“Any other occupancy or use – business, commercial, assembly, church, etc. is expressly prohibited pursuant to the city of Phoenix building code and ordinances,†said Vicki Hill, the chief assistant city prosecutor.
The irony of that rule was not lost on Salman.
The Salman Family
“If I had people coming to my home on a regular basis for poker night or Monday Night Football, it would be permitted,†he said. “But when someone says to us we are not allowed to gather because of religious purposes ...
The charges that sent Salman to jail were a result of that raid – ranging from not posting exit lights above their doors – to not having handicap ramps or handicap parking.
He was sent to jail specifically for have a religious meeting that the
city decided to label a church. He could have had the same number of people for any other reason and it would not have been a problem. It was only a problem because it was religious in nature.
And as I recall the original story,
one neighbor complained, the rest of the neighborhood had no problem with it.
