Showing posts with label Park51. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Park51. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Muslim Recounts Threats and Intimidation at Park51 Meeting
Here is a very revealing account given by Raheel Raza, a leading Muslim reformer, award-winning writer, diversity consultant, documentary film maker and interfaith advocate, and founding member of the Muslim Canadian Congress.
I feel no need to give a defense of my actions as everyone has the right to pursue the truth. It’s been a turbulent two months with many ups and downs. However, I have written a report about my visit to New York, since I met the organizers, asked questions and was able to make an informed opinion. Events that followed have only confirmed my stance. Hence, I owe it to myself and to those following these events to give an accurate account of my visit. Let me share it with you Jamie and with Frontpage’s readers:
At 5:57 p.m. on Monday August 16, 2010, my cell phone rang. The man asked me: “Is this Raheel Raza?” I automatically said yes. He said “I am Sharif El Gamal – do you remember you dared jump into a meeting called by Daisy Khan for 9/11 victims in New York?” I was a bit shocked at the tone but I retorted “I was invited to that meeting.” He said curtly, “No, you were not.” I tried to explain that I went as a guest of a 9/11 widow. “You were not invited,” he said again, and then added: “I am an American and a Muslim and may Allah protect you.” These words sent chills down my back. It took only one minute for the veneer of ‘tolerance’ to be peeled away, and the reality of the agenda became crystal clear.
I had decided to go to New York on Tuesday, August 10, to attend a meeting hosted by the ASMA Society as a guest of Maureen Basnicki, who is the widow of a 9/11 victim. I wanted to see and hear firsthand what the Ground Zero mosque was all about, to ask some important questions and to deliver a message that this is not a good idea.
When I arrived at the meeting, there were about 30 people in the room, most of them 9/11 survivors and their families. Some were carrying placards saying LOCATION which they respectfully kept under their chairs. The meeting was chaired by Gerry Bogacz, who is part of the 9/11 Community for Common Ground. There were no formal introductions of people around the table.
However, as soon as the organizers started speaking, I knew that this was not about sincere intentions but a con-job, a cover-up for a subversive agenda and all about the money. Ms. Daisy Khan spent 20 minutes telling us about her life and work. Eventually, she came to the mosque project and said that this monument (Ground Zero Mosque/Cordoba Institute/ Park 51) is to help shape Islam in America. She also said that the idea has garnered support not only in the U.S. but “would be replicated all over the world.”
She was joined by Mr. Sharif El Gamal, CEO of Soho Properties. The slick Mr. Gamal took another 15 minutes to tell his life story, explaining that he was a born American of mixed heritage and that he had feelings for the people in the room. He mentioned that he had been looking for a property in Manhattan since 2002 and that he had bought this building in 2005. Finally, they opened the meeting up for questions. (Interesting note in retrospect that neither Mr. Gamal nor Ms. Khan addressed me the entire evening, although they know who I am).
This was the flavor of the Q & A:
Q: How do you not expect a backlash when Muslims killed nearly 3,000 people? Where is Imam Faisal and where is the funding going to come from?
Gamal: Those were not Muslims – they are not my brothers and sisters and this is not our belief system. We never have anticipated such a backlash to our project so this is a surprise.
Ms. Khan: It’s the start of the month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and in this time Imam Faisal is travelling to build bridges.
Q: Where will the funding come from?
Gamal: We have not raised funds yet but we will not accept any funds that compromise American values.
Q: What is the mission statement of the Cordoba Center?
Gamal: The project’s name is Park 51. It will be like a YMCA and promote tolerance and understanding between people.
Woman in the audience: The YMCA is a secular place.
Me: If you are a feeling, caring American how come you were not aware that this location might be problematic? And since you purchased the property in 2005, how have you spent the last 5 years in outreach, bridge-building, garnering community support and fund raising?
Gamal: I never thought the location would be such a sore point and no, we did not do any outreach until now. I honestly never thought I would be sitting here giving a defense. I can’t imagine what all the fuss is about.
Me: How naïve can you be not to be aware that this location is sensitive to Americans? Are you not concerned that a majority of Americans are against this project going ahead at this location?
Gamal: I honestly did not think the location would be a problem. We need the space.
Me: Are you going to get funds from outside the U.S.? (I asked this 3 times)
Gamal: I can’t answer that question.
Q: Why not move to another location?
(No response)
Mike (a retired New York City Police officer): You are very good at filibusters and you have not said anything right tonight.
Q: Historically mosques have been built in places of conquest and why have the larger Muslim communities not come out to support you? Why do the Imams not condemn the terrorists?
