Mrs.Lucysnow
Valued Senior Member
Not far from 'ground zero' in NY there are plans for a muslim cultural center and will house a mosque. The development plans draws concerns from some of the family members of 9/11 victims:
Mike Burke's brother - a fireman - was one of the almost 3,000 who died as the World Trade Center's towers collapsed.
Mr Burke says families of 9/11 victims do not want a mosque by Ground Zero
Mr Burke wears badges commemorating the event on the lapels of his denim jacket.
It is not Islamaphobia, he insists - it's just that he and others do not want an Islamic institution nearby.
"I think the first concern for the families is that the religious beliefs of the terrorists who struck is going to have such a prominent place right around the corner from Ground Zero," he says.
"This is not an… anti-Muslim effort. It is understandably… emotional for them to be suddenly told that around the corner from where their loved ones were killed they're going to put a mosque."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10127563.stm
The developer may not have the support of the family members but they do have the support of the local community who have backed the plans but there is still opposition. A group plans to march against the plans in what they call "Islamic supremacist intimidation". Not all of the victims families agree with this stance and support the cultural center they believe will help bridge a gap between muslims and non muslims alike.
Mike Burke's brother - a fireman - was one of the almost 3,000 who died as the World Trade Center's towers collapsed.
Mr Burke says families of 9/11 victims do not want a mosque by Ground Zero
Mr Burke wears badges commemorating the event on the lapels of his denim jacket.
It is not Islamaphobia, he insists - it's just that he and others do not want an Islamic institution nearby.
"I think the first concern for the families is that the religious beliefs of the terrorists who struck is going to have such a prominent place right around the corner from Ground Zero," he says.
"This is not an… anti-Muslim effort. It is understandably… emotional for them to be suddenly told that around the corner from where their loved ones were killed they're going to put a mosque."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10127563.stm
The developer may not have the support of the family members but they do have the support of the local community who have backed the plans but there is still opposition. A group plans to march against the plans in what they call "Islamic supremacist intimidation". Not all of the victims families agree with this stance and support the cultural center they believe will help bridge a gap between muslims and non muslims alike.