August 14, 2010; Glen Head, NY: Men worship during a...

August 14, 2010; Glen Head, NY: Men worship during a muslim prayer service in the basement of a home in Glen Head after their mosque was closed due to code violations. Credit: Newsday/Photo by Danielle Finkelstein

With their Bethpage mosque closed because of code violations, more than 200 congregants of Masjid al-Baqi prayed elsewhere Saturday - at mosques in Bellmore and Bay Shore, in a basement in Upper Brookville, or in their own homes.

The closing of Masjid al-Baqi, on Central Avenue, has splintered the congregation during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, mosque members said.

"It's having a tremendous impact," said Arshad Majid, a congregation member and an attorney negotiating with town officials to reopen the building. "Unfortunately, some people are not being able to worship properly."

Oyster Bay Town ordered the mosque closed after a town inspector found the building had no certificate of occupancy or permits for plumbing and other work. Both sides dispute when the mosque was actually closed - town officials say July 29, but the mosque's leaders say Tuesday, the eve of Ramadan - and whether the building needed to close immediately.

Fred Ippolito, the town's planning and development commissioner, said modifications made to the building without town approval had caused "a dangerous situation." Mosque leaders said they had tried to fix problems with the building after receiving the town's summons. They had a small gas leak fixed and obtained an electrical approval certificate in response to the summons.

Leaders of nearby mosques called for the reopening of Masjid al-Baqi. Fazlul Syed, president of the Jaam'e Masjid in Bellmore, said his mosque has taken in about half of the congregation. But more people attend services during Ramadan, which includes extra prayers nightly, Syed said.

"They closed down the mosque at a very bad time," Syed said. "There are some regulations to be fulfilled. They have to do that. But it is a wrong time for the mosque to close."

Town officials acknowledge they sent an inspector to Masjid al-Baqi after residents complained about a proposal to open a second Bethpage mosque, about a mile from the existing one.

A couple who contacted the town, Jerry and Diana Viviano, said they didn't want a second mosque, which would be located two houses from them, but thought closing the first mosque might be counterproductive.

"The fact that that one closed, it seems like it's going to put more pressure on one here," said Jerry Viviano, 79. "I would just as soon as that one stayed open."

Linda Ploth, who lives across the street from Masjid al-Baqi, said she saw nothing wrong with the mosque. "It does become a problem with parking, but that's about it," she said.

Syed Majid, president of Masjid al-Baqi, joined a handful of other members at an Upper Brookville home last night for prayer. "Somehow, we're managing," he said. "But that doesn't mean we do not need a mosque."

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.  Credit: Newsday/File Footage; Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steven Day, Bebeto Matthews; Getty Images

'A different situation at every airport' FAA data analyzed by Newsday shows the number of bird strikes voluntarily reported by airports in New York City and Long Island has increased by 46% between 2009 and 2023. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

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