A City of Cape² Town councillor says the newly established Open Mosque had violated municipal by-laws by not having any parking spaces. 

 

The mosque officially opened its doors on Friday despite criticism from members of the local Muslim community.

 

Founder³ Taj Hargey said the mosque would help counter radicalism⁴.

 

"The City Council is trying to close the mosque using ridiculous bylaws and I will not be threatened by them or anyone else," Mr Hargey told the BBC.

 

"We have freedom of religion and expression in this country. No-one has the right to tell anyone what to believe in. This is a gender⁵ equal mosque, autonomous⁶ and independent and will remain so," he said.

 

City councillor Ganief Hendricks denied that the closure was part of a witch-hunt.

 

"This is an emotive issue - some councillors who are Muslim would want to defend the issue more vigorously than those that aren't but the bottom line is we have to make sure that the rules are followed," he told the BBC.

 

He said Mr Hargey had not applied⁷ to change the use of the building from a warehouse⁸ to a mosque.

 

"There are issues of health and safety to consider before [a mosque] is set up," Mr Hendricks said.

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