(King5) MUKILTEO, Wash. — Saturday marked a new start for the Muslim community in Snohomish County who faced backlash when they first announced plans to open a mosque in Mukilteo.
There was a show of support at their groundbreaking ceremony Saturday as elected and religious leaders came from around the county to make it clear the group is welcome.
It took seven years to make the dream a reality for supporters like Riaz Khan and his wife Ayesha.
“It’s a dream come true. We couldn’t sleep all night with the excitement,” Khan said.
The groundbreaking ceremony is symbolic but what it stands for is something special to the members of the Muslim community in south Snohomish County.
The Khan family sees it as an investment in the next generation.
“This is for the people, the children, they’re going to learn here, they’re going to live here, they’re born here and they’re going to use this facility,” he said. “It’s for them, for the young people.”
Several years ago, the group faced opposition in the form of postcards and later flyers that told people to oppose the mosque, or had anti-Muslim messages. A sign at the mosque site was also damaged, but many in the county have since rallied to support the group.
