Politics & Government

Islamic Society Invites Public to Learn About Mosque, Islam

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee West will hold an informational session on Monday at Gethsemane Lutheran, as Unitarian Universalist Church West's board of trustees endorses the mosque.

Aiming to answer residents' questions about the proposed mosque and about Islam, the Islamic Society of Milwaukee West will hold an informational session Monday at in Brookfield.

Mushir Hassan, a Brookfield resident, doctor and spokesman for the mosque said Society leaders will give a brief presentation on the project at 7 p.m. Monday at Gethsemane, 13200 W. Greenfield Ave., followed by questions and answers.

Hassan said he hoped the session would also clear up "some misconceptions about Islam."

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That session will come a week before the city's planned May 2 open house about the project at the Brookfield municipal courtroom, 2100 N. Calhoun Rd. and the formal public hearing at which residents can provide comments at the May 7 Plan Commission meeting at , 2000 N. Calhoun Rd.

Meanwhile, the minister of another Brookfield church, Rev. Suzelle Lynch at , voiced support Wednesday for the mosque proposed at 16730 W. Pheasant Dr. east of Calhoun Road and north of North Avenue.

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"Members of our church community know Muslims as our doctors or attorneys or as people we do other professional business with," Lynch wrote in an email to Brookfield Patch. "We have met our Muslim neighbors at interfaith events, in retail stores and on school playgrounds — we know them as good neighbors and friends. Guest speakers from the Islamic Society have presented sermons or classes in our church at least annually for many years. 

"As people of faith we desire our Muslim sisters and brothers to have what we already enjoy in this community — freedom to pursue our religion in our own way, including serving those in need in our community and building understanding across all lines of difference," Lynch said.

She said the Unitarian Universalist Church West's Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution March 22 offering "full and heartfelt support" of the mosque building request in Brookfield.

The resolution says the board believes in the First Amendment, free exercise of religion and "the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity and compassion in human relations. We also affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, and we value religious diversity and seek to find common ground with our neighbors, regardless of their faith traditions."


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