What do American Muslims really think about NY Mosque?

(USASabah)
Prepared by Mustafa Sahin
USASabah made an interview with some Muslim New Yorkers regarding Cordoba House and increasing threat against Muslim Americans.
Bearing in mind full of media propaganda about Islamic Community to change their public vision badly, answers were quite interesting.
We asked them a couple of question such as "What percentage of the Muslim community is represented by Cordoba Initiative and Do you think mainstream Muslims support this idea?" They answered those questions very openly.
Dalia Mahmoud, who is a senior consultant advising drug makers on strategy and business in the New York office of Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, said
"I believe that the majority of Muslims in the US are supportive of this project. It is difficult to say what percentages of Muslims are represented by the Cordoba Initiative. In general – members of Cordoba are very educated and enlightened Muslims that are open to meeting and interacting with non muslims."
But Khalil Abdurrashid, Imam of Ikra Masjid in Brooklyn and Columbia University phd student seems doesn't agree with her.
"I believe mainstream Muslims are also divided over the issue. As far as I know, some believe that the CI should re-locate the Cordoba House because we should not be causing rifts in communities, especially at this time."
He also highlighted that " Some Muslims even point out that the Cordoba House and its director do not represent the Muslims at large and are critical of the fact that they believe Imam Abdul-Rauf has assumed a leadership position in New York City as representative of the Muslim community."
When we said that some part of Christian and Jewish Community against this Project and some Christians in Gainesville-Florida wanted to burn the Kor'an, They supported the idea which claims entire discussion aimed to gain political power for the elections.
Michelle Biondi, staff of New York City Government, thinks that "these consequences were not "unintended" rather she thinks these consequences were expected."

(On the right; Michelle Biondi)
She also said that "I believe that this project is being used as a tactic by right-winged extremist to display Muslims as in a negative light. In closing I would like to express that there should be no argument about erecting this community center because there is no legal basis to deny Muslims the right to build such a site.
The American government has given freedom of religion to ALL US residents and CI has a right to exercise this freedom. The only reason why this is the right-wingers are promoting the idea (through advertisements and protests) that this is a location is "scared ground" or that "extremists" are behind this project are behind this project is because they can not legally go after CI in a court of law. "
Khalil Abdurrashid supports this claim, "Right now, the rightwing political machine is against the project and bashing Muslims, all the while trying to pacify the situation by saying that they have no problem with Islam. However, as election year draws nearer, you will see these same politicians courting the Muslim vote.
If they don't, then they'll court the Tea Party vote, and after the election they will become silent on the Cordoba House issue. I believe that the reason we're hearing politicians voice their support so audibly is because we're in an election year.
(On the left, Khalil Abdurrashid)
After the elections, you will not hear anything from anyone. It won't be important anymore.
If they were sincere in their claim, they would have shown objection to the mosque that is already 4 blocks from Ground-Zero."
Dalia Mhmoud, also graduated from Princeton and received an M.B.A. from Columbia, added that the whole process brings into the open "the racist fears that existed in the United states."
"If it had not been the Cordoba House – it would have been another issue that would have spurred this fear to raise its 'ugly head'. This is a very difficult midterm election given the statis of the US economy. Therefore instead of having the Republicans focus on key issues like healthcare and job creation – they have decided to focus on a meaningless issues
This project highlights that Americans are an integrated part of our societies in this country and they need to have places of worship just like anyone else. To allow us to 'back down' and agree to move this center to another location would be to allow for a 'Muslim Free' zone in lower Manhattan. That is simply not fair."



Fatma Zehra Kadik, an American born student in Brooklyn College, says Anti- Cordoba House initiatives' arguments are nonsense.
"Unfortunately, the issue itself has escalated past a simple "are Muslims allowed to build a mosque there" into "Do we really accept Muslims as true Americans?"
How much more American can a person be if she was born in New York City, grew up in NYC, whose first language is English, has an American passport and is considered an American if she goes to another country? Yet her own country doesn't recognize her as an American because she also calls herself a Muslim?
The main claim that it's insensitive to build a mosque so close to Ground Zero implies that whoever is building the mosque was responsible for Sept 11th.
Why are Muslims as a whole supposed to be held accountable for a couple of misguided individuals? Why should we feel guilty for a crime we didn't commit?
Just how far away from the so-called "hallowed ground" is far away enough? There were Muslims who died on Sept. 11th too.
The community center is not being built on Ground Zero, even though the propagandistic name "Ground Zero mosque" seems to inspire this image of a mosque, minarets and all, being placed where the Towers once stood. It is simply a large building a couple of blocks away, which will have a place to pray within it.
There are already mosques located in Lower Manhattan, and this community center will be filling a greater need. There is a lack of a community center in the Lower Manhattan area where the youth of NYC, Muslim and non-Muslim, have a place to go where they can hang out, have fun, and learn something new in the process, all the while fostering a sense of community. "