Mosque near the 9/11 site!

by Barry Rubin
May 22, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/747/mosque-near-the-9-11-site

Should a mosque be built near the site of the World Trade Center and the September 11 attack in New York, where 3,000 people were killed in a radical Islamist terrorist attack?

In Western countries—unlike in many Muslim majority ones—there are no general restrictions to building any type of house of worship. Thus, in principle, a mosque could be built anywhere, and indeed the local community government committee approved the mosque project.

I think, though, that this is a mistake.

If it were to be a mosque which would preach conciliation and a moderate type of Islam, some good could come out of this project. However, according to all reports, this is radical mosque whose preacher is hardline and anti-American.

It is only a matter of time until the sermons preached at this mosque are publicized. It is quite possible that these will include statements by the preacher or members that the September 11 attacks were all the fault of the United States or that they were carried out by the US. Government and similar things. This will set off huge antagonisms and a serious crisis.

The result will be to increase the hostility of many Americans toward Islam, to say the least. And it is most inappropriate for a huge mosque to tower over the site as if in triumph.

While a small mosque which could be used to make things better, this particular project is not only bad for America, it's also bad for Muslims in general.

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