Do you think that Park 51 should be opened or stopped?

[MrScorpio]

Poll question: Do you think that Park 51 should be opened or stopped?

This is one of those rare times that I'm going to say what my choice is right up front in one of my polls.

Park 51 should be opened. Muslim Americans have every right to open their community center wherever they wish, with the appropriate allowances for zoning, of course. Which is a right that has been affirmed in their own community.

That community center is no more an affront to "Ground Zero" than any of the other religious structures in lower Manhattan.

Muslim Americans did not attack this country on 9-11, Al Qaeda did, and Muslims Americans died side by side with Americans and non-Americans of other faiths. That's right, Muslim-Americans were victims too.

Frankly, the idea of scapegoating a minority, to run roughshod over their religious freedom, in order to satisfy the misguided fears and ugly feelings of bigots disgusts me.

They may do those kinds of things in other countries, but this is America.

Even in face of our fears, we should always stand for something better.

[dkf]

1. You forgot "moved"

Is anybody asking to stop this except for the one guy who wants every mosque closed?

False choices.

[MrScorpio]

2. No, I didn't forget "moved"

That chosen spot is perfectly fine where it is.

Anyone who feels otherwise isn't standing up for religious freedom.

And really, I bet that that person probably thinks that the discredited notion of "Separate, but equal" was a good idea.

[dkf]

39. Like I said you offer false choices.

[cleanhippie]

46. Why is "moved" a valid choice?

[dkf]

54. Because you don't want it permanently stopped.

[cleanhippie]

56. I don't want anything except for the law to be followed.

And if it is a legal business and conforms with existing zoning laws, why does it need to be moved?

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. I agree with Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 'Sad Day For America' If Ground Zero Mosque Plan Is Killed

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it would be "a sad day for America" if opponents successfully kill plans for a mosque proposed near the World Trade Center site.

Bloomberg has been among a few outspoken elected officials supporting the plans for an Islamic center and mosque two blocks from ground zero.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/16/bloomberg-sad-day-for-ame_n_683692.html

[quinnox]

4. Not stopped but moved

There is no reason it has to be there as a symbolic slap in the face of the Sept. 11th event. Yes, that is why some people are very upset, its so obvious. Say they are wrong and disagree with them, but this strong feeling, it still remains. Strange how many Duers champion this when they, with regularity, put the hate on the christian religion stuff. Somehow I doubt if this was a christian building project it would be getting the same support, in fact, I know it would be getting the opposite reaction.

If the religious stuff, such as Christianity, is offensive and phoney baloney then stop championing this Islam center and at least be a tiny bit consistent. Just my observation and opinion.

[JonLP24]

5. If it was a Christian building project

I doubt it would even make the news. I also wouldn't object either. There are 3 churches nearby, one of them Catholic. I also don't see it as a symbolic slap in the face of 9/11. Of course I don't lump 1+ billion followers of a religion with a group of criminals that violate the most of the teachings of the Qur'an.

[quinnox]

8. yea, you don't

but why do you think the opposition is so strong versus this building? Don't be naive. And why is it sooo important that it has to be so close to the ground zero location? Would it matter if it was moved say, 6-12 blocks away? Of course not, unless you want the symbolism of the Islam center being close to the ground zero and it means something to you. I have yet to see someone explain why this Islam center has to be so close to the ground zero location.

[AlabamaLibrul]

11. It's nobody's business to think about the "symbolism" of a legally zoned building. n/t

[pscot]

58. You telling us what we're allowed to think?

And in defense of religious freedom, too.

[JonLP24]

21. Why do I think?

Well I believe a lot of it has to do with fear driven by Fox News that was objecting to it long before anyone else that I know of. Much of the opposition I feel is coming from the right which I'm much more angry at the them voting against health care for 9/11 responders than I am over this. Also many people in this country are not familiar with Islam. I recall at a job site a several months ago a co-worker made a comment that it was "scary" that more people are converting to Islam--never mind that is one of the largest religions there is and have been for years--and he is Obama supporter and supporting health care reform from its early-to-mid stages and also wanted to repeal NAFTA. He also said France were "friends with Saddam".

