Updated June 25, 2015.
Last night, Ogemaw County Planning Commission tabled Nayef Salha's controversial request to build a camp for kids. County officials still have questions about the plan being proposed. Some members of the community expressed open hostility toward the property owner because he’s Muslim.
"This is a white culture community ... (a) predominantly Christian community," said James Allen. "I think we as citizens have a right to know if this is a Satanic Church going in here. If it’s Pentecostal, Muslim, what not."
Gerry Lehman, chairman of the planning commission, responded, "No, no please. We don’t want to get into any religion and that."
Salha’s attorney, Tim Freel, spoke out during the meeting, calling comments like Allen's "bigotry."
The planning commission will revisit the proposal in July.
On June 24, Ogemaw County officials will revisit a request to build a youth camp. Nayef Salha requested a special use permit to build the camp on his property in Rose Township. The township board voted against it in a June 8 meeting. A petition against it was signed by 153 community members. Salha believes his request has met resistance because he’s Muslim.
Salha has contacted the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter (CAIR-MI) for support. Executive Director Dawud Walid says, “we believe that the township was influenced by people in the community and especially one outspoken neighbor who raised concerns that it could be a possible training ground for ISIS simply because he’s Muslim.”
The Rose Township board, however, says their decision was based on noise, traffic, pollution and environmental concerns. Walid doesn’t buy it.
"In many cases people with bigoted views know that they can’t be outright racist," he says. "So then they use covert means of talking about traffic or pollution. This is an old trick, an old tactic, and we’ve seen it before.”
Now Salha’s request will go before the Ogemaw County Planning Commission. Gerry Lehman is chairman of the planning commission. He says he’s heard some people are concerned because Salha is Muslim, but that will not play a role in the commission's decision-making process.
If the planning commission approves Salha's request, it will go to the county's Board of Commissioners for final approval. If the request is denied, CAIR-MI say they'll contact the U.S. Department of Justice.
