Source: The Deseret News
On June 15, 2002 The Deseret News reported on "the grand opening of the newly expanded Khadeeja Masjid in West Valley City, [Utah]. The expansion of the mosque triples its size and adds a copper-colored dome... Gov. Michael Leavitt, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, University of Utah President Bernie Machen and Elder Cree-L Kofford ... of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are among those scheduled to attend the grand opening. The public is also invited... [Area] Muslims now number somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000, says Ul-Hasan, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake... In the Khadeeja mosque... the women pray in a smaller balcony area with a separate entrance... The balcony is evidence... that women have become more involved in the life of the mosque... explains Ul-Hasan's wife, Noor... Historically, worldwide, it has been men who have attended mosque. Women, who are permitted to pray alone, generally stay home. In America, however, women are attending mosque in increasing numbers, says Noor."