My opinion is it doesn't have to be close or it doesn't have to be moved. It also doesn't have to be built at all but as long as they want to build it and they got the necessary permits (which they did) I have no problem with them building it anywhere they like. I don't associate Islam with a group of criminals and I served along side with a few Muslim soldiers in the Army and a shit load of Muslim TCNs sure helped us out A LOT in Iraq. I'm not sure about Afghanistan as I never been there.

[quinnox]

26. Yea, you are right

about the fear and Fox news thing. Honestly I am getting tired of the whole issue and since I am on the other side of the country in the West, I think I will stop following it, it really is none of my business what happens there anyway. Whatever the New Yorkers decide is fine with me. I guess I get influenced by the media when they harp about this so much and start thinking too much about stuff like this that really doesn't affect me.

[blogslut]

40. Opposition is strong

...because too many Americans are intellectually lazy so they equate a religion with a fringe group. In turn, politicians and hatemongers happily exploit the fear of those intellectually lazy Americans.

[cleanhippie]

48. So how far away is enough?

You say 6-12 blocks. Why not four, why not 40? What is too close and what is ok? This is a bullshit issue.

[Caliman73]

68. The answers are simple.

The opposition is strong because people react on emotion alone without even trying to understand that the people building the center are not related in any way to the people who destroyed the WTC. It would matter if the center was moved because it would show the bigots who are leading this charge that all they have to do is yell loud enough and enlist the support of emotionally vulnerable and scared people to accomplish their goals of stifling groups they do not approve of. Finally, there doesn't have to be a center close to the former WTC site, and no explanation is needed only the rights which all citizens have and the permissions that have been granted by community leaders.

[hughee99]

69. If it were a christian building project,

regardless of the location, some DUers would be outraged as to how a Christian group could spend $100 million to put a religious community center on one of the most expensive plots of the land in the country while fellow followers of their same faith are dying in flood ravaged country halfway around the world and desperately need their financial support.

[JonLP24]

71. Well I can't speak for other DUers

Only on what I would do.

Anyways I've been wondering why you have a Clippers logo? The last time IIRC that you changed a logo that wasn't your home team was the Detroit Tigers and that was because of that perfect game thing. The only thing I'm aware of the Clippers trading Marcus Camby. :hi:

[hughee99]

72. I went to change back

to my old logo and was looking through them. There's a bunch of people with Red Sox and Celtics logos, but in my 6 years here, I've never seen another person with a Clippers logo. I thought I'd dust it off and try it out.

[hobbit709]

9. I consider ALL religions as equally silly

But that's my opinion. As far as building the COMMUNITY CENTER there, I have no problem with it in relation to 9/11 or anything else.
To me, one is free to practice whatever religion one believes, as long as it does not interfere with anyone else.

As I told some loudmouth "Christian" once, "I don't care if your religion practices human sacrifice as long as you use a willing volunteer out of your own ranks"

[MrScorpio]

12. So, exactly how is a symbolic slap in face?

Are Muslim-Americans somehow abhorrent when engaging in their own community activities in certain areas of Lower Manhattan? Is it in the best traditions of American ideals to merely satisfy the whims of the bigoted people who started this controversy by moving them?

Or is the area "sacred" to all of us Americans, regardless of our religious beliefs?

Frankly, I think that making them move from a perfectly fine location is a slap in the face to those Americans being moved.

What symbol is being harmed in letting Muslim-Americans open their own community center where there own community thinks that it is fine to do so?

[quinnox]

20. If you don't get that I can't explain it

And about the sacred stuff, I don't buy that either. If it was up to me, NOTHING, no plaque, no marker, nothing, would be there to commemorate Sept. 11th. I don't think its good to keep a terrible event in the memory and make a big deal about it. Its not healthy in my opinion to remember evil and horrible things by memorials or markers. I think instead it should be given as little notice as possible, the place built over and a new office building put up, or put some city park there, or whatever, until it is forgotten that anything happened there in the first place.

[MrScorpio]

23. You should be able to explain it

How else am I to be convinced otherwise?

If you can't really justify your reasoning or logic, it's not really a defense against from someone poking holes in either.

