for the safety of the Muslim community and the many kind people of other faiths who have promised to support us, we have decided to postpone the Community Meeting planned for December 11. We simply do not want anyone, Muslim or not, to suffer threat or harm at the hands of individuals who may target the meeting with acts of hatred. With the blessing of Allah (SWT) we will continue to move forward with the Spotsylvania County application process for the new mosque in the New Year.
We ask our community to reach out to one another and participate in the many activities that are available, so that understanding and compassion may overcome fear and hatred. Display the peace towards each other that every religion promotes, especially during this season of celebration for our Christian and Jewish neighbors.
The Board of the Islamic Center of Fredericksburg
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