USA: New York mosque neighbor’s sign offends Muslims

“I would really think it’s an incitement of hatred against Muslim. Law enforcement should take it very seriously. Tomorrow, somebody could say, ‘Oh they have weapons,’ and people believe it." 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Boston Globe | AP
By Associated Press | May 11, 2011

AMHERST, N.Y. — Muslim leaders are upset that a homeowner who lives next door to a newly opened mosque has posted a sign on his front lawn that reads “Bomb Making Next Driveway.’’

Michael Heick lives along a heavily traveled road in the town of Amherst, a Buffalo suburb.

The next driveway on the same side of the road is the entrance to the Jaffarya Center.

Heick told local media outlets that he put up the sign last weekend because he was frustrated with how the mosque and town officials handled his complaints that the mosque was built too close to his property and that its bright lights violate town code.


“The place is too close. I don’t care what people think. It doesn’t matter what people think,’’ he told the Buffalo News. “This is a way to get answers now. I get none from the town. The intent was to catch the eye of the people who I have a problem with.’’

Mosque officials said the sign’s message is offensive and that Heick hasn’t responded to their requests for a meeting.

“I would really think it’s an incitement of hatred against Muslims,’’ said Dr. Syed Jaffri, an Amherst psychiatrist and member of the mosque’s board of trustees. “Law enforcement should take it very seriously. Tomorrow, somebody could say, ‘Oh they have weapons,’ and people believe it.’’

Mubarak Abidi, mosque president, said he called Amherst police over the weekend about the sign and was told its posting wasn’t illegal.


Read original post here: New York mosque neighbor’s sign offends Muslims