I've worked in the Pentagon for seven long years and, in my many visits to Manhattan, I've been to the WTC,

It's important to me that we stand up for what's good in America; our right to religious freedom.

[quinnox]

24. I didn't say I held that opinion

I just said a lot of people seem to feel that way, that is all. I can't explain it if I don't hold that opinion myself.

That is fine, I can see your side of the argument, it is in good faith. I can see both sides of the argument, I am not saying you are wrong, just that I happen to think it would be best if it was in another location. As Howard Dean said, the sensitvity and passion around this issue runs high there in NY city and I can see why that would be.

[MrScorpio]

25. The plan is to have a 9-11 memorial and quiet contemplation facility in that center

Which is a clue to me about how much they care about the importance of that area.

That tells me that we all should be on the same side.

The side of protecting the religious freedoms of all Americans.

[quinnox]

27. Yea

honestly I shouldn't have got caught up in this in the first place, the media is making this into some huge issue when it shouldn't be that important, I let myself get influenced by the media's non-stop coverage. I'm going to stop paying attention to this and whatever the people in New York decide is fine by me.

[kctim]

35. Funny in how you did get caught up though

because it seems as if others with the same opinion are the one's NOT letting the media and politics, shape their views.
There are the partisan hacks on one side trying their damnest to make this about religious freedom, which it is not. And there are partisan hacks on the other side trying to make it about islam, which it is not. The fact of the matter is that building it there is no different than building a shooting range next door to Columbine High School or an Aryan militia center next to the Murrah building in OKC. To do those things would be f-ed up and the majority of Americans believe that way.

You are absolutely correct: if Republicans weren't against it, liberals wouldn't be for it, and vice versa.

[MrScorpio]

38. I want to get this straight...

Are you equating Muslim-Americans with the foreign terrorists who attacked us on 9-11?

If not, please explain.




Oh, BTW, when I last checked, Mayor Bloomberg was a Republican.

[kctim]

60. Of course not

but I am not going to deny that it was done by muslims in the name of islam either.

[cleanhippie]

53. But you DO hold that opinion.

You stated why not move it 6-12 blocks away? Why should it be moved? If you cannot explain your reasoning, then you are not thinking for yourself.

[LynneSin]

37. The problem is YOU don't get it

and you're buying into the hype that the GOP/Faux News created to distract us from what the real issues are.

I'm guessing you bought into the hype of "Partial Birth Abortions" too.

[cleanhippie]

50. Bingo! Perfect example of having ones thought process corrupted by the media spin.

[Erose999]

31. The thing about the "X-tian right" stuff is that they always attempt to infringe on the freedom of

others. They want to dictate to women what they can/can't do with their bodies or dictate to me that I can't buy beer on Sunday. They want to take away the fundamental right of gays to marry and have families.

To the best of my knowledge no Muslim has ever attempted to dictate to me that I could not do something. If they were to do so I'd be all up in their shit too.

They should be allowed to do what they want with their property, provided it is compliant with Federal and local laws and zoning ordinances. That building has been vacant for about 10 years so it will be good for the neighborhood to have a thriving community center there. Property values will increase and neighboring businesses will also benefit for the increased foot traffic. Muslim dollars are just as green as x-tian dollars, after all.

[LynneSin]

36. So you want to call the Pentagon about their prayer room they opened WITHIN the Pentagon or should I

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100819/NEWS02/8190335/Mosque-rhetoric-veers-far-from-facts

WASHINGTON -- A New York imam and his proposed mosque near ground zero are being demonized by political candidates -- mostly Republicans -- despite the fact that Islam is already very much a part of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood. And that Muslims pray inside the Pentagon, too, less than 80 feet from where terrorists attacked.

[cleanhippie]

47. Fortunately, "feelings" is not enough to restrict rights.

I could give a rats ass how people "feel" about it, if its legal and conforms to current zoning regs, feelings have no weight at all.

[niyad]

57. you do know that it wasn't considered a slap in the face when it was proposed? that nobody bothered

about it until that idiot geller started screeching about it? seriously, try to find another reason, other than the nonsense memes being screeched by the reichwing.

