Police probing threats in letter; Morton Grove note fuels mosque flap

By Aamer Madhani
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 19, 2003

Morton Grove police are investigating an anonymous letter containing threats to village officials and a member of a neighborhood group that is suing to stop a Muslim school from holding prayer services.

<snip>

Village officials gave a copy of the vitriolic letter--filled with misspellings such as "Saudi Araby," "Ben Laden" and "Sdam Hossain"--to the neighborhood group, the Morton Grove Organization.

About 10 members of the organization held a news conference Thursday across the street from the school, calling on Muslim Education Center members to denounce the letter's message. The two sides have been at odds for months over the prayer services.

"I think it is a serious threat on my life," said Pat Kansoer, who was cited in the letter. "We are attempting to legally redress our grievances. This has no place in that process."

<On edit>:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0309190160sep19,1,1589978.story

I can't quite understand what's going on in this story, and Morton Grove is my neck of the woods.

:shrug:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0309190160sep19,1,1589978.story

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it seems like there is a local non-muslim (i.e. white christian) group trying to shut down a local islamic school's prayer services. they are accusing the islamic school of sending the threatening letter.

Do you have a link for that? My impression is one of a generic, secular neighborhood improvement group.

The Morton Grove Organization wants a federal judge to make the village enforce an ordinance requiring any organization holding large gatherings on its property to have a special-use permit.

The center has not had a permit in the 13 years it has held services.

The implication is that someone from a MUSLIM EDUCATION CENTER sent the threatening letter, yet misspelled "Saudi Arabia?"

Nothing more. I'm sure they will work something out. Every community has cranks who write threatening letters.