The Oklahoma Faith Network is deeply troubled by the Broken Arrow City Council’s decision to deny the establishment of an Islamic center and mosque in their community. This vote represents a failure to uphold one of our most foundational American values: the freedom of religion and belief, a principle that protects all faiths or none at all.
For people of faith, religious freedom is not an abstract ideal - it is a lived promise that our neighbors may gather, worship, pray, and build sacred community without fear or obstruction. When one faith community is singled out or excluded, every faith community is put at risk. An action that restricts the religious expression of Muslims today weakens the protections that Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others rely upon tomorrow.
We believe people of faith are called to stand together, especially when fear or prejudice threatens to divide us. At our best, faith inspires hospitality, courage, and solidarity - not exclusion. We urge the leaders of Broken Arrow to reconsider this decision and to affirm the dignity, rights, and religious freedom of their Muslim neighbors.
The Oklahoma Faith Network stands united with Muslim communities across our state. An attack on one faith is an attack on the sacred right of all people to live and practice their beliefs freely. We will continue to advocate for a future where Oklahoma is a place of welcome, pluralism, and shared commitment to justice for all.