[NYC Liberal]

59. How EXACTLY is a community center a "symbolic slap in the face of the Sept. 11th event"?

I'd love to know.

[JerseygirlCT]

62. Why is it a symbolic slap?

That only holds if you are under the very mistaken impression that all Muslims are responsible for 9-11.

That's like forbidding the building of any Christian church in the south because of the KKK's violence.

Strong feelings shouldn't be given precedence when doing so harms others. And giving in to prejudice and ignorance harms American Muslims.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. a NYT article about Imam Feisal and his plan for the center written before the crazy hate campaign

Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero

By RALPH BLUMENTHAL and SHARAF MOWJOOD
Published: December 8, 2009


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html?_r=1

snip:

“ As a Sufi, Imam Feisal follows a path of Islam focused more on spiritual wisdom than on strict ritual, and as a bridge builder, he is sometimes focused more on cultivating relations with those outside his faith than within it.

snip:

Those who have worked with him say if anyone could pull off what many regard to be a delicate project, it would be Imam Feisal, whom they described as having built a career preaching tolerance and interfaith understanding.

“He subscribes to my credo: ‘Live and let live,’ ” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, spiritual leader of Park East Synagogue on East 67th Street.

snip:

The mayor’s director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, Fatima Shama, went further. “We as New York Muslims have as much of a commitment to rebuilding New York as anybody,” Ms. Shama said. Imam Feisal’s wife, Daisy Khan, serves on an advisory team for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and Lynn Rasic, a spokeswoman for the memorial, said, “The idea of a cultural center that strengthens ties between Muslims and people of all faiths and backgrounds is positive.”


snip:

“ Building so close is owning the tragedy. It’s a way of saying: ‘This is something done by people who call themselves Muslims. We want to be here to repair the breach, as the Bible says.’ ”

The F.B.I. said Imam Feisal had helped agents reach out to the Muslim population after Sept. 11. “We’ve had positive interactions with him in the past,” said an agency spokesman, Richard Kolk. Alice Hoagland of Las Gatos, Calif., whose son, Mark Bingham, was killed in the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, said, “It’s quite a bold step buying a piece of land adjacent to ground zero,” but she said she considered plans for the site “a noble effort.”

snip:

Joy Levitt, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, said the group would be proud to be a model for Imam Feisal at ground zero. “For the J.C.C. to have partners in the Muslim community that share our vision of pluralism and tolerance would be great,” she said.

Mr. El-Gamal agreed. “What happened that day,” he said, “was not Islam.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html?_r=1

[deutsey]

29. I think this is a great opportunity to educate Americans on the variety within Islam

Sufis are about as far from jihadists as you can get.

Instead, what we get is "MUSLIM" being bantered about as if it's some kind of monolithic thing. Yeah, about as monolithic as "CHRISTIAN" or "JEW" or "BUDDHIST" are.

[dkf]

41. Sufis are supposed to be committed to mutual civility, interaction and cooperation

We will get to see if that is false advertising or not.

[Douglas Carpenter]

43. the Sufis must never oppose the building of any Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Taoist or Hindu, or any

other community center that meets all the requirements and building codes.

They must never blame Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus or any other community for the actions of a few of their members.

They must never allow themselves to be discriminated against and treated as second class Americans - because if they do, they are opening the door for others to be treated as second class citizens too.

They must never-ever remain silent when any community including their own is being victimized by a national hate campaign - because if they do, they are opening the doors for any community to be treated the same.

.

[dkf]

45. It goes beyond getting out of others business.

It also means not letting your business offend as much as possible. How is there cooperation and interaction if you insist on doing things your way? That is my way or the highway attitude.

[Douglas Carpenter]

52. the offense is caused because of an orchestrated hate campaign - that is why anyone is even talking

about it.

How the "ground zero mosque" fear mongering began

By Justin Elliott

To a remarkable extent, a Salon review of the origins of the story found, the controversy was kicked up and driven by Pamela Geller, a right-wing, viciously anti-Muslim, conspiracy-mongering blogger, whose sinister portrayal of the project was embraced by Rupert Murdoch's New York Post.