Ms. Khan: There have been no new terrorist attacks because of our diligence as Muslims.
Man in the audience: It’s offensive of you to say this. There have been no new attacks because of our police system and the FBI.
Firemen # 1: I was at 9/11. This project is insensitive and insulting because we saw TV images of Muslims celebrating the 9/11 tragedy around the world. Now I’m supposed to embrace the idea of a mosque at that very spot? Can you build it somewhere else?
Fireman # 2: Building it where you are is pouring salt on my wounds and I resent that. You say you need a mosque. We need our twin towers back. Can you help rebuild those?
Fireman # 3: No construction worker, no fireman or police officer who wears a cap saying Never Again, will work on this project and I hope it fails. I hope you don’t get the funds to make this happen. I hope you discard this project.
After attending this meeting, I discovered was that there was no transparency, no honest answers and therefore no sincerity of intention. Mr. Gamal was like a used car salesman: contradicting himself, prevaricating and being evasive. He spoke about everything except the make and model of the car. Ms. Khan was described by one of the women as a “cult-type leader” because she answered every question with a lecture about Islam.
I suspect that the organizers already have a green light from the US State Department or the White House. Otherwise they would not have been so arrogant as to ignore the cries of the victims and their friends and families. They did not care for the opinions of the community, when clearly the majority of those present were against the project.
Ms. Basnicki who was with me, has this to say:
“I went to this meeting with mixed feelings. I was eager to assert that as a Canadian I found it easy to accept religious tolerance. However I left the meeting with even more confusion. Simple questions such as where is the funding coming from for this $100 million center, renamed Park51 were not answered. This was not a bridge building meeting……..it caused greater unease and a much larger gulf.”
I feel no need to give a defense of my actions as everyone has the right to pursue the truth. It’s been a turbulent two months with many ups and downs. However, I have written a report about my visit to New York, since I met the organizers, asked questions and was able to make an informed opinion. Events that followed have only confirmed my stance. Hence, I owe it to myself and to those following these events to give an accurate account of my visit. Let me share it with you Jamie and with Frontpage’s readers:
At 5:57 p.m. on Monday August 16, 2010, my cell phone rang. The man asked me: “Is this Raheel Raza?” I automatically said yes. He said “I am Sharif El Gamal – do you remember you dared jump into a meeting called by Daisy Khan for 9/11 victims in New York?” I was a bit shocked at the tone but I retorted “I was invited to that meeting.” He said curtly, “No, you were not.” I tried to explain that I went as a guest of a 9/11 widow. “You were not invited,” he said again, and then added: “I am an American and a Muslim and may Allah protect you.” These words sent chills down my back. It took only one minute for the veneer of ‘tolerance’ to be peeled away, and the reality of the agenda became crystal clear.
I had decided to go to New York on Tuesday, August 10, to attend a meeting hosted by the ASMA Society as a guest of Maureen Basnicki, who is the widow of a 9/11 victim. I wanted to see and hear firsthand what the Ground Zero mosque was all about, to ask some important questions and to deliver a message that this is not a good idea.
When I arrived at the meeting, there were about 30 people in the room, most of them 9/11 survivors and their families. Some were carrying placards saying LOCATION which they respectfully kept under their chairs. The meeting was chaired by Gerry Bogacz, who is part of the 9/11 Community for Common Ground. There were no formal introductions of people around the table.
However, as soon as the organizers started speaking, I knew that this was not about sincere intentions but a con-job, a cover-up for a subversive agenda and all about the money. Ms. Daisy Khan spent 20 minutes telling us about her life and work. Eventually, she came to the mosque project and said that this monument (Ground Zero Mosque/Cordoba Institute/ Park 51) is to help shape Islam in America. She also said that the idea has garnered support not only in the U.S. but “would be replicated all over the world.”
She was joined by Mr. Sharif El Gamal, CEO of Soho Properties. The slick Mr. Gamal took another 15 minutes to tell his life story, explaining that he was a born American of mixed heritage and that he had feelings for the people in the room. He mentioned that he had been looking for a property in Manhattan since 2002 and that he had bought this building in 2005. Finally, they opened the meeting up for questions. (Interesting note in retrospect that neither Mr. Gamal nor Ms. Khan addressed me the entire evening, although they know who I am).
This was the flavor of the Q & A:
Q: How do you not expect a backlash when Muslims killed nearly 3,000 people? Where is Imam Faisal and where is the funding going to come from?
