Oklahoma Town Rejects Mosque, Citing Fears of Islam

The city council in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has just rejected construction plans for a proposed 20,000-square-foot mosque in the heart of their community. The incident marks the latest development in a religious freedom debate now sharply dividing this sleepy Oklahoma suburb.

Local Muslims said they are simply seeking a place to comfortably worship, citing severe overcrowding at a nearby mosque in Tulsa – the closest Islamic house of worship – as the primary reason the construction is necessary.

Hundreds signed up to speak at a recent city council meeting addressing the issue, and even more showed up to observe. Many in attendance at the often-raucous town hall cited everything from floodplain concerns to increased traffic congestion as justification for their opposition to the mosque.

However, the nitty gritty intricacies of residential zoning don’t tend to bring hundreds out of the woodwork to attend their local city council meetings. As it happens, there were some deeper factors at play; several speakers plainly explained that they opposed the mosque for a more direct reason: they do not want Muslims in their community.

Now, the mosque’s financial backers are claiming they may pursue the issue in court, as questions linger over whether the rejection was truly based on legitimate zoning complaints or anti-Islamic bigotry.

Is Bigotry to Blame?

It all started when the Islamic Society of Tulsa sought to rezone 15 acres of land in Broken Arrow into an Islamic Center – plans which were approved last year by the city’s planning commission. But local outrage began to swell after the commission sent the proposal to the city council for final approval.

The city council turned over the conversation to the public, and after a marathon four-hour meeting with more than 50 speakers, they voted 4-1 to reject the plan.

Many of the complaints centered strictly on land use. One local golf course owner stated that increased traffic in the area would negatively affect his business. Others stated that increased street parking would negatively impact their way of life. As one local man put it, "the greater concern is neighborliness."

But others were far more candid, making it clear that their opposition had little to do with parking and water drainage.

"This is about ideology and identity. Islam is not about peace," said one local woman. "I have a daughter who is 15 years old," another resident stated. "I don't want this ideology imposed on her."

"We have been at war with Islam for 40 years," stated another man. "I love the Muslims, but they must assimilate like we did."

Similar comments flooded social media sites like X, with one local resident (whose bio reads "Oklahoma • Follower of Christ") posting a celebratory video conflating Islam with terrorism: 

“We Are Not Strangers”

What happens next?

Broken Arrow’s Muslim community – along with a number of Christian allies – were devastated at the ‘no’ vote. "I thought Broken Arrow was better than this," said Aliye Shimi, director of a local interfaith nonprofit. "I understand that unfamiliarity creates fear – I get that. But, I implored them to rise above that fear."

"We are not strangers,” she explained, “we are Okies."

Some Christians in the audience also expressed disappointment with their fellow citizens. "In 20 years, I don't know that I've heard as much hate and division in one place," stated one attendee. "Scripture shows Jesus loved those who others hated," explained a local Christian minister. "I'm here choosing to stand with my Islamic neighbors."

Now, the development’s owners are weighing their legal options, and a lawsuit appears increasingly likely. They say that the city violated their right to religious freedom, alleging that if the project had been a Christian church, it would have been approved without controversy.

As one local Islamic leader put it, “Oklahoma, we should not have to sue you to be seen as fully American."

What is your reaction? Does this decision reflect legitimate local concerns, or something far more troubling?