Brooklyn leader under fire for questioning residents’ Muslim faith in Coney Island casino spat
The chair of Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 is under fire — and facing calls for her ouster — for questioning the Muslim faith of residents wearing “Coney” shirts sponsored by a group backing a casino in Coney Island.
“Someone explain this to me,” raged Lucy Mujica Diaz, a staunch opponent of a casino in Coney Island, wrote in a Facebook post.
The board chair included on her page a Wikipedia entry stating the Quran calls “games of chance” a “grave sin” and “abominations of Satan’s handiwork.”
She also posted a photo of members of the Afadila Community Services — an advocacy group for Islamic residents and children — who wore blue and white “Coney” shirts paid for by a consortium proposing a casino.
A Coney Island consortium is vying for one of three downstate licenses, which includes developer Thor Equities, gaming operators Saratoga Casino Holdings and The Chickasaw Nation, and Legends, the sports and entertainment firm co-owned by the Yankees.
The casino would be erected along the boardwalk.
But an outraged Marie Mirville-Shahzada — the Muslim founder and executive director of Afadila Community Services — fired off an Aug. 17 letter to Mayor Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Councilman Ari Kagan (R-Brooklyn), calling for Mujica Diaz to be booted from the board. She was appointed by Kagan and Reynoso.
Mirville-Shahzada argued the photo involved kids with disabilities — including her own child, who is autistic.
“I am writing to request the immediate removal and investigation of Lucy Mujica Diaz, Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 13, for her ongoing bullying, personal attacks and last but not least, her recent anti-Muslim statements and insensitivity to parents with disabled children,” she stated.
“While this is not the first instance of such inappropriate behavior, it is by far the most outrageous to date and is unbecoming of a public official that is responsible for representing all people within in the community, including all religions, cultures and those with differing opinions.”
“I want to be clear; the post was in a personal capacity and did not contain any hurtful, negative, or hate attacks in my language. I reject the characterization by Alfadila Community Services and Councilman Ari Kagan that this was `public assault’ and `prejudiced actions,’ ” Mujica Diaz said in a statement.
Mirville-Shahzada said the event Mujica Diaz referenced was on Aug.14, when Afadila co-hosted a community celebration with the Isaiah Whitehead Foundation that included food, games for kids, music — and a basketball clinic and games for young players with disabilities.
She said Brooklyn USA Basketball also sponsored the event and provided the t-shirts, insisting there was no casino discussion.
“Then, the next day… after photos of the event were posted online, Lucy Mujica Diaz, a non-Muslim individual and Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 13, reposted photos and quoted a Quran Verse mentioning that Muslims are not allowed to gamble,” she stated. “Along with the Islamic Verse was a picture of Alfadila Community Service with the team of ‘Players with Disabilities’ in the donated shirts asking, why Alfadila Community Service and Marie Mirville- Shahzada as the Executive Director and Co-Founder promoted gambling and allowed this to happen.”
“Ms. Mujica Diaz questioned Ms. Mirville-Shahzada authenticity as a Muslim, her faith in Islam, her parenting and love of her children and family and the protection of the disabled children. How dare she?,” the letter to the politicians said.
Kagan said Mujica Diaz was wrong for invoking the Muslim faith in the debate over the casino.
He demanded the CB 13 chairwoman apologize and undergo sensitivity training — but stopped short of asking for her resignation or removal.
“I strongly oppose the casino project. I also strongly denounce any attempts to bring religion into the conversation,” he told The Post.
“It was totally inappropriate for a chairperson of the community board to publicly accuse a loving Muslim mother of disabled children with betraying her faith, family, and the community. I unequivocally condemn the divisive and prejudiced actions displayed by Mrs. Mujica Diaz. The attempt to disow discord and amplify intolerance is a grave violation of our community trust.”
Mujica Diaz insisted she never questioned anyone’s faith.
“I’m very confused. My statement was taken out of context. I asked a question,” she said.
“I don’t feel there’s a need to resign.”
Mujica-Diaz also provided emails showing she agreed to meet with Mirville-Shahazada at her request to learn more about the Muslim faith, before she “shut me down” and turned to politicians demanding her resignation.
