Supporters of the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center (CVIC) came out in full force at the Solon City Council meeting Monday (Oct. 21) in response to an online petition that was posted against the CVIC in late September.
The Rev. Thomas Dragga, pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Solon , tells Solon City Council Monday that he believes the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center “contributes to the life of the community.” SOLON , Ohio – Supporters of the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center came out in full force at the City Council meeting Monday in response to an online petition that was posted against the CVIC in late September.
The CVIC, which opened the city’s first mosque on Liberty Road in 2021, claims that the mosque has promoted peace throughout the conflict between Hamas and Israel.In early October, Mayor Ed Kraus issued a statement against the petition that was posted on the city’s website but has since been removed.“As the proud Jewish mayor of this city, I am deeply troubled by a recent petition that casts a negative light on the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center.
“Empathy is one of the core values that strengthens our community. It enables us to engage in meaningful dialogue and confront challenging realities by recognizing the humanity in each of us. “The CVIC has been an integral part of the Solon area, not just as a place of worship, but a driving force of unity, social justice, interfaith bridge building and community service.
Malik said the CVIC has been an active member of Solon Alliance for Interfaith Leaders and has partnered with other faith-based congregations to form the Interfaith Group Against Hate . “I’m here to speak against the vicious misinformation campaign that has been unleashed against CVIC,” Ashraf said. Ashraf said the CVIC feels “a statement of support from this august body in our defense would really help heal.”“We feel going forward that any hurtful threats and defamatory accusations that come up need to be treated as such.
“I don’t want you to take sides; neither do I want to take sides. I’m here just to tell the council and our mayor, what happened last meeting was not right, although we do thank you for your continued support. “After the deadly antisemitic attacks on the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Masroor and Simee reached out to express dismay and comfort,” he continued. “In solidarity, they joined our congregation for worship services the following Shabbat.”
“It is a testament to the leadership of CVIC that they choose to be in a relationship with the mainstream Jewish community,” he said. “For any Jews who are wary about the CVIC, it is in our self-interest to support relationships with the good people of this community.Kate Anderson Foley, another founding member of the IGAH and a Lakewood resident, said Simee and Masroor Malik are her friends and colleagues.
“The thought of closing this space undermines the principles of religious freedom, mutual respect and the foundation of a healthy, pluralistic community,” he said. “I’m willing to serve with you, councilman, as you host such an event, if the people choose to take you up on your offer to see what more the city can do for all of its residents,” Dragga told Pelunis.
The Rev. Cindy Theobald, pastor of Solon United Methodist Church, said she has been “blessed and grateful” to meet with members of the CVIC. Diane Bohlen, a Solon resident and faith formation director at Pioneer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Solon, said the CVIC has been involved with various interfaith meetings and events for many years.
“It was disheartening to see the level of that opposition,” he said. “It was such a blessing to see the response of the interfaith community, and the community in general and this administration – it was completely supportive. “We’ve been welcomed into their homes and into their places of worship, we’ve celebrated feast days with them, we’ve prayed with them,” he said.
Lewis said the CVIC has “exemplified time and time again the need to stand up for those who are suffering, who are hurting, who are oppressed, who are being attacked and who are struggling in any way. “The mosque is no doubt a great civic asset to this community, and it will continue to be an asset for many generations to come,” he continued.
“I think everyone knows that we support , and nothing crazy like that is going to happen in Solon.”“You have the support of City Council,” he told CVIC members. “We will not allow anything to happen, if we can do it.Pelunis said the discussion at Monday’s meeting was “very good to have, and I think we really benefit from it.”
Solon-City-Council Chagrin-Valley-Islamic-Center Online-Petition Mark-Liner Solon-High-School Israel-Defense-Forces Antisemitism Tel-Aviv Pro-Israel-Rally Hamas-Israel-War Change.Org Ed-Kraus Nancy-Meany Masroor-Malik Simee-Malik Solon-Alliance-For-Interfaith-Leaders Interfaith-Group-Against-Hate Syed-Ashraf Yasser-Armanazi Joshua-Caruso Congregation-Mishkan-Or Beachwood Muslim-Community Kate-Anderson-Foley Thomas-Dragga Church-Of-The-Resurrection Robert-Pelunis Cindy-Theobald Solon-United-Methodist-Church Diane-Bohlen Pioneer-Memorial-Presbyterian-Church Karl-Beus The-Church-Of-Jesus-Christ-Of-Latter-Day-Saints Jim-Lewis Advent-Lutheran-Church Mike-Kan Jeremy-Zelwin Bob-Shimits Macke-Bentley
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