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Residents urge Solon council to condemn Chagrin Valley Islamic Center and form task force; mosque leaders and others describe community outreach
Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the Jan. 21 Solon City Council meeting to call for a formal condemnation of the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center and for steps to address alleged antisemitic speech; mosque representatives described charitable programs and urged community engagement.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period of the Jan. 21 Solon City Council meeting to urge the council to condemn the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center and remove the center and its leader from city-affiliated listings and committees. Other speakers, including mosque representatives and members of the Jewish community, offered contrasting perspectives and described local charitable work and calls for constructive dialogue.
What speakers asked: one commenter asked the council to (1) issue a formal condemnation of the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center (CVIC) for allegedly "harboring and promoting radicalism and antisemitism" and for violating the city DEI policy and Ordinance No. 2023-86; (2) remove CVIC from the text of Resolution No. 2020-201 (a 2020 resolution condemning racism); and (3) remove the CVIC founder from the city’s community relations committee. The commenter cited Governor Mike DeWine’s Executive Order No. 2022-06D and the U.S. Department of State’s definition of antisemitism in support of the request.
Calls for a task force and legislation: Alec Popovkar, who identified himself as a Cleveland Heights resident, asked the council to create a task force to analyze propaganda and educational materials he said spread anti-Jewish messages and recommended written programs and legislation to promote interreligious communication and education. "There needs to be some legislation," Popovkar said, arguing that promises alone are insufficient.
Mosque leaders and charitable activities: Mazruk Malik (identified in the meeting as from 7538 Starkwood Drive) and other mosque representatives described recent community service events. Malik said the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center’s "love thy neighbor" program distributed about $3,000 worth of gift cards to 30 neighboring families during the holidays in partnership with the Solon Senior Center and Solon Benevolent Fund.
Jewish-community comments: Ruthie Wolfson and other Jewish residents addressed council to describe concerns about what they called divisive and hateful language and urged the city to document and address such activity.
Council response and context: councilmembers did not take formal action during the meeting on the requests. Several speakers emphasized that laws and definitions about incitement and antisemitism exist and should be considered; others urged community dialogue and education. The meeting record shows no referral, investigation, or formal council vote on the requests made during public comment.
What happens next: since these were public comments (not agenda items), they do not themselves trigger council action. Council members may refer matters raised in public comment to staff or place them on a future agenda; however, no such referral or motion was recorded on Jan. 21.
