Lack of mosque blamed for driving immigrants away

A Muslim doctor in Charlottetown says he's disappointed the provincial government has turned down his request for assistance to help build P.E.I.'s first mosque.

'He's a radiologist and he left to B.C. just because there are no mosques here.' Dr. Suleiman Sefau

Dr. Suleiman Sefau told CBC News on Monday that other Muslim professionals have left the Island because there's no place for them to worship.

Sefau moved to Charlottetown with his wife and three boys two years ago. He said the family loves the Island, except for the lack of a mosque. On Fridays, Muslims can pray in the basement of a building on Queen Street, but Sefau wants a real mosque.

"Muslims pray five times day. Back home, the mosques are schools at the same time. That's the place where you get your Arabic language because that's the language of Koran. The mosque is everything for Muslims," said Sefau.

The community raising funds, Sefau said, but it could take another four or five years to come up with the necessary $500,000, and some Muslims weren't willing to wait.

"I have a friend of mine who left two months ago," said Sefau.

"He's a radiologist and he left to B.C. just because there are no mosques here. This is the main reason."

Sefau asked the province for help. He was looking for a break on land prices or perhaps rent on a building, but said he was told the government doesn't give money to religious groups.

Help available in British Columbia

No one from the province was available to comment.

Prince George, B.C., is taking a different approach. Coun. Brian Skakun said it made good economic sense for his city to help Muslims build the area's first Mosque by giving them a good deal on surplus land.

"We wanted to diversify our economy, but we wanted to diversify our cultural base and that will help our economy in the long term," said Skakun.

"If your community doesn't build it, someone else will."

Charlottetown Coun. David MacDonald said he'd like to meet with Sefau to see if the city can assist in building a mosque here.