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Hussein Hamdani endorses Faisal Rauf, the imam behind the Ground Zero Mosque
Author: Hussein Hamdani
Source: The Hamilton Spectator, September 2, 2010, p. A11
Original title: Mosque debate brings out Islamophobia
There are no grounds for the Ground Zero mosque hysteria, and the best way to deal with bigots is to confront them — these are two sentiments shared by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President Barack Obama and other observers around the world. The controversy over the location of this site has gone viral and Islamophobia has come out of the closet.
Jon Stewart of the Daily Show has a funny skit about this controversy. He asks his audience to agree that the mosque should not be located five blocks from Ground Zero, but rather in Long Island, several kilometres away. Then, he shows clips of people protesting the construction of a mosque in Long Island. Well, how about even further in Wisconsin? Then, he shows people protesting the building of a mosque in Wisconsin. The scene repeats itself for Kentucky, Texas and Tennessee. In other words, there seems to be a consistent theme developing that no matter the location of a mosque, there will be some who protest.
Haroon Siddiqui of The Toronto Star wrote an excellent column on this topic. He looks at the various facts, including that the “mosque” is not a mosque at all, but more akin to a downtown Y, with a swimming pool, restaurant, board rooms for community groups to use, galleries and an auditorium for all New Yorkers to enjoy.
The location of the proposed site is more than five blocks away from Ground Zero memorial and would not be visible from the site. Even if it were visible, according to Bloomberg “it would be a very appropriate place because it would tell the world there’s freedom of religion for everyone”.
The initiators of the mosque — Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife Daisy Khan — have condemned violence, denounce anti-Semitism, attend Seders, host interfaith dialogues, advise the FBI and they are followers of Sufism — the mystical branch of Islam. They are the type of people that you want running this facility.
The opponents of the project have advanced several arguments including that the “mosque” is an affront to the memory of 9/11 victims and should not be anywhere near the site.
This is based on the premise that all Muslims are collectively guilty for Sept. 11. This type of prejudicial narrative must be condemned. While it is true that Bin Laden called up on the whole Muslim world of 1.6 billion people to declare war on America; it is also true that such a call was completely rejected by the world’s Muslims. The vast majority of Muslims have rejected his premise that Islam is at war with the U.S. If Americans also accept the idea that it is not Islam that is at war with the U.S., but rather violent radical extremism, then they should not have an issue with a Muslim community centre several blocks away from Ground Zero. Muslims are needed as partners in the fight against extremism, not made to be the enemy.
This project will have a net positive effect for the U.S. — from an economic perspective — it is a $100 million investment. It will create hundreds of construction jobs, work for engineers, architects, lawyers and planners. It is a major boost to the local economy.
It would be the equivalent of a community group spending $6.5 million dollars in downtown Hamilton. Can you imagine the boost that would give to the local economy?
More importantly, it will show to the world that the enemy is violent extremism, not a global faith community, and the West believes in freedom of religion for all communities. Denying the Muslim community a centre plays into the hands of Bin Laden and other extremists, and it would allow Islamophobia and bigotry to prevail.
Freelance columnist Hussein Hamdani lives in Burlington, and works as a lawyer in Hamilton. His column appears every other Thursday.