Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), Board of Landmarks Preservation Commission urged to reject attempt to block construction of Islamic community center
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/2/10) — The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on “American Muslims and other people of conscience” to contact New York’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to ask that its members defend religious freedom and reject efforts by Islamophobes to block construction of an Islamic community center in that city.
The commission will vote Tuesday morning on whether to grant protected status to the building that would be knocked down to make way for the community center. Sources say the existing building does not meet architectural criteria necessary for protection by the city.
Opponents of the proposed Islamic community center sought to use the landmark process to block construction.
“We either believe in the longstanding American value of religious freedom or we don’t,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Bigots and extremists should never be granted veto power over constitutionally-protected civil or religious rights.”
He noted that CAIR recently called on the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to retract its “shameful” statement against the construction of the community center.
“The opponents of construction or expansion of American mosques and Islamic centers are engaging in fear-mongering about Islam and falsely associating it with the 9/11 terror attacks,” said Awad. “It is sad that after nine years, there are still those who fail to acknowledge that American Muslims condemned the 9/11 attacks and that mainstream Muslims in America and worldwide have consistently condemned terrorism in all its forms.”
Awad said opposition to the New York community center and to Islamic centers nationwide is a symptom of growing Islamophobia in America.
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