A group of progressive Muslim-Americans plans to build an Islamic community center two and a half blocks from ground zero in lower Manhattan. They have had a mosque in the same neighborhood for many years. There's another mosque two blocks away from the site. City officials support the project. Muslims have been praying at the Pentagon, the other building hit on Sept. 11, for many years.

In short, there is no good reason that the Cordoba House project should have been a major national news story, let alone controversy. And yet it has become just that, dominating the political conversation for weeks and prompting such a backlash that, according to a new poll, nearly 7 in 10 Americans now say they oppose the project. How did the Cordoba House become so toxic, so fast?



Here's a timeline of how it all happened:


•Dec. 8, 2009: The Times publishes a lengthy front-page look at the Cordoba project. "We want to push back against the extremists," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the lead organizer, is quoted as saying. Two Jewish leaders and two city officials, including the mayor's office, say they support the idea, as does the mother of a man killed on 9/11. An FBI spokesman says the imam has worked with the bureau. Besides a few third-tier right-wing blogs, including Pamela Geller's Atlas Shrugs site, no one much notices the Times story.

Dec. 21, 2009: Conservative media personality Laura Ingraham interviews Abdul Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, while guest-hosting "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox. In hindsight, the segment is remarkable for its cordiality. "I can't find many people who really have a problem with it," Ingraham says of the Cordoba project, adding at the end of the interview, "I like what you're trying to do."

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/16/ground_zero_mosque_origins

Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 'Sad Day For America' If Ground Zero Mosque Plan Is Killed

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it would be "a sad day for America" if opponents successfully kill plans for a mosque proposed near the World Trade Center site.

Bloomberg has been among a few outspoken elected officials supporting the plans for an Islamic center and mosque two blocks from ground zero.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/16/bloomberg-sad-day-for-ame_n_683692.html

[deutsey]

63. It's truly amazing (and depressing) how far smears, distortions, and lies can go

in shaping opinions in our media culture.

Thanks for posting the "inconvenient truths" that somehow get lost in most of the media bluster.

[Stevenmarc]

7. How dare the Muslims defile the sanctity of a Burlington Coat Factory

[aquart]

14. It was a business. A going business.

When part of a plane fell on it, when the rest of it was engulfed in the dust of the dead, every person working there lost his job. EVER MEET OR SPEAK TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE DISPLACED ON 9/11? Do you have the statistics on how many were out of work for YEARS?

Burlington Coat Factory. A retail store that closed permanently on 9/11.

Jobs mean nothing to too many people here.

[AlabamaLibrul]

16. Are you trying different angles out for the anti-Muslims? Because I have a feeling that

this big-ass community center will employ more people than the basement of a Burlington Coat Factory that was pre-opening.

[backscatter712]

32. You're really stretching with this non-sequitor.

People lost their jobs on 9/11 here, therefore this community center should not be built because it might cause offense?

Wow.

You do understand that this community center will help create jobs, starting with the construction jobs from the building of Park 51, then the staffing of the center, the chef-training from the culinary school, etc.

Oh, wait, you didn't think that far, you just threw some poo and hoped it would stick. I'm afraid you're out of luck on this one. Nice try though.

[Stevenmarc]

64. And do you

understand sarcasm, apparently not.

[backscatter712]

70. aquart has a bit of a history with these posts.

So I don't think he was being sarcastic.

[backscatter712]

74. Or let me clarify - I wasn't flaming you, I was flaming aquart.

[geardaddy]

55. Exactly.

As a devout Coatist, I'm appalled.

[aquart]

10. Neither. Let them raise the money.

Let them dare solicit funds for that grandiose building while Pakistan is drowning.

I'm sure you'll all send contributions for this worthy project.

[AlabamaLibrul]

13. I would if I had the money, yeah. And I somehow get the feeling that others haven't quit passing

the ol' collection plate around during this point in time anyway.

[aquart]

15. I'm sure your generosity will be appreciated.

[smalll]

17. "Opened or stopped" -- and your choices are Yes or No????

Well, I'm another No vote --

No, it shouldn't be opened or stopped. It should be moved.

