RALEIGH,North Carolina, 3 August — Muslim community at North Carolina's Shaw University is outraged at the administration's decision to convert the campus mosque into offices for professors. The school's International Studies Center where the Jamaa'ah At Taqwa Mosque is located, was built with a $1 million donation from King Khalid of Saudi Arabia in 1983.
The donation was arranged through the late Urabi Mustafa, a professor of Palestinian descent who founded the International and Islamic Studies Center. The word "Islamic" was dropped from the name of the center shortly after the completion of construction in 1983.
During the early eighties as many as 500 Middle Eastern students attended this historically black university. Their enrollment has since then dropped.According to Dr.Ihsan Bagby,professor of international studies at the university and the Imam of the campus mosque, currently around 100 Muslim students attend the university.Most are West African and a large number are African-Americans.Shaw University President Talbert O.Shaw reportedly told the Muslims that mosque no longer serves its original purpose since the school no longer has students from the Middle East. At a recent meeting Shaw asked Muslim representatives to find an alternative site within two weeks.
Dr.Babgby responded that Muslim community at Shaw is very much alive. More than 100 people Jumuah prayers, over 75 children attend a Sunday school, and there are adult classes for Arabic. The mosque is also involved in interfaith work and social services. "No Muslim would build a mosque for one ethnic group. This is affront to Islamic teachings and an offense to the many West African and American Muslims who do use the mosque,"Dr.Bagby said.
"In Islamic Law, a mosque is special, consecrated space for worship and as such cannot be changed as long as it still serves the worship needs of Muslims. To close a mosque, therefore, is a serious violation of Islamic teachings."
He said that he feels more than mere logistics are involved in the administration's decision. Some Christians do not want to see the presence of another religion on campus,he said. While there have been no cases of bias against the university's Muslim community in the past,Bagby said that there has always been a lingering negativity within the administration.
The Muslim community at Shaw is currently consulting a lawyer to take possible legal action.They are also trying to determine from Saudi officials and documents whether there is a statement concerning the purpose of the mosque.
Muslims are requested to fax, email or call the following Shaw University's officials and register their polite protest:
Dr. Talbert O. Shaw,Shaw University President email: [email protected] Phone: 919-546-8300. Postal Address: 118 E. South St. Raleigh, NC 27601
Willie E. Gary, Chair of the Universityâs Board of Trustees. Fax : 561-220-3343 Phone: 561-283-8260/2. Postal Address: 221 E. Osceola St. Stewart, FL. 34994
