A sign that says "No Muslim parking" near a mosque in Houston, Texas has ignited outrage across the nation, CNN reported.
The flyer reads, "NO MUSLIM Parking in Westview Shopping Center. Your Car Will Be Towed." It's posted on a street near the El Farouq Mosque, where members could easily come across the warning on their way.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslims civil rights group, mentioned the sign in a newsletter on Thursday. Shortly after, Muslims nationwide chimed in with their thoughts on the sign.
"I'm very shocked because we do live in a society that's supposed to be very accepting, and this is what we all preach," Yara Aboshady said. "That we all have the freedom of religion."
While some expressed anger, others expressed pity.
"I feel sorry for the person who wrote it," Ahmed Hassan said. "This is what comes to mind because obviously he has a lot of hate."
Although employees of the Westview Shopping Center did not want to go on camera in an interview with KPRC, they mentioned many felt frustrated when members of the mosque would use their parking lot before attending services, taking up spots from other potential customers.
One employee said the shopping center's owner, Steve Kwon, posted the sign, although he denied it. He also claimed he will be more attentive to offensive signs in and around the parking lot. Aboshady noted the way in which the sign was phrased, questing the ultimate motive of whoever posted the sign.
"It could be no parking for the sake of patrons that come in," Aboshady said. "Or it really could be a prejudice and just a mean thing to say."
This is not the first time a mosque near Houston has encountered racism. Earlier in July, the Victoria Islamic Center in Victoria discovered graffiti on one of the outside walls.
