Muslim community presses Shaw U. to reopen mosque on campus so they can worship

A local Muslim congregation says they've been locked out of their mosque by Shaw University, and they want to know why.

Members of the King Khalid mosque have worshiped inside the International Studies Center on the Shaw campus for 40 years. However, after closing the mosque during the COVID-19 crisis, the university has decided not to reopen it.

Meanwhile, the Christian chapel on campus, Boyd Chapel, is open to the public, and holds regular services.

University representatives haven't explained that decision to the congregation and did not respond to questions from WRAL News.

On Friday, dozens of protesters raised an ancient prayer to draw attention to their plight.

"It is pure discrimination, pure and simple," said Imam Juma Mussa.

"Our belief is that it is because we are Muslim," said attorney Nigel Edwards. "This is a Baptist-affiliated university. You have one religious place of worship that's open and another that's not."

In a statement, Shaw University said:

In response to recent protests, Shaw University respects the First Amendment rights of individuals to peaceably assemble and voice their concerns. As previously announced, the International Studies Center on the campus of Shaw University is open and available for use to enrolled students; access to the mosque by Shaw students is coordinated through the University's Chaplain office. In the wake of the pandemic, the campus mosque will only be available to currently enrolled Shaw University students, and the revised hours of operation for the center will be communicated directly to students.

Edwards pointed out that the mosque and the building it’s in were built in 1983 with a million-dollar gift from the Saudi royal family with the requirement that it would house a community mosque.

"This building would not be here if it weren't for the fact of donations of Muslims to establish this building and a mosque inside. That was the condition that Shaw University received when they accepted the money in the first place," Edwards said.

Mussa says it’s ironic that a school that played such a large role in the civil rights movement 60 years ago is accused of religious discrimination.

Shaw University is a private, Baptist university, so it is not legally required to accommodate other faiths.

In the meantime, the National Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on the school to reverse course and reopen the mosque in the interest of religious freedom.