Muslim Alcohol Conflict Continues in Bay Area

Muslim leaders in Oakland, Calif., are continuing to speak out against their coreligionists who sell alcohol, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Jan. 28.

"We are here today to say loudly we stand together to battle the evils of alcohol. There is no such thing as 'drink responsibly,'" said Mohammad Rajabally, president of the Islamic Society of the East Bay. "When you have Muslims bringing (alcohol) to people ... it is shameful."

A pair of Muslim-owned local liquor stores were recently attacked by a group of men who identified themselves as Muslims; the new Muslims for Healthy Communities said they did not support those attacks but said they raised the issue of alcohol sales for public discussion. "If they hadn't done that, we wouldn't be here today. It was the flashpoint," said Faheem Shuaibe, imam of the Masjidul Waritheen mosque in East Oakland. "It was the right intent, but simply done in the wrong way."

The group marched to three Muslim-owned liquor stores on the way to a rally at Oakland's City Hall. Moshin Hassan, who owns one of the stores, said the marchers were correct that Islam forbids him from selling liquor. "It's not a good feeling. I think about it almost every day," Hassan said. "I would like to get away from it, but on my own terms, not by oppression from somebody else trying to judge me."

The community group said they want to decrease the concentration of liquor stores in poor neighborhoods and help fellow Muslims who want to get out of the liquor business. Mohamed Saleh Mohamed, head of the Yemenie American Grocers Association of California, said many store owners would be receptive if they could recoup the investment in their businesses.