Finally 'No Muslim' parking signs pulled down in Houston

[Bani Adam]

'No Muslim' parking signs come down in Spring Branch, Houston

The shopping center's posters lined the street near the El Farouq Mosque

Author: Irika Sargent, Anchor/Reporter, [email protected]
Published On: Aug 08 2013 06:50 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 09 2013 07:41:21 AM CDT

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=617128401665862

HOUSTON - New parking signs posted outside a Spring Branch mosque sparked outrage on Thursday.

The posters lined the street near the El Farouq Mosque on Sauer Conrad Drive at Westview.
In black letters, the signs read, "No Muslim parking in the Westview Shopping Center. Your car will be towed."

Many Muslims heading to worship services were offended.

"I feel sorry for the person who wrote it," said Ahmed Hassan. "This is what comes to mind because obviously he has a lot of hate."

"I'm very shocked because we do live in a society that's supposed to be very accepting and this is what we all preach," said Yara Aboshady. "That we all have the freedom of religion."

The mosque sits across the street from the shopping center. Store employees did not want to go on camera, but admit they get angry when mosque members park in their lot, taking up spots meant for customers.

With the Muslim month-long fast for the holy month of Ramadan ending, and a crowd expected at the mosque, the signs anonymously appeared. No shopping center employees would take credit. One worker said the shopping center owner, Steve Kwon, posted the signs.

So Local 2 took the mosque members' concerns to Kwon.

"I did not put up the signs," said Kwon.

Aboshady wondered about the sign writer's true motive.

"It could be no parking for the sake of patrons that come in," Aboshady said. "Or it really could be a prejudice and just a mean thing to say."

She and others still find the signs insensitive and offensive.

"It's really offensive and it's hateful," said Hassan.

The owner says they will be calling a tow company to try to get all of the cars that shouldn't be parked here out. And he says he'll be checking the property to make there are no more of the offending parking signs.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/n...some/-/1735978/21394536/-/dad0pa/-/index.html

 

[sarbakaf]

It can also be because
many muslim park their cars any where and block the entries / exits and driveways

 

[Pak1stani]

Better way to convey the message was "No Car Parking for People not visiting Shopping Mall"

 

[NasNY]

It can also be because
many muslim park their cars any where and block the entries / exits and driveways

That is exactly the reason.

Shopping center is across from a mosque and some people in the community park their cars during Friday prayers. Effecting Business and creating unnecessary animosity.

The owner of the shopping center is a Chinese man, who does'nt speak english well.

Sign should have read NO MOSQUE PARKING and it would not have been an issue.

I support the shopping center owner if he put up a sign saying NO MOSQUE PARKING and have the IMAM of the mosque inform muslims every friday.

 

[haidhu80]

We should not take this a step against Muslims. People have businesses and they want customers but if someone come to pray in the mosque and take their business space for parking then its not good for their business. Mosques should have a parking space or those who come to pray by car should pay for the parking. In busy cities of the world, parking is one of the biggest problems. So we should not be offended by this, rather we should do something that local community welcome us.

 

[saqi81]

We should not take everything aggressively, this particular writing is not right at all but we need to understand the message behind it. People will use this to spread more hatred in this world.

 

[Bala Khan]

Too bad I wasnt there.
Or else I would My own sign right beside
"I am MUSLIM and I dont care about your sign- I am going in because I PAY TAX"

 

[NasNY]

Too bad I wasnt there.
Or else I would My own sign right beside
"I am MUSLIM and I dont care about your sign- I am going in because I PAY TAX"

If you are a Muslim than you should respect and care about other people's property and rights.

Priviate property is not covered by your Taxes.

 

[Mayam Nawaz]

It can also be because
many muslim park their cars any where and block the entries / exits and driveways

and many Hindus don't or many Asians don't.

 

[Mayam Nawaz]

That is exactly the reason.

Shopping center is across from a mosque and some people in the community park their cars during Friday prayers. Effecting Business and creating unnecessary animosity.

The owner of the shopping center is a Chinese man, who does'nt speak english well.

Sign should have read NO MOSQUE PARKING and it would not have been an issue.

I support the shopping center owner if he put up a sign saying NO MOSQUE PARKING and have the IMAM of the mosque inform muslims every friday.

or may be he should learn some English before he starts posting signs up on the street.

 

[NasNY]

or may be he should learn some English before he starts posting signs up on the street.

True but even the best of us make metekes. (bigsmile)

 

[KHISFO]

If Muslims are not doing any business in shopping mall area, they shouldn't Park their cars until they got permission from mall management. For Friday and Ramadan pray Mosque management should arrange parking for the worshipers.
Islam doesn't allow any Muslim to bother their neighbors.

 

[QaiserMirza]

This is very common practice, we dont care about others.
There used to be a Masjid in a strip mall, the same habit of our brothers irritate the other shop owners.
At Salah time brothers used to parked where ever they want and if someone try to stop them they said, its just for 5 min. and they run inside the Masjid.
How long the others tolerate, then they collectively move and forced to close down the Masjid.

 

[yazindagi]

It can also be because
many muslim park their cars any where and block the entries / exits and driveways

oh really do not consider Pakistan while commenting.they r not talking about Pakistan it's houston America [hilar]

 

[yazindagi]

why only blame Muslims? :angry_smile::angry_smile::angry_smile: that shows the ethnic prob and islam hatred of these m.......

 

[sarbakaf]

oh really do not consider Pakistan while commenting.they r not talking about Pakistan it's houston America [hilar]

I know
many muslim brothers and sisters consider it holy duty to pray while do not consider it a sin to block pathways and also use unhallowed parking.

I think if you ever travel to muslim populated areas of europe , you will find this as a common problem.

 

[M.Aslam]

It was not public property, this parking lot belongs to shopping center. We should take care others right as well.

 

[khalid100]

Few mosques have been closed in Ireland due to same kind of issue. Worshipers annoying the people in neighborhood by parking their cars in front of people's driveways or anywhere they like on street.
Those who say we don't care and will park anywhere, imagine their was a non-muslim worship place in your neighborhood in Pakistan or a Muslim country and the non-muslims coming to worship five times a day and parking their cars on the street.
:angry_smile:
It has nothing to do against Islam, it is come civic sense and we should not annoy others...

 

[M Ali Khan]

Reminds me of how many mosques in Pakistan are illegally built on encroached land