Hundreds Stage Opposing Demos at Ground Zero Islamic Site


New York, Aug 23 (IANS) Protesters against the construction of an Islamic community centre and a mosque near ground zero faced off Sunday with protesters in favour of the facility in New York, a media report said.

With chants and banners, hundreds of critics and supporters of the proposed centre in New York showed up despite an overcast and drizzly sky to express their views amid the national debate over the facility, CNN reported on its website.

Police estimated that by 11:30 a.m. supporters of the centre numbered up to 250, and critics numbered about 450.

A banner on the anti-centre side said: "Land of the free. Stop sharia before it stops you." Another sign read, "No mosque here. Preserve the dignity of our loved ones killed on 9/11."

Those in favour of the constructions said freedom of religion was the main issue in the debate.

"I am hoping there will be a more thoughtful discussion and that people realize it is just wrong -- it is un-American -- to paint an entire religion by the action of a few extremists," one supporter said.

At the conclusion of the protest, those opposed to the construction marched by ground zero.

The Islamic centre's leaders say the $100 million facility calls for a community centre including a mosque, performing arts centre, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces.

It will be built near where the World Trade Centre was destroyed by Islamic extremists on Sep 11, 2001. The attacks killed more than 2,700 people.

Some New Yorkers say an Islamic centre near the site is a painful affront.

The Coalition to Honour Ground Zero was organising the rally against the construction of the centre. The NYC Coalition to Stop Islamophobia staged the counter-protest.

Firefighters, families of the Sep 11 victims, first responders and residents of the neighbourhood will join the protests, organisers of the anti-centre protest said on their website.

On Sunday, Daisy Khan, who is heading the development of the project with her husband, said moving the project to another site is not under consideration for now.

She added that a move could be considered after consultations with "all major stakeholders".

"We have to be very careful and deliberate in making any move," Khan said.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Mon, Aug 23 2010

    Twin Towers were not destroyed by the Muslims but by few Al Qaida terrorists who happened to be Muslims. But who did forcibly made Israel occupy inside Palestinian state? Who trained the fundamental Muslims of AfgPak corridor with dangerous armaments to fight USSR and made them deadly terrorists? Who joined South Vietnam to attack communists and killed innocent civilians in the Indo-China War by ping 6,727,084 tons of bombs including banned napalm? Who invaded Moderate Iraq having treasured with ancient civilisation artifacts by false accusation and killed lakhs of its civilians by banned carpet bombs etc? who invaded Afghanistan without any fault of theirs, to eliminate

    Osama, who is still alive, and killed thousands of civilians like animals? who converted Pakistan into a terrorist training failed state in the name of aids and development to counter USSR supported India? Did any Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonasia, Egypt, Malaysia etc terrorise other countries like how the US did to many? Still the people of US don’t want a moderate Muslim imam who wants to promote peace through Sufism to open a community center for the like minded Muslims of NYC and the narrow minded Americans claims that it is an insult to allow such goodwill center. When Obama realised the truth he supported the construction of this center and now in trouble because he spoke with honest and true US spirit.

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