CORAL SPRINGS – The Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center abruptly canceled a contract with the South Florida Muslim Federation for an annual conference. Organizers say hate is behind the decision.
Samir Kakli, the president of the federation, said he received an e-mail from the hotel’s management saying that “the significant undesirable interest” in the event, and a lack of security, gave them “no choice but to cancel.”
Kakli said the opponents of the event held a campaign that was fueled by islamophobia and labeled the members of the federation as “terrorists” amid the Israel-Hamas war.
“That is wrong, that is hateful, and it’s a very racist and bigoted thing that just happened to our community,” Kakli said.
The federation, which represents dozens of mosques, schools, and other Muslim organizations, has been holding family-friendly events at the hotel for years.
Kakli said the event in 2022 was a huge success and included workshops about health and religion. And although there were protesters, there weren’t enough to disrupt the conference.
Kakli said the foundation was willing to contract police officers to assist with security, but this didn’t persuade the hotel management.
“We have been denied our right to gather, peacefully gather,” Kakli said.
Abdul Hamid Samar was among the activists who participated in the “Islam-no-phobia” town hall on Friday at the Islamic Center of Greater Miami in Miami Gardens.
“We never support any terrorism; we never support any killing of innocent people,” Samar said. “It’s part of our faith to protect the life of human beings.”