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I'm including=20 this as a bias report since it appears there were no concerns from the = community=20 when the building was used by Presbyterians but concerns/questions arose = now=20 that the building will be used by Muslims.

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Islamic=20 center to relocate to Carnegie

Tuesday, = June 14,=20 2011

By Carole = Gilbert=20 Brown

Carnegie council = on Monday=20 granted conditional use approval to the Attawheed Islamic Center on = Banksville=20 Road to occupy a former Presbyterian church building situated along = Washington=20 Avenue at one of the entrances to the borough's business = district.

"We were looking = for something=20 west of the rivers and the tunnels," said Al-Walid Mohsen, the center's=20 vice-president and manager, one of six Attawheed members who attended = the=20 meeting.

The building = will be used for=20 daily prayers and Sunday school, and for family and educational = activities,=20 representatives said.

The vote was 5-1=20 in favor, with council member Carol Covi dissenting. She had tried in = vain to=20 delay the vote after several residents complained that much of the = community was=20 uninformed about the conditional use request. Her colleagues argued = there was no=20 reason to postpone action.

Following the = vote, officials=20 offered a welcome to the center. Council President Pat Catena said = "having an=20 Islamic center and a Jewish synagogue within a stone's throw of each = other is a=20 testament to Carnegie's diversity."

The Attawheed = Islamic Center=20 was formed in the mid-1990s. Closing on the church property is set for=20 mid-July.

Carole = Gilbert Brown,=20 freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

Ann M. Van=20 Dyke = | Assistant=20 to the Director of Education/Community Services
PA Human = Relations=20 Commission
Pennsylvania Place | Suite 300 =
301 Chestnut = St.=20 | Harrisburg, PA 17101-2702
Phone: = 717.783.8438 | Fax: 717.214.0584
www.phrc.state.pa.us www.stopbias.org

Discrimination is=20 illegal in PA. Get the facts about equal opportunity at = www.phrc.state.pa.us