Oshkosh City Council unanimously approves permit for mosque

The Oshkosh Common Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit to allow the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community-Oshkosh Chapter to establish a mosque and community center across from Oshkosh West High School.

Councilors voted 7-0 to grant the conditional use permit to the group to establish a mosque at 300 N. Eagle St. over adjacent property owners’ concerns that traffic, noise, 3:30 a.m. daily prayer services and that frequency of use will disrupt quality of life in the neighborhood.

But the issue was a tense one in the community.

Councilors said neighbors who contacted them with legitimate concerns about the use of the property related to the conditional use permit reported receiving hate mail.

"These people are concerned. They’re concerned their property values will go down. They’re concerned their views will be disrupted," attorney Brian Hamill, who represents some adjacent property owners, said. "It’s not about the religion. It’s about the use of this building and this spot. We’d like them to have a mosque in town, but this is not the right spot."

Ahmadi Muslims who addressed the council expressed frustration with some issues raised like slamming car doors or that the mosque would be used constantly for 16 to 18 hours per day.

"When Dr. King said ‘I have a dream…,’ maybe he should have put a footnote that it was as long as it doesn’t affect property values," Saad Ahmad said, frustrated with neighbors he felt sought reasons to oppose the proposed mosque.

Khurram Ahmad, a leader of the Oshkosh chapter of the Muslim sect, chose to look at the concerns differently. He said the group had already sought quotes on installing a fence and that members intended to use select parking spots that would not shine headlights into neighbors’ homes during early morning prayer services. He added that the location, price, size and opportunity the site offers makes it the right location for the group of 45 Ahmadi Muslims that have moved to the Oshkosh area over the last 20 years.

"If I start naming all the positives, there are too many to count from our community’s perspective," Ahmad said.

TheNorthwestern

No comment whether they will get megaphones and speaker systems to blare prayers services to the neighboring community.