Bloomington Islamic Center Criticized by Neighbors, City Council Member

The Al-Farooq Islamic Center opened less than a year ago and some of its Bloomington neighbors are not happy about how it is operating.

In fact, one City Council member joined the chorus of criticism. Council member, Vern Wilcox, tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he wants the Muslim leaders of Al-Farooq to come back before the City Council. Wilcox says he thinks the Islamic Center is violating city code and he's threatening to make a motion to suspend its conditional use permit, if those violations are not cleaned up.

Wilcox, and dozens of Al-Farooq neighbors, say the Islamic Center is being used all night long and that heavy use has led to severe parking problems on city streets. In both cases, Wilcox says the Center is violating city code and is not living up to its intended use when it applied for a conditional use permit. 

Dozens of people turned out to give the Bloomington City Council an earful about the Islamic Center and how it is affecting their neighborhood.

A spokesperson for Al-Farooq declined to talk on camera, but did say the Islamic Center is not violating city code, but if there are neighborhood concerns, they are willing to address them.