Residents challenge mosque expansion plan at Pinellas Commission meeting

A planned expansion of 1,000 square feet for a mosque on Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs became a point of contention at a Pinellas County Commission meeting on Tuesday. Dozens of residents attended the session to urge commissioners to reverse a land-use vote approved in June. The mosque, Masjid Al Rahman, has operated out of a home on the property since the 1990s. Current owners have managed the site since 2012.

Gary Posch, a resident who moved from Queens, New York, opened the public comment period with a direct appeal to locals. He asked fellow residents to compare their town to New York City and downtown Clearwater. Posch argued that the community needed to fight the expansion as if the town's survival depended on it. His remarks preceded nearly two hours of testimony from other attendees.

Speakers raised concerns about development in a quiet area of northern Pinellas County. Some voiced objections to the property's intended use as a place of worship. Others expressed direct concerns about the practice of Islam in the Tampa Bay region. The testimony paused briefly when a woman identified as Celine Al Jamal stepped to the microphone. She wore a niqab, a garment that covers the body except for the eyes, and played a recording that included flute music and speech in another language.

Audience members heckled Al Jamal and yelled for her to stop. Her identity and the intent behind the recording were not immediately clear. The audio clip quickly spread on social media. Conservative influencer Laura Loomer posted the recording on X, calling on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to act. Loomer described the scene as a Muslim woman in full Islamic garb blasting the call to prayer at the microphone.

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna also shared a video clip on X. She described a man in the clip as a Muslim leader from her district and alleged he wanted to force Islam on others. It remained unclear if the man was affiliated with the Tarpon Springs mosque or if the video was taken out of context. Other influencers reposted the clip with the title “ISLAMIZATION OF FLORIDA.”

Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies escorted Al Jamal from the chambers after the disturbance. The county’s rules prohibit people signed up for public comment from playing prerecorded media. One attendee shouted “Tase her” as deputies approached. Another yelled “Shave your legs!” A third person said “Jesus is our savior!” Several attendees recorded the scene on their phones.

Commissioner Vince Nowicki questioned why earlier application documents did not explicitly state the building was a mosque, though the word “masjid” was used. He expressed concern about increased traffic in the area. County Administrator Barry Burton stated that the application met all Pinellas code and state law requirements. Burton noted that commissioners’ votes are final, but residents who received mailers can appeal the decision in court.

State law requires the county to notify people living within 250 feet of a zoning change. Pinellas sent mailers to residents within 300 feet of the property earlier this year. Staff reported that the county did not receive comments contesting the change as of October 13. After being escorted out of the building Tuesday, Al Jamal sat on the sidewalk before leaving. She declined to speak with reporters. Deputy Geoff Moore confirmed she does not face criminal charges. The county is now allowed to issue permits for the new building, parking, and stormwater improvements.