New parking signs posted outside a Spring Branch mosque sparked outrage on Thursday.
The posters lined the street near the El Farouq Mosque on Sauer Conrad Drive at Westview.
In black letters, the signs read, “No Muslim parking in the Westview Shopping Center. Your car will be towed.”
Many Muslims heading to worship services were offended.
“I feel sorry for the person who wrote it,” said Ahmed Hassan. “This is what comes to mind because obviously he has a lot of hate.”
“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,” said Yara Aboshady. “That we all have the freedom of religion.”
The mosque sits across the street from the shopping center. Store employees did not want to go on camera, but admit they get angry when mosque members park in their lot, taking up spots meant for customers.
With the Muslim month-long fast for the holy month of Ramadan ending, and a crowd expected at the mosque, the signs anonymously appeared. No shopping center employees would take credit. One worker said the shopping center owner, Steve Kwon, posted the signs.
So Local 2 took the mosque members’ concerns to Kwon.
“I did not put up the signs,” said Kwon.
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