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MONTREAL – The promoter of a controversial suburban Montreal housing development for Muslims is putting his plan on hold after it was denounced as discriminatory this week.

Nabil Warda told the National Post he has cancelled an information meeting planned for Friday, saying he wants to “let the dust settle” and clarify his project before going any farther.

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The mosque where he planned to meet potential buyers told him he is no longer welcome to hold his meeting there after it was flooded with abusive messages from opponents.

“We never supported the project. No project was presented to us,” said Mohamed Yacoub, co-chairman of the management committee at Islamic Community Centre of South Shore in Brossard.

“Since it’s causing so much controversy, there’s no reason to put more oil on the fire. We told him, ‘We don’t want any presentation. You can do it somewhere else.’ ”

Warda said Thursday he does not expect an information meeting will be held before the new year. “Right now we’re putting everything on hold,” he said.