And you know, that's what's going to happen, sooner or later (sooner we should hope, for Obama's sake and for the sake of the 2010 midterms.) Compromise (to use Dean's word) will happen.

Obama or an emissary of his will get on the phone to Bloomberg, say, and get Bloomberg to find some NYC real-estate tycoon with a big, open site ready for building elsewhere in the city -- maybe in Brooklyn, or the Bronx, somehwere near a large population of Muslims -- who will be convinced to exchange that property for the "Park51" properties. Then Obama will directly, or through friendly Muslim intermediaries, get the Cordoba House people to agree to the exchange.

[AlabamaLibrul]

18. Why should it be moved? n/t

[MrScorpio]

19. Oh, I see now..

It's better that they not be seen or heard amongst decent folks.

Better that they congregate with their own kind.


Yeah, I get it.

[Little Star]

22. moved n/t

[The_Commonist]

28. I voted yes, but the truth is...

...that I don't really care.

I'm a New Yorker. I could walk there from my Brooklyn apartment.
I believe they have the right to open whatever the fuck they want there, if they own the lot and can get all the permits. I think it is disgusting what the demagogues on the right have done with this issue.
But really, when it comes down to it, I couldn't give a shit what they do or don't do. Open it, move it, or fuggedaboutit, I just don't care. I wouldn't have even known about this if it wasn't for Sarah and the Freakazoids.

This is the New York way...

[MrScorpio]

33. I appreciate your honesty nt

[varelse]

30. I'm with you

it should be opened. There is no need to move it.

[eShirl]

34. so, yes vote = should be opened?

When my mom asks my dad whether he wants apple pie or vanilla ice cream for dessert, he always says "Yes," meaning both.

[slackmaster]

42. I'm voting "No - It should be opened"

:argh:

[Karenina]

67. Too cute by half.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

44. Opened right where it is planned.

Anything else -- including a move -- is bullshit.

On edit:

That I see a single DUer advocating for it being moved or not opened is a sad fucking thing.

[arbusto_baboso]

49. Our liberties must be for all, or they mean nothing.

There shouldn't even be a debate about this.

[The Wizard]

51. Those opposed are

doing bin Laden's bidding.

[LWolf]

61. Opened. nt

[mmonk]

65. Of course it should open. I support both the 1st amendment

and property rights. I am neither a bigot nor a hypocrite nor an opponent of the first amendment. So of course that would be my position. The only reason to bring it all up now is purely political by the American right as they try to flame the fires of hatred among its base and like minded independents and Democrats for the administration and continue to incite their mentally ill who think Obama is Muslim.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

66. Opened, and anybody who says it shouldn't be is a bigot, plain and simple.

[donheld]

73. +1

[pampango]

75. Geert Wilders votes "NO".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/20/dutch-wilders-ground-zero-mosque

Leaders fear for Netherlands' image as anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders flies high in polls

Politicians in diplomacy drive before Freedom party chief joins New York protests against Ground Zero mosque

"The Dutch government has launched a damage-limitation campaign to try to counter what it fears is the disastrous international impact of the Islam-bashing populist Geert Wilders. Wilders, whose success in June's general election catapulted him into the role of kingmaker in attempts to form a new coalition government, is to travel to New York to take part in protests on 11 September against the proposed Muslim community centre near Ground Zero.

With characteristic robustness, Wilders has told Verhagen to mind his own business. He clearly intends to grab attention with a tub-thumping exercise in Islamophobia in New York. "Good feeling. Important speech. No one will stop me. No mosque at Ground Zero," he tweeted after booking a flight to New York. "Stop Islam, defend freedom" is his rallying cry.

The latest opinion polls show Wilders soaring ahead of Rutte's liberal VVD party. Rutte, who is expected to be the new prime minister, supports an immigration crackdown and other anti-EU and hardline policies demanded by Wilders.

Wilders, who is being prosecuted in Amsterdam on charges of inciting hatred and discrimination, is portraying himself as the protector of Dutch welfare, while calling for a tax on Islamic headscarves, a ban on the Qur'an, closure of Islamic schools, deportation of immigrants and proscribing mosque-building.