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Mosque Rejected As Polling Station After Complaints

A local Florida Islamic center has been rejected in use for the future election as 50 people complained

The Islamic Center of Boca Raton
Outside of the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, icbr.org

The Islamic Center of Boca Raton, located in Palm Beach, Florida was set to be the locale for a polling station for the upcoming election but due to a surge of complaints from local residents the Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher has had to change the location to the Spanish River Library.

Susan Bucher a Democrat, who is also running to be re-elected in the same elections, sent the President of the mosque, Bassem Alhalabi, an email stating that she will be changing the location of the polling station as over 50 people raised concerns of the Islamic center being used.

Courtyard of the Islamic Center Of Boca Raton
Courtyard of the Islamic Center Of Boca Raton, icbr.org

Bassem Alhalabi was appalled at the news and told the Sun Sentinel “This is not democratic, if Muslims are good to vote in a church and a synagogue, then Christian and Jews are also good to vote in an Islamic center.”

We were in contact with a local Muslim in the area, Fatima Din, who told us "The use of the Islamic Center would've aided in normalizing our lifestyle in the eyes of non-Muslims, it is really unfortunate that the mosque will no longer be used as it just further distances our communities."

Further claims of discrimination are being brought up after Synagogues and Churches are still being used as polling stations in the area, Susan Bucher has not yet publicly commented on the situation.