Developer vows to go ahead with Montreal-area Muslim housing project despite opposition

A tax accountant is still hoping to go ahead with a plan to build dozens of homes for Muslim families in the Montreal suburb of Brossard despite opposition from much of Quebec's political establishment, including the premier.

Nabil Warda, 68, says hefeels "drained" by the criticism, adding that much of the concern stems from misunderstanding about thereal estate development plan to build a community for about 100 Muslim families.

The main goal is to provide a wayfor Muslims to buy homes without taking on traditionalmortgages, which areprohibited under certain interpretations of Islamic law, he said in a phone interview Wednesday.

But Warda, an Egyptian-bornChristian who converted to Islam, stressedhe has no interest in ensuring the people who live in the development adhere to a strict interpretation of Islam or, in fact, are practising Muslims.

"For me, the values are:treat your brother with respect, be just, don't be unjust," Warda said.

"It's not to pray five times a day."

Premier wants 'mixed housing'

Criticism from Quebec's NationalAssembly, however, has been strong and swift since Warda's plans were made public by Radio-Canada earlier this week.

QuebecPremier Philippe Couillardsaid Tuesday the proposed project goesagainst the province's values of integration and inclusion.

"Discrimination can work in many ways, and inclusion can work in many ways,'' Couillard told reporters in Morocco, where he's attending a UN climate change conference,

"We are in favour of mixed housing for cultural communities as well as for religious groups. It's fundamental for us.''

Couillard's health minister said earlier he had no problem with the idea, likeningit to the ethnic concentration seen in the city's Little Italy or Chinatown neighbourhoods.

But as the controversy bubbled, Gatan Barrette who represents the riding changed his tune on Tuesday,saying he opposes any home sales based on religious affiliation.

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The proposal has also been panned by the oppositionCoalition Avenir Qubec and Parti Qubcois.

CAQ MNA ric Cairesaidthe project would be a "ghetto."

Media coverage fans flames, critic says

Haroun Bouazzi, a Montreal-based Muslim activist, noted there are already developments that court the gay community or Orthodox Jews.

Bouazzisaid the media coverage, some of which featured old footage of women wearing full face veils, is partly to blame for stoking flames ofIslamaphobia.

"They're not humanized," said Bouazzi,co-president of Muslims and Arabs for a Secular Quebec.

At this point, Warda has no financial backers and the proposal consists only of a two-page document. Wardasaid he wassupposed to present his plan during a meeting attheIslamic Community Centre of South Shore on Friday but chose to postpone the meeting out of concern that it would be interrupted by people opposed to the project.

He said in a news release that he will announce a new date for the presentation soon.

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