Parking restriction during prayer hours discriminates against Muslims, rights complaint says

National Post ^ | June 11, 2013 | Sammy Hudes

[rickmichaels]

TORONTO — Two men say a parking restriction in the City of Mississauga that’s in effect during Friday prayer services discriminates against Muslims and they’re asking the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to back their claim.

Salman Khalid, 32, is an emergency physician at a hospital about half an hour from the ISNA Canada Centre, a mosque he and his family have always attended in Mississauga, west of Toronto. In May 2012, he was given a ticket for parking on nearby Finfar Court rather than the mosque’s parking lot, while attending Friday prayer services.

The bylaw states that parking is prohibited on the side street, approximately one block from the mosque, between 12-3 p.m. on Fridays.

But this coincides with the mosque’s hours of prayer service on Islam’s holiest day of the week, according to Salman’s father, Muhammad.

“This is our Sabbath day. The Christians have Sundays, the Jewish people have Saturdays, the Muslims have Friday,” said Mr. Khalid, the elder. “It is at noontime. It’s not in the evenings, it’s not in the morning. It is specified in the Koran that that’s the time.”

[DoodleDawg]

“This is our Sabbath day. The Christians have Sundays, the Jewish people have Saturdays, the Muslims have Friday,” said Mr. Khalid, the elder. “It is at noontime. It’s not in the evenings, it’s not in the morning. It is specified in the Koran that that’s the time.”

Does the city waive parking restrictions around churches on Sundays and synagogues on Saturday? If not then go away.

[Sherman Logan]

Lots of cities do. But that’s generally on weekends when businesses are closed.

[txrefugee]

Western countries were certainly stupid for letting these whiners into their countries. Mohammed didn’t say a thing about free parking as a requirement for worship.

[SkyDancer]

I guess that’s why they also took down the Twin Towers. Maybe casting a shadow over some mosque or something.

[Neidermeyer]

Maybe the mosque should expand their parking lot... duh.

[Neidermeyer]

I READ THE STORY:

Parking is adequate in the mosques own lot ... however it is difficult to exit quickly after services ..

“Mr. Khalid says Fridays are busy at the mosque, and the parking lot is typically packed with more than 400 vehicles. He insists it is necessary for his son to park on the side street in order to avoid the heavy congestion in the parking lot and get to work on time.”