Director of Arabic TV News Channel Says: ‘The Majority of Muslims Do Not Want or Need a Mosque Near Ground Zero’
From Weasel Zippers:(Memri) – In an August 16, 2010 column in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, ‘Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, Al-Arabiya TV director-general and the paper’s former editor, criticized President Obama for supporting the construction of the Cordoba House mosque at Ground Zero in New York.
He stated that it would be unwise to construct a mosque at that location, saying that no practicing Muslims live in the area, and that the mosque would become a focal point for both the supporters of terrorism and the champions of Islamophobia. Therefore, he argued, it would be preferable for Obama to throw his support behind issues that are of real concern for the Muslims, such as promoting Middle East peace.
Following are excerpts from the column:
“U.S. President Barack Obama took a difficult position when he supported the construction of a mosque on a site where 3,000 U.S. citizens were killed by Al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001. Though the president’s position was correct in principle, that is, in terms of the principle of freedom of worship, I think he took a political stand [on an issue] that is unnecessary and unimportant, even for the Muslims. This mosque is not an issue for Muslims, and they do not care about its construction.
“This reminds us of another principled stance that Obama took when he insisted that suspected Al-Qaeda members incarcerated in Guantanamo be tried in civilian [rather than military] courts, and that the [Guantanamo] military prison be closed down. This stance [also] is certainly a worthy one. However, the fact is that [Obama] fought a battle that does not concern Muslims across the world, because tens of thousands of Muslims, likewise accused of extremism, are imprisoned in [even] worse conditions in the Muslim countries.
“Muslims do not [really] yearn [to build] a mosque near the 9/11 cemetery, nor do they care whether bin Laden’s cook is tried in a civilian court [or a military one].
Muslims are concerned about issues that involve the destinies of [entire] peoples… such as the establishment of the Palestinian state. If Obama focuses his energy and efforts on fighting for peace in the Middle East, this will be [far] more important and valuable than [his stance in favor of] the New York mosque…
“The [Ground Zero] mosque… is a strange affair, because it is not an issue [that concerns] the Muslims. [In fact,] we never even heard of it until it became the focus of vociferous arguments between supporters and objectors, most of them non-Muslim Americans!…
“The Muslims never asked for this [mosque], and even the angry Muslims do not want it. This is one of the few times when the two opposing sides are in agreement.
6 comments:
taqiya
with a worm in it.
sorry
pun fail
Anybody hear about the Shariah Index Project that is supposed to be a clandestine feature of the GZ mosque? Jawa Report is starting a series about it.
Anybody hear about the Shariah Index Project that is supposed to be a clandestine feature of the GZ mosque?
yep.
Pastorius,
Well, if it really doesn't concern most Muslims as he says, than he and most Muslims shouldn't actually mind if we don't build it all.
Sweden: Municipality subsidizes Ramadan campaign
The municipality of Helsingborg is giving 30,000 Swedish kroner to the Ibn Rush student association to disseminate information about the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. "Ramadan is part of Swedish culture and we want to tell everybody about it," says imam Othman Al Tawalbeh.
Ramadan has become an integral part of Swedish culture, but information about the Islamic holiday and Muslim customs and practices should be disseminated further, says imam Othman Al Tawalbeh, director of Muslim student association Ibn Rush's southern district.
The organization just launched a campaign and will tour four Swedish cities: Helsingborg, Landskrona, Malmö and Kristianstad. In every city they will set up a tent in the center of town and give out informational material. Spokespersons and an imam will answer questions.
"We hope to contribute to an increased understanding of Islam and to seeing it as just a self-evident part of Sweden as, for example, Christmas," says Othman Al Tawalbeh, who wants the campaign to be seen as an integration project.
"It is ignorance which breeds fear. By talking about Muslims and our customs and traditions, we counteract xenophobia and racism," he says.
Helsingborg municipality granted Ibn Rush 30,000 kroner for the training and reimbursement of twelve 'Ramadan-guides', purchasing of tents, marketing and materials. The money comes from the development committee which wants to contribute to better knowledge and understanding of different ethnic, cultural and religious customs and traditions.
Bengt Avedal, head of the committee: "Our mission includes supporting this type of activity, which is about giving information about cultural and religious practices in society," he says.
Q: Do you see any problem with supporting the dissemination of religious information?
"I can't see that this will have a major influence on our decision if the matter pertains to disseminating a religious message.
Q: Would you reason differently if a Christian student association asked for money to disseminate information about the message of Christmas?
"In principle no. But we may consider it if we receive an application."
Ibn Rush applied for support in other municipalities, but received a negative reply from Malmö and Kristianstad. They are waiting for an answer from Landskrona.
Source: Dagen (Swedish)
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/08/sweden-municipality-subsidizes-ramadan.html
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