Christian sues to halt mosque construction

A Florida man filed a lawsuit to prevent construction of a mosque in his neighborhood, claiming it "presents a substantial harm to the well-being, safety and health" of his community.

Rodney Wright named in his complaint the Islamic Center of South Florida, the South Florida office of the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and its national office.

He is represented by Larry Klayman, known for this numerous lawsuits against the Clinton administration in the 1990s as head of the government watchdog Judicial Watch.

Klayman, now an attorney in south Florida, is acting in response to the Pompano Beach City Council's "dangerous decision" to grant permission for the building of a 29,000- square-foot "radical suspect mosque" in an area "almost entirely Christian and African-American," according to an outspoken critic of the move, Rev. O'Neal Dozier, pastor of a church in the neighborhood, World Wide Christian Center.

(Story continues below)

The lawsuit, according to Dozier, "provides a roadmap for other concerned citizens around the nation to legally prevent radical Islam from posing a security threat in their local communities."

The Islamic center's imam, Hassan Sabri, "has a history of ties to terrorism, and anti-Semitic statements," said the pastor's statement.

"The plaintiff and many others in the community believe that the mosque will be a nuisance and will pose a threat to the neighborhood and its surrounding areas," the statement said. "As well, the plaintiff believes that this is part of a greater scheme to radicalize America."

The lawsuit says associates of Sabri are tied to terrorist groups such as al-Qaida, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The mosque also is near the church Wright attends, Antioch Missionary Baptist.

CAIR has "acted in concert" with the Islamic center, "working hard to oppose anyone that gets in the way of the mosque's creation," Dozier's statement said.

Altaf Ali, executive director of the South Florida chapter of CAIR, said he views the lawsuit as "an act of religious intimidation," the Associated Press reported.

"I'm very much disturbed that in this day and age you'd find people going to such extreme measures to prevent a house of worship from being built in any American city," he said.

CAIR brands itself as a mainstream advocacy group, but it is a spinoff of the now-defunct Islamic Association for Palestine, launched by Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and a former university professor in Florida, Sami al-Arian, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Several CAIR staffers have been convicted on terrorism-related charges, and CAIR founder Omar Ahmad allegedly told a group of Muslims they are in America not to assimilate but to help assert Islam's rule over the country.

---

Related offers:

"Infiltration"

"Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad"

"The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)"

---

Previous stories:

Report: 'Moderate' Islamic charities back terror

'Terrorist apologist' CAIR to meet in Capitol

Muslim sensitivity training for 45,000 airport workers

Did CAIR founder say Islam to rule America?

Doubts grow over Muslim lawmaker's loyalty

American citizens aided Hamas terror

Internet, talk radio blamed for 'anti-Muslim violence'

Controversial Muslim group gets VIP airport security tour

Muslims fear 'United 93' backlash

CAIR files FOIA on Bush wiretaps

CAIR issues U.S. 'travel advisory'

Boeing apologizes to CAIR for ad

CAIR urges Congress to honor Ramadan

CAIR condemns Jewish attacker

U.S. Muslims' anti-terror fatwa 'bogus'

CAIR to GOP: Repudiate Tancredo

CAIR distributes Quran banned as anti-Semitic

CAIR: Censure Israeli leader for remarks

CAIR gets apology for Muslim remark

CAIR leader convicted on terror charges

CAIR pressures National Review to nix ads

Fox's '24' airs Muslim disclaimer

CAIR presses Fox TV on Muslim terrorists

Jackie Mason calls Islam 'murderous' religion

Muslim group sues critic for $1.35 million

U.S. Muslims silent on Hamas chief's terror

Muslims publish 'Jesus' ad

Muslim group sues congressman for $2 million

Kucinich headlines Muslim fund-raiser

Dr. Laura: No apology to Muslims needed

Dr. Laura rebuked for 'anti-Muslim tirade'

FBI invites Muslim scholars to preach

Feds accused of 'siege' on American Muslims

Muslim-rights voice indicted in jihad plot

Americans charged in 'holy-war' plot

Muslims grooming candidates for 2004

Should Muslim Quran be USA's top authority?

Group forces censure for 'Islamophobia'

Muslims try to quash Bush nominee

University fires 'terror professor'

Muslims try to bar terror expert

American Islamic lobby gets out the vote