MUKILTEO — The president of a planned mosque in Mukilteo is calling for Peter Zieve, who leads the aerospace firm Electroimpact Inc., to apologize for his opposition to the mosque through a citywide postcard mailing.
Zieve has been criticized for mailing an anonymous citywide postcard earlier this month as part of a campaign to oppose plans for the mosque.
On Saturday, Mohammed Riaz Khan, president of the planned Islamic Center of Mukilteo, said he was making “a simple request” for Zieve to send out a second postcard, this time with an apology.
Khan said he also wants Zieve to accept responsibility for what he has done.
“His actions and intentions were wrong,” Khan said.
Khan said he wants Zieve to clearly identify that the postcard is from him. “Don’t play with the emotions of the families of Mukilteo,” he said.
Khan said such action would open the way for him and other members of the mosque’s five-member board to meet with Zieve.
“We will fulfill his desire to meet,” Khan said. “We can talk to him to bring (the situation) to a complete end, with happiness,” he said.
Zieve initially said he didn’t know who sent out the anonymous postcard, which told of plans for mosque. The postcard included no identifying information on who sent it other than an email address for more information: mukilteostaysafe@gmail.com.
The address was tied to Zieve through an April 9 email he sent to dozens of people discussing the postcard mailing.
Last week, Zieve, who is traveling, said that he would apologize. Zieve also said he had accepted an offer to arrange a meeting with Khan.
There was no immediate response to an email sent to Zieve on Saturday asking for his response to the request for the postcard apology.
Khan said that local Muslim families, kids and business people have been affected by Zieve’s anti-mosque campaign.
Sending out a postcard of apology will “soften the hearts of the citizens of Mukilteo,” Khan said, and ensure that all Mukilteo families, including Islamic families, are safe.
The Islamic Center of Mukilteo had previously called for a boycott of Zieve’s business, in part for what it characterized as Zieve’s public promotion of anti-Muslim bias.
Electroimpact is a prominent maker of automated machines for jetliner assembly and counts the Boeing Co. as a major customer.
Khan said he has talked with Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregerson about scheduling a community meeting to discuss plans and answer questions about the mosque.
No date has been set, but Khan said he hopes the event can be scheduled in the next few weeks.
“A mosque is a place where people worship, just like a church or temple,” he said.
Plans for the Islamic Center of Mukilteo, to be built at 3920 Harbour Pointe Blvd., were first announced in 2013. The anonymous postcard mailing occurred as the City of Mukilteo considers its land use permits.
The 3,796-square-foot, two-story building would include a prayer area, multipurpose room, two small offices, a kitchen, bathrooms and two classrooms, according to plans submitted to Mukilteo’s planning department.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