Gamal: Those were not Muslims – they are not my brothers and sisters and this is not our belief system. We never have anticipated such a backlash to our project so this is a surprise.
Ms. Khan: It’s the start of the month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and in this time Imam Faisal is travelling to build bridges.
Q: Where will the funding come from?
Gamal: We have not raised funds yet but we will not accept any funds that compromise American values.
Q: What is the mission statement of the Cordoba Center?
Gamal: The project’s name is Park 51. It will be like a YMCA and promote tolerance and understanding between people.
Woman in the audience: The YMCA is a secular place.
Me: If you are a feeling, caring American how come you were not aware that this location might be problematic? And since you purchased the property in 2005, how have you spent the last 5 years in outreach, bridge-building, garnering community support and fund raising?
Gamal: I never thought the location would be such a sore point and no, we did not do any outreach until now. I honestly never thought I would be sitting here giving a defense. I can’t imagine what all the fuss is about.
Me: How naïve can you be not to be aware that this location is sensitive to Americans? Are you not concerned that a majority of Americans are against this project going ahead at this location?
Gamal: I honestly did not think the location would be a problem. We need the space.
Me: Are you going to get funds from outside the U.S.? (I asked this 3 times)
Gamal: I can’t answer that question.
Q: Why not move to another location?
(No response)
Mike (a retired New York City Police officer): You are very good at filibusters and you have not said anything right tonight.
Q: Historically mosques have been built in places of conquest and why have the larger Muslim communities not come out to support you? Why do the Imams not condemn the terrorists?
Ms. Khan: There have been no new terrorist attacks because of our diligence as Muslims.
Man in the audience: It’s offensive of you to say this. There have been no new attacks because of our police system and the FBI.
Firemen # 1: I was at 9/11. This project is insensitive and insulting because we saw TV images of Muslims celebrating the 9/11 tragedy around the world. Now I’m supposed to embrace the idea of a mosque at that very spot? Can you build it somewhere else?
Fireman # 2: Building it where you are is pouring salt on my wounds and I resent that. You say you need a mosque. We need our twin towers back. Can you help rebuild those?
Fireman # 3: No construction worker, no fireman or police officer who wears a cap saying Never Again, will work on this project and I hope it fails. I hope you don’t get the funds to make this happen. I hope you discard this project.
After attending this meeting, I discovered was that there was no transparency, no honest answers and therefore no sincerity of intention. Mr. Gamal was like a used car salesman: contradicting himself, prevaricating and being evasive. He spoke about everything except the make and model of the car. Ms. Khan was described by one of the women as a “cult-type leader” because she answered every question with a lecture about Islam.
I suspect that the organizers already have a green light from the US State Department or the White House. Otherwise they would not have been so arrogant as to ignore the cries of the victims and their friends and families. They did not care for the opinions of the community, when clearly the majority of those present were against the project.
Ms. Basnicki who was with me, has this to say:
“I went to this meeting with mixed feelings. I was eager to assert that as a Canadian I found it easy to accept religious tolerance. However I left the meeting with even more confusion. Simple questions such as where is the funding coming from for this $100 million center, renamed Park51 were not answered. This was not a bridge building meeting……..it caused greater unease and a much larger gulf.”
Muslims Invite non-Muslims to Convert
Muslim Brotherhood Axis Calls for Proselytizing/Conversion to Islam as Solution to Ground Zero Mega Mosque Opposition
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam….
Well, you have to admire the sheer moxie of these subversives. The answer to the 97% of Americans who oppose the Ground Zero mosque because of location is -- proselytizing to Islam. I kid you not. The Muslim Brotherhood axis are asking all mosques to throw open their doors to non-Muslims (non-Muslims are only allowed in mosques by invitation only and for proselytizing). They are emboldened and they are digging in their heels. The decent thing to do would be to move the Ground Zero mosque and show consideration and kindness to those deeply hurt and offended by this Islamic supremacist mosque at Ground Zero. Show the West reciprocity. Mutual respect. Mutual understanding. Not possible for Islamic supremacists.
One opponent of the project dismissed the upcoming week of events at mosques as a “complete diversion.” Jim Riches, whose son, a firefighter, died on Sept. 11, said he wasn’t interested in getting an education on the Muslim religion.
“They’re not addressing the issue. The issue is there’s 9/11 families whose sons were murdered by Muslims,” Riches said. Opposition to Park51 is “not anti-Muslim, it’s anti-location,” he added. (more here)
For a look at the players in this subversive summit, go here. These are the leading Muslim Brotherhood proxies in the United States.
