Muslim Nayef Salha Denied Permit For A Planned Kids’ Camp: Residents Fear He Wants To Train Terrorists

David Salha (given name “Nayef,” pictured above with family), a Muslim man in Michigan, has been denied a permit to build a secular children’s summer camp because it would not be “harmonious with the secluded nature of the neighborhood,” according to a motion from Ogemaw County Planning Commissioner Ron Quackenbush.

The Commission voted 4-3 this week against the plans, acting in part on an earlier recommendation from the Rose Township board.

What makes this denial so appalling for Salha is that he feels the county is giving in to Islamophobia expressed by some of the area residents, who fear that he may be trying to make the facility a terrorist training camp.

One such resident to voice her concerns was Carol Sappington (video below, but here’s what she said).

“I have heard on the news that in every state in the United States we have an (Islamic State) group. I think the citizens ought to keep an eye on what is developing.”

Resident Bob Clark also had his concerns, which he voiced at the previous meeting.

“Is there anything written on paper that says this isn’t going to be turned into a terrorist training facility of some kind?”

And then there was this from Tim Reetz — both men quoted by the Ogemaw County Herald.

“There are a lot of people here that are concerned about this could very easily be a training camp. A lot of people here want to [look into this] because that is a perfect location for a training cell — out of sight and out of everybody’s view and everything else. A h*** of a lot can go on in a situation just like that, and it’s too suspicious for me. I think there should be some extensive background investigation into the owners of the property and the people that want to develop the property and their associates. The people that do that would be the FBI, and I think there should some contact made officially from the board to the FBI and the ATF.”

David Salha claims that he came to the country from Lebanon as a young boy. He is an American citizen and says that he doesn’t follow “strict” Islamic laws. He also notes that “several family members” are Christian, including his wife.

His daughter Hanan, 15, is the only one in the family who chooses to wear a headscarf. He also claims that he’s been discriminated against over the fears of residents, with his barber now unwilling to cut his hair.

For the record, the county did not reference any of the residents’ fears or the thought that Salha might be putting together a terrorist training camp in their denial.

But what do you think, readers? Is David Salha being discriminated against by the local government, and are these resident fears ridiculous or justified? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image of David Salha and family via Huffington Post]