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Edited by: TJVNews.com
Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 is currently embroiled in a heated controversy as its chair, Lucy Mujica Diaz, faces calls for her ouster over comments questioning the Muslim faith of residents wearing “Coney” shirts sponsored by a group supporting a proposed casino in Coney Island, as was reported by the New York Post over the weekend. The incident has sparked outrage within the community, highlighting the intersection of religious beliefs, community representation, and a contentious casino development project, according to the Post report.
The controversy ignited when Lucy Mujica Diaz, a vocal opponent of the casino development in Coney Island, took to Facebook to express her puzzlement over Muslim residents wearing shirts emblazoned with “Coney.” She included a Wikipedia excerpt referencing the Quran’s stance on “games of chance” as a “grave sin” and “abominations of Satan’s handiwork,” the Post reported. The post also featured a photo of members from Afadila Community Services, an advocacy group for Islamic residents, wearing the shirts sponsored by the consortium supporting the casino.
At the heart of the matter is a consortium vying for one of the three downstate casino licenses. As was reported by the Post, the group comprises influential players such as developer Thor Equities, gaming operators Saratoga Casino Holdings and The Chickasaw Nation, and Legends, the sports and entertainment firm co-owned by the Yankees. The proposed casino, situated along the iconic Coney Island boardwalk, has divided opinions within the community, the Post report added.
Marie Mirville-Shahzada, the Muslim founder and executive director of Afadila Community Services, was incensed by the incident. According to the Post report, in an August 17th letter addressed to Mayor Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Councilman Ari Kagan, Mirville-Shahzada called for Lucy Mujica Diaz’s removal from the board. She emphasized that the photo included children with disabilities, including her own autistic child, and accused Mujica Diaz of bullying, personal attacks, and anti-Muslim sentiments, the Post report indicated.
“Ms. Mujica Diaz questioned Ms. Mirville-Shahzada authenticity as a Muslim, her faith in Islam, her parenting and love of her children and family and the protection of the disabled children. How dare she?,” the letter to the politicians said, the report in the Post said.
Kagan said Mujica Diaz was wrong for invoking the Muslim faith in the debate over the casino, as was reported by the Post.
He demanded the CB 13 chairwoman apologize and undergo sensitivity training — but stopped short of asking for her resignation or removal.
“I strongly oppose the casino project. I also strongly denounce any attempts to bring religion into the conversation,” Kagan told The Post.
“It was totally inappropriate for a chairperson of the community board to publicly accuse a loving Muslim mother of disabled children with betraying her faith, family, and the community. I unequivocally condemn the divisive and prejudiced actions displayed by Mrs. Mujica Diaz. The attempt to disow discord and amplify intolerance is a grave violation of our community trust.”
Mirville-Shahzada argued that the incident was not isolated and cited Mujica Diaz’s pattern of inappropriate behavior. The Post report said that she decried the board chair’s insensitivity and called on authorities to investigate and take action against such divisive conduct.
Lucy Mujica Diaz defended her intentions, asserting that her post was posed as a question rather than an attack on anyone’s faith. According to the Post report, she reiterated that her words were taken out of context and denied making any hurtful or negative statements. While she acknowledged her willingness to engage with Mirville-Shahzada in a dialogue about Islam, she claimed that the conversation was prematurely cut short, leading to the demand for her resignation, the report added.
Mayor Eric Adams and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso have yet to publicly address the situation, leaving room for further developments in the controversy.
As the situation unfolds, the community is grappling with the challenges of fostering inclusivity and respectful discourse while navigating contentious issues.
