On Sunday, places of worship for Central Ohio's growing Muslim population are open to the community.
"We pray here, we have our schools here, we have our youth groups here, we have study circles," says Outreach Coordinator for Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Dublin Nicol Ghazi. "So, for us this is our second home, and this is our place of worship."
Promoting understanding and preventing hate by building bridges is why the Columbus of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is hosting "Open Mosque Day." Seven local mosques will be open from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sun. Dec. 16 for dialogue, light refreshments and fellowship.
"We just feel that the best way to dispel myths about who we are, to dispel misunderstandings about our Muslim community than to participate actively in that interfaith dialogue," says Ghazi who also the Administrator of Muslim Family Services of Ohio. "When you know your neighbor it just makes a stronger community for all of us."
Fellowship that can prevent some of the anti-Muslim sentiment leaders like Ghazi say their community has experienced from continuing, and has grown because of anti-Muslim rhetoric in politics, and policies like the travel ban focused on several majority muslim countries.
"When that happens in many ways it can legitimize peoples fears and ignorant beliefs about Muslims," says Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed. "And, that's a very serious issue."
Ohio's Muslim population is growing according to data from Pew Research, and currently represents one percent of the population. And, according to FBI crime data from 2017 around 19 percent of the religious-based hate crimes reported nationally were against Muslims.
"It shakes the community," says Hameed, who says the incidents can cause the community to become insular. "You know, people get frightened, they get scared."
Organizers hope that by opening their doors, the community will be able to ask questions and the interaction will open minds.
"We actually want you, if you have a question about Islam to ask a Muslim," says Ghazi. "And, to come and ask us what we are all about. We are a very welcoming community and we are very happy to kind of have those dialogues and have those conversations."
And that they will promote unity within the greater community around faith.
"We hope that people come away with just increased knowledge about the religion, increased knowledge about Muslims and the American Muslim experience," says Hameed. "And, most importantly they come away with a sense that we are all one community, and the fact that we won't be divided by a lot of the divisive rhetoric we hear."
The following mosques are hosting "Open Mosque Day" in Central Ohio:
- Noor Islamic Cultural Center: 5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin, OH 43016, (614) 527-7777
- Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center: 591 Industrial Mile Rd. Columbus, OH 43228, (614) 632-3571
- Masjid Namrah: 4501 Refugee Rd. Columbus, OH 43232, (614) 477-6795
- Ahlul Bayt Society of Columbus: 2580 W Dublin, Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
- Masjid Omar Ibn El-Khattab: 580 Riverview Dr. Columbus, OH 43202, (614) 262-1310
- Masjid Ibn Taymiyah: 2334 Mock Rd. Columbus, OH 43219, (614) 418-9137
- Polaris Masjid: 8542 Cotter St. Lewis Center, OH 43035, (937) 506-0850