Macomb County News Briefs (May 10, 2007)
Renovated mosque plans open house May 25
The city's first mosque will hold an open house May 25.
The renovated Islamic Organization of North America will open its doors on Ryan, just south of
12 Mile, from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be information about Islam as well as opportunities to
walk through the building.
Imam Steve Elturk, a native of Lebanon who lives in Troy, is the president of the Islamic
organization and will be on hand. Members of other religious organizations will also be at the
opening.
Elturk has faced opposition to the mosque project.
At a city Planning Commission meeting last year, he was asked to prove that his group did not
have ties to terrorist organizations.
He also found broken glass and encountered other vandalism in the back of the building last
summer.
The U.S. Justice Department sent a letter to Warren officials in April 2006, informing them that it
was monitoring the situation.
Compiled by Christy Arboscello and Dan Cortez.