As Ansel mentioned last week, Peter Zieve, a Mukilteo businessman, was behind an effort to warn community members about the planned construction of a mosque in the area.
From the Seattle Globalist:
The mailer offered no opinion on the mosque planned by the Islamic Center of Mukilteo, but the email contact information — mukilteostaysafe@gmail.com — first was linked by public documents to Zieve, who has been open with city officials about his opposition to the plans, which were filed in 2013.
Email correspondence linking Zieve to mukilteostaysafe@gmail.com was forwarded to Mukilteo city officials by a resident who is fearful of the Islamic Center’s plans, according to The Herald of Everett. According to the paper, the email correspondence discussed the “danger” of the mosque project and encouraged recipients to contact Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregerson. …
While Zieve declined to talk to The Seattle Times or the Herald about the mosque mailing on Wednesday [April 14], he confirmed to the Puget Sound Business Journal on Thursday that he was the mailing’s source.
“Do they know that the couple that did the San Bernardino massacre were almost daily in the mosque in San Bernardino?” Zieve told the business publication.
Zieve also said that the mailing to city residents had nothing against the mosque on it and that he and others are exercising their right to free speech.
😐 … 😑 … 😤
Now, according to KUOW, Zieve, owner of Electroimpact, which supplies parts to Boeing; has realized that sending out the anti-Muslim mailer was a terrible idea. KUOW interviewed local writer Aziz Junejo who spoke with Zieve in hopes of arranging a talk between him and members of the local Muslim community. Zieve told him that he had made a “tremendous mistake”, but thought the issue would eventually “blow over.”
Here’s more from a KUOW transcript:
Junejo: “I don’t think it’s going to blow over and I don’t think it’s going to stop.”
What Junejo fears won’t stop is the backlash against Islam. That’s why he sees this as an opportunity to discuss misunderstandings about his religion with Zieve and others.
Junejo told KUOW that Zieve eventually called back and would only agree to meeting with a small group of community members. And he didn’t want the press to cover it, either. Mukilteo’s Muslim community was not happy with Zieve’s terms.
Mosque supporters say they’re hurt. They want a more open, public meeting. And an apology.
Junejo: “The healing will take time but the first step is to admit you’ve done something wrong. The second will be for us to accept his apology.”
This story has been updated since it was published.
