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Muslim Defender Receives JFK Award
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| Dean Koldenhoven, former mayor of the City of Palos Heights in Illinois
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by Ayub Khan, IOL Chicago Correspondent
CHICAGO, March 16 (IslamOnline) - Dean Koldenhoven, former mayor of the City of Palos Heights in Illinois, has been named as a recipient of the prestigious John F. Kennedy (JFK) Profile in Courage Award by the Kennedy Library Foundation in Boston.
Two years ago, Koldenhoven, as mayor, had supported Al Salam Mosque Foundation plans to convert a local church into a mosque despite stiff resistance from city council members and residents. It is widely believed that Koldenhoven's principled stance contributed in his failure to win re-election in April 2001.
A press release issued this week by the JFK library said that Koldenhoven, 66, "has been awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for speaking out against bigotry and religious intolerance toward an Islamic community that had hoped to convert a local church into a mosque."
"It'll probably cost me the re-election," Koldenhoven said when he backed the mosque. "But so be it. I've got to be able to sleep at night and look at myself in the mirror in the morning."
When reached by phone, Koldenhoven said: "I was just flabbergasted. It was just unbelievable," and said he was greatly honored by the announcement of the award.
In the summer of 2000, Koldenhoven blocked efforts by Palos Heights city council members to stop the Al Salam Mosque Foundation from buying the church in order to convert it into a mosque. Hundreds of residents turned up at council meetings, with some hurling abuses against Muslims. One resident called Islam a religion of "evil," while another told Muslims to "go back to your own countries."
Some council members said the church property was needed by the city for a recreational facility, even though the idea had been rejected two years earlier because the church was deemed too small.
The council then proposed paying $200,000 to Al Salam Mosque to walk away from its plans to purchase the church. The proposal was passed by a majority vote and was accepted by the Al Salam Mosque Foundation, but Koldenhoven vetoed the offer calling it an "embarrassment" and an insult to the Muslim community.
"Government has no place in this issue," Koldenhoven said at the time.
The Mosque foundation eventually abandoned its efforts claiming that it would not like to build a mosque in a community where it is not welcomed.
Sabri Samirah, of United Muslim American Association (UMAA), said he was pleased by the announcement of the JFK Award. "Mayor Koldenhoven deserves it. Any person who stands up for diversity and freedom, especially in defense of minorities, should be awarded. I congratulate him."
Koldenhoven is also the father-in-law of Illinois democratic gubernatorial candidate Paul Vallas, who is endorsed by UMAA.
Some Muslims, however, say Koldenhoven could have done more to facilitate the purchase of the church property by the Al Salam Mosque. They say that because of Kolenhoven's veto of the offer, Muslims turned out to be the ultimate losers. When asked, Koldenhoven said: "I wouldn't put it that way. The Muslims didn't deserve to get the money, but they did deserve to build a mosque in Palos Heights. I still hope that they build a mosque in our community and wish them good luck," he said.
Attorney Gregory Kulis, who represented the Al Salam Mosque Foundation, wouldn't comment when asked if he thought Koldenhoven deserves the JFK Award. But he was appreciative of the JFK Foundation's efforts to highlight the controversy.
"I am happy that the JFK Foundation has brought the issue to national attention. It has been a clear case of bigotry and discrimination by elected officials, who prevented the mosque from acquiring the property," he said.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and "America's public servants, who responded to the crisis of Sept.11" have been chosen as the other recipients of John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's prestigious award for political courage. They will be presented with award at a ceremony scheduled to be held on May 6 at the JFK Library and Museum in Boston.
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