Imam Feisal ducked this presser due to "security concerns." Give me a break. we are getting the death threats and this stealth jihadist is whining about security concerns. Sick. And Feisal didn't show up in court yesterday (he is being sued in Union City for being a slumlord) because he was -- get this -- "stressed out" (must be all those exhausting puff pieces in the NY Times, CNN, Larry King, Christiane Amanpour). The man has never had a tough interview. Sheesh.
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam….
Notice how Nihad Awad, cofounder of the unindicted co-conspirator, Hamas-linked CAIR, spews that "misunderstanders of Islam" all over us.
"Park51 is not a case, it is a cause," said Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We believe the entire nation has been engulfed into misunderstanding and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project that we believe is unfair and unnecessary."
National Muslim Leaders Call For Increased Interreligious Dialogue
By: NY1 News
Muslim leaders from across the country are asking for a "National Week For Dialogue" next month, in reaction to the controversy over a proposed Islamic cultural center near the World Trade Center.
Members of 20 of the nation's leading Muslim organizations asked for tolerance and said that Americans of all faiths have the right to build houses of worship where they please.
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam.
"It is a hope and desire that these events will help to allay tensions in society caused by the Park51 controversy and will build bridges of understanding that unite and strengthen our nation," said Imam Al-Amim Latif of the Islamic Leadership Council.
"Park51 is not a case, it is a cause," said Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We believe the entire nation has been engulfed into misunderstanding and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project that we believe is unfair and unnecessary."
The organizations gathered in Queens yesterday to discuss the controversial Park51 project.
The developer of the community center, Sharif El-Gamal, attended the summit. The proposed center's imam, Faisal Abdul Rauf, did not attend due to security reasons.
The coalition is also encouraging Muslims to reach out and attend services of other religions to increase understanding.
Atlas Shrugs
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam….
Well, you have to admire the sheer moxie of these subversives. The answer to the 97% of Americans who oppose the Ground Zero mosque because of location is -- proselytizing to Islam. I kid you not. The Muslim Brotherhood axis are asking all mosques to throw open their doors to non-Muslims (non-Muslims are only allowed in mosques by invitation only and for proselytizing). They are emboldened and they are digging in their heels. The decent thing to do would be to move the Ground Zero mosque and show consideration and kindness to those deeply hurt and offended by this Islamic supremacist mosque at Ground Zero. Show the West reciprocity. Mutual respect. Mutual understanding. Not possible for Islamic supremacists.
One opponent of the project dismissed the upcoming week of events at mosques as a “complete diversion.” Jim Riches, whose son, a firefighter, died on Sept. 11, said he wasn’t interested in getting an education on the Muslim religion.
“They’re not addressing the issue. The issue is there’s 9/11 families whose sons were murdered by Muslims,” Riches said. Opposition to Park51 is “not anti-Muslim, it’s anti-location,” he added. (more here)
For a look at the players in this subversive summit, go here. These are the leading Muslim Brotherhood proxies in the United States.
Imam Feisal ducked this presser due to "security concerns." Give me a break. we are getting the death threats and this stealth jihadist is whining about security concerns. Sick. And Feisal didn't show up in court yesterday (he is being sued in Union City for being a slumlord) because he was -- get this -- "stressed out" (must be all those exhausting puff pieces in the NY Times, CNN, Larry King, Christiane Amanpour). The man has never had a tough interview. Sheesh.
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam….
Notice how Nihad Awad, cofounder of the unindicted co-conspirator, Hamas-linked CAIR, spews that "misunderstanders of Islam" all over us.
"Park51 is not a case, it is a cause," said Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We believe the entire nation has been engulfed into misunderstanding and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project that we believe is unfair and unnecessary."
National Muslim Leaders Call For Increased Interreligious Dialogue
By: NY1 News
Muslim leaders from across the country are asking for a "National Week For Dialogue" next month, in reaction to the controversy over a proposed Islamic cultural center near the World Trade Center.
Members of 20 of the nation's leading Muslim organizations asked for tolerance and said that Americans of all faiths have the right to build houses of worship where they please.
During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam.
"It is a hope and desire that these events will help to allay tensions in society caused by the Park51 controversy and will build bridges of understanding that unite and strengthen our nation," said Imam Al-Amim Latif of the Islamic Leadership Council.
"Park51 is not a case, it is a cause," said Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We believe the entire nation has been engulfed into misunderstanding and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project that we believe is unfair and unnecessary."
The organizations gathered in Queens yesterday to discuss the controversial Park51 project.
