Pocatello Muslims Allege Housing Discrimination
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(POCATELLO, ID) – Muslim college students in Pocatello are speaking out about alleged housing discrimination.
Nezar Alnejidi, president of the ISU Saudi Student Association, tells the Idaho State Journal that some students are being denied housing because they can’t provide renting references. Those that are approved are sometimes required to pay double or triple the normal amount on their security deposits because they don’t have any credit history.
Alnejidi estimates that Pocatello’s Muslim population has ballooned to nearly 2,000 in less than four years, and many are still living in hotel rooms.
The Islamic Society of Southeast Idaho is only weeks away from opening a new mosque on South 5th Avenue. The group is also starting a public access channel to discuss Muslim issues.