FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - A mosque in Spotsylvania County may stay at its current location rather than build a bigger facility nearby after meeting resistance from residents who denounced Islam.
Samer Shalaby, a trustee of The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg, tells the Free Lance-Star that the mosque is considering selling some its land to a homebuilder and using the proceeds for a possible addition at its current facility.
The Islamic Center previously planned to build a new 8,000-square-foot mosque on the land now being considered to be put up for sale to a homebuilder. A community meeting in November to discuss the plans drew national attention after Shalaby was interrupted several times by residents who disparaged Islam.
A sheriff's deputy halted the meeting after the discussion got heated.