The developer of the community center, Sharif El-Gamal, attended the summit. The proposed center's imam, Faisal Abdul Rauf, did not attend due to security reasons.
The coalition is also encouraging Muslims to reach out and attend services of other religions to increase understanding.
Atlas Shrugs
Friday, September 17, 2010
Islam in USA Gets Free Pass From Oba-Hussein
As the bogus "whining" of Islamic demands as part of religion emerge from the Ground Zero mosque farce of "building bridges" and ties to radical and violent Islam, we also discover the "privileged status" Oba-Hussein's administration and Holder's Department of "selective" Injustice deploy against any anti-Islamic opinion. Even when it is accurate disenchantment and disbelief in the utterances of the hypocritical, dissimulating Islamists.
Slumlord Imam Rauf is a poster boy.
Restrictions imposed on Christianity and schools, separation of Church and State to deny even after school Bible classes on school propterty are not applied to Islam, where as in this example, they are afforded an immunity not accorded to any other religion - or more accurately any "socio-political" oppressive, fascist governance system.
Slumlord Imam Rauf is a poster boy.
Restrictions imposed on Christianity and schools, separation of Church and State to deny even after school Bible classes on school propterty are not applied to Islam, where as in this example, they are afforded an immunity not accorded to any other religion - or more accurately any "socio-political" oppressive, fascist governance system.
Massive Distortion of Massive Rally in New York City
Massive Distortion of Massive Rally in New York City
New York, NY September 16, 2010 – by El Marco – UPDATES ongoing today with more photos and details!
This year’s 9/11 anniversary in New York brought opponents and supporters of the controversial “ground zero mosque” to lower Manhattan by the thousands. That fact has spawned a new controversy, as the American people yet again were served a false narrative by the dominant liberal establishment mass media. Exhibit A, in the “media reality distortion case #2478697,” is the photo scene below. This photo shows the 9/11 Remberance/Stop the Ground Zero Mosque Rally hosted by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer. According to the New York Times, what is seen here is a crowd of 2,000 persons. According to the New York Daily News, the crowd below contained “hundreds” despite the fact that it stretched jam packed as seen below for three city blocks. Local NYC News Channel 10 reported live that there were 30,000 people at this rally. Channel 10 should be applauded for doing their job and the rest of the media stands exposed. But wait! The distortion goes much deeper than just downplaying by a factor of 10 or 20 the size of the Stop the Ground Zero Mosque Rally.
See Atlas Shrugs for fuller, ongoing coverage
Bidding for Park51 Site Now up to $10 Millions
Is getting wackier and wackier ............... your move, Rauf. I hate the idea of paying the jizya (or blackmail, for that matter), but the idea of a 15-story mega mosque on Ground Zone is more abhorrent.
Russian chess chief bids for Ground Zero mosque site (hat tip Davida)
MOSCOW - The eccentric Russian head of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) on Thursday announced a 10-million-dollar bid to buy the site of a controversial mosque project near Ground Zero in New York.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said he had sent a letter on FIDE's behalf to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg "with an offer to buy this land for 10 million dollars," the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The land near the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks, would be used for an international chess centre and academy, Ilyumzhinov said.
"We named the sum of 10 million dollars because last week billionaire Donald Trump gave an offer of 7.5 million dollars and we decided to outdo him," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Property developer Trump last week offered to buy the site two blocks from Ground Zero where a Muslim group wants to build a mosque and Islamic cultural centre, but the offer was turned down.
Ilyumzhinov last week stood down as president of Russia's Buddhist region of Kalmykia, where he built an ambitious complex devoted to chess called "Chess City" in the capital Elista.
Atlas Shrugs
Russian chess chief bids for Ground Zero mosque site (hat tip Davida)
MOSCOW - The eccentric Russian head of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) on Thursday announced a 10-million-dollar bid to buy the site of a controversial mosque project near Ground Zero in New York.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said he had sent a letter on FIDE's behalf to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg "with an offer to buy this land for 10 million dollars," the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The land near the site of the September 11, 2001, attacks, would be used for an international chess centre and academy, Ilyumzhinov said.
"We named the sum of 10 million dollars because last week billionaire Donald Trump gave an offer of 7.5 million dollars and we decided to outdo him," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Property developer Trump last week offered to buy the site two blocks from Ground Zero where a Muslim group wants to build a mosque and Islamic cultural centre, but the offer was turned down.
Ilyumzhinov last week stood down as president of Russia's Buddhist region of Kalmykia, where he built an ambitious complex devoted to chess called "Chess City" in the capital Elista.
Atlas Shrugs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
