Islamic Society of Greater Manchester

The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester is an Islamic organization based in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States, that operates the largest mosque in the state of New Hampshire.[1] As of 2006 there were approximately 3,000 Muslims in New Hampshire.[1]

Origins

The society originated among the Muslim Student Association at Southern New Hampshire University. They initially held their Friday prayers in a room on campus that the school allocated to them. Southern New Hampshire University economics professor Mahboubul Hassan was the advisor to the organization. After SNHU sold the part of campus that hosted the meetings, the group began planning to build a mosque, working with Muslim immigrants who settled in New Hampshire. In 1998 the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester was created to pursue this task, and the society has been engaged in efforts to build a mosque in Manchester ever since.[2] Mahboubul Hassan then became the president of the society.[3] While the mosque is being built, they hold prayer meetings in the headquarters of the society.[1] Their offices have been located in several different places, including a dance studio and the basement of a beauty school.[4]

Mosque

In 1999 the society was twice denied permits to build a mosque in a rural area of east Manchester by the city of Manchester's Zoning Board of Adjustment and filed a lawsuit in response.[5] The city of Manchester allowed the group to re-submit their plans in 2003.[6] City officials had opposed the building plans because the road leading to the building site was of very poor quality, parking was limited, and blasting would be required.[7][8][9] After the planning board approved the plans, neighboring residents individually sued to stop the construction, claiming that they owned a portion of the land.[10] In 2005 a judge ruled in favor of the society, and they were able to begin construction.[11] New Hampshire state representative Saggy Tahir has been a vocal supporter of the planned mosque.[12] Siraj Wahhaj of Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn traveled to New Hampshire to speak at a fundraiser for the project.[13] After construction began, local pastors and the Greater Manchester Interfaith Council called on local churches to volunteer to help with the construction.[1][14] The move caused some controversy among local residents, some of whom were vocally opposed to allowing the construction of a mosque.[15] Construction commenced, however, though it often proceeded slowly due to unexpected costs.[16] The society plans to build a 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) three-level domed octagonal building.[1] It will not have a minaret or loudspeakers.[4] The building site has been regularly vandalized, although vandalism was an issue for the previous owners as well.[17]

Other activities

Leaders of the society engage in efforts to build tolerance for Muslims among New Hampshire residents and participate in interfaith activities. Some of them met with New Hampshire law enforcement officials and hosted gatherings with FBI officials designed to combat harassment of local Muslims. Such gatherings have been hosted in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[18][19][20]

References
  1. Daigle, Debra (31 August 2006). "NH's First Mosque Faces Uphill Battle". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  2. "History of the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester". The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 2012-01-13. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  3. Arsenault, Lisa (16 January 2007). "You have the right to dream". The Concord Monitor. Concord, NH. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  4. Wang, Beverly (28 March 2005). "Islamic community putting down roots". The Concord Monitor. Concord, NH. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. "Islamic Society sues on permit denial; Seeks to build mosque on Karatzas Avenue". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 22 December 1999. Moslems [sic] who want to build a mosque in Manchester have sued the city, after a city board twice denied their application for necessary permits. The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester filed the lawsuit in Hillsborough County Superior Court last month, challenging the decisions of the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment.
  6. Hayward, Mark (8 May 2003). "NH Muslims make another try tonight for Manchester mosque". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. Muslims hope to prevail this time. After the city denied their first attempt, they took the matter to court, and eventually the city conceded the case.
  7. Hayward, Mark (9 May 2003). "Mosque proposal prompts a debate". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. The poor condition of Karatzas Avenue was a key concern voiced last night by Manchester Planning Board members, who were asked to approve a mosque on the rural, east Manchester road.
  8. Hayward, Mark (23 May 2003). "Board delays decision on mosque plan". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. The Manchester Planning Board last night tabled a staff recommendation that a site plan be approved for the mosque after members balked at the condition of Karatzas Avenue, parking limitations and blasting.
  9. Hayward, Mark (25 June 2003). "Mosque may be rejected". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. City planners may use the poor condition of Karatzas Avenue as a reason to reject plans for a 13,085-square-foot mosque on a Manchester hilltop, a city lawyer has said.
  10. "Mosque gets permits, but issues remain". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 27 June 2003. A neighbor has filed a lawsuit against the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester, contesting the society's claim to a small portion of its lot.
  11. "Judge removes roadblock to mosque". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 12 January 2005. A Hillsborough County Superior Court judge has removed a legal roadblock that stood in the way of construction of New Hampshire's first Islamic mosque.
  12. Yates, Riley (26 June 2006). "Parking has mosque at odds with neighbors". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH.
  13. "Leading Muslim to speak in city". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 8 March 2007. The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester will host a renowned and, to some, controversial American Islamic scholar as keynote speaker at a fundraiser to help finance their continuing efforts to build the first mosque in New Hampshire.
  14. "A call to build". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 18 June 2006. Members of the Greater Manchester Interfaith Council are hoping that area churchgoers will pitch in to help build New Hampshire's first mosque.
  15. "Radicals or religious? Debate of extremes". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 20 August 2006. Some Granite Staters want nothing to do with a dedicated place for Muslims to pray in New Hampshire.
  16. "State's first mosque goes up bit by bit". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  17. Brooks, Scott (24 June 2008). "Islamic Society seeks city's help in stopping vandalism". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  18. "NH Muslims to discuss incidents of harassment with AG". New Hampshire Sunday News. Manchester, NH. 14 October 2001. Muslims in the state plan to meet with Attorney General Philip McLaughlin this week to share reports of verbal attacks, spitting, defacement of property and a case of a couple being run off an interstate highway by a tractor-trailer driver in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
  19. "Officials affirm rights of Muslim community". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 20 October 2001. Any attacks on Muslim men and women in New Hampshire will not be tolerated. That was the message from local, state and federal officials last night during a gathering at the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester.
  20. "AG Heed sits down, listens at Islamic Society". New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester, NH. 19 April 2003.
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