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Do Muslims have the right to build a mosque near ground zero?

New York has countless mosques, but recently a plan to build a large mosque and Islamic cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero has sparked controversy. Some conservatives want to ban the construction of the mosque, claiming its an insult to the people who died on September 11th, while libertarians tend to argue that religious freedom is a constitutional right.

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Experts In Law

Barack Obama United States President

Agree

...in this country, we treat everybody equally in accordance with the law. Regardless of race. Regardless of religion. I ... will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country's about and I think it's very important that as difficult as some of these issues are, we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about.

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14 Aug 2010 Source

Experts In Politics

Michael Bloomberg Mayor of New York

Agree

Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11, and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values and play into our enemies' hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else. ...it is my hope that the mosque will help to bring our city even closer together, and help repudiate the false and repugnant idea that the attacks of 9/11 were in any ways consistent with Islam.

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03 Aug 2010 Source

The Economist Politics and Business Magazine

Agree

...the complaint seems to boil down to a vague sense that doing Muslim stuff near ground zero is an unhappy reminder of terrorism, because the terrorists claimed to be acting in the name of Islam. ... [In any case, it's] impossible to be sensitive both to those who see the mosque as an affront and those who see opposition to it as proof of prejudice, which is why America has a constitution to adjudicate such disputes. And in this [case it] comes down squarely on the side of the mosque-builders.

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17 Aug 2010 Source

Experts In Atheism

Sam Harris Writer, Speaker, Atheism Activist

Agree

There is probably no legal basis to do so in any case—nor should there be [against building the mosque. But] the erection of a mosque upon the ashes of this atrocity will also be viewed by many millions of Muslims as a victory—and as a sign that the liberal values of the West are synonymous with decadence and cowardice.

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13 Aug 2010 Source

Disagree

Experts In Islam

M. Zuhdi Jasser President of American Islamic Forum, U.S. Navy L. Commander

Disagree

I am an American Muslim dedicated to defeating the ideology that fuels global Islamist terror -- political Islam. And I don't see such a "center" actually fighting terrorism or being a very "positive" addition near Ground Zero, no matter how well intentioned. To put it bluntly, Ground Zero is the one place in America where Muslims should think less about teaching Islam and "our good side" and more about being American and fulfilling our responsibilities to confront the ideology of our enemies.

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24 May 2010 Source

Experts In Politics

Sarah Palin Former Governor of Alaska (Republican)

Disagree

Mr. President, should they or should they not build a mosque steps away from where radical Islamists killed 3000 people? ... If those who wish to build this Ground Zero mosque are sincerely interested in encouraging positive "cross-cultural engagement" and dialogue to show a moderate and tolerant face of Islam, then why haven't they recognized that the decision to build a mosque at this particular location is doing just the opposite?

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14 Aug 2010 Source

Rudy Giuliani Former Mayor of New York City

Disagree

This project is creating tremendous pain for people who've already made the ultimate sacrifice. All you're doing is creating more division, more anger, more hatred. ... The question here is a question of sensitivity and are you really what you pretend to be. ... The idea of this is supposed to be healing, the idea that Muslims care about what Christians and Jews do. ... If you're going to so horribly offend the people who are most directly affected by this, then how are you healing?

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19 Aug 2010 Source

Experts In Investing

Donald Trump American Business Magnate

Disagree

It's very insensitive and it shouldn't be there. I'm a big believer in freedom of religion, but I think the mosque being in that location is absolutely wrong.

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23 Aug 2010 Source

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0 Points tellvinay2003 14 May 2013 Stance on Question: Disagree

Why we want to memorise such disasteraus incident for ever?
Why don't we make a new World Trade Center on the same place and start with new Entusiasm to demolish the fear of terror for coming generation.

1 Point Nashhinton 23 Jan 2013 Stance on Question: Agree

Yes. Muslims have the right to do what ever their conscience tells them as long as it doesn't force a nonbeliever into submission and compliance to their religious belief. The constitution guarantees religious freedom under the first amendment while promoting secularism and separation between government and religion.

0 Points Matija 16 Dec 2012 Stance on Question: Disagree

If you have read the Qur'an and other Islamist literature, you would realize that the
only reason muslims build masques is when they have won a battle, then they will dedicate a masque on that site to commemorate that victory over the kufar or infidel as they call non-muslims when they are alone with their islamofashist friends.
The west needs to wake up. American people need to open their eyes, turn their brainwashing TV's off get up and take their freedoms back.Take back what is American. and to destroy this evil building like muslims destroy Churches and Synagogues all over the world.There is no Churches is Saudi Arabia and non -muslims are not allowed to pray or worship there, so why do we bow down to these Islamist and allow them to exercise their evil agenda over our dead fellow Americans.Muslims all over the world are laughing at Americans.This will stop, remember!
We have dealt with Nazis and Communists and we have won.We will kick you all the way back to Mecca where you can build as many Satan temples as you wont and bow down and kiss your moon rock!!!

2 Points pineconedegg 25 Mar 2011 Stance on Question: Agree

Muslims have the same right to build a mosque at ground zero that Christians have to build churches in the Middle East.

0 Points Matija 16 Dec 2012 Stance on Question: Disagree

No churches are left in the Middle East as they have all been burned but few.No churches in Mecca or Median are they non muslims cant even pray.

0 Points blacktrance 10 Feb 2011 Stance on Question: Agree

Yes, provided that they own the property. Individual rights trump public bigotry.

0 Points Bump 20 Dec 2010 Stance on Question: Neutral

Do the Muslims have a legal right to build their mosque near Ground Zero? Yes. Will it cause problems here in the good old US of A. Yes! I know America protects the little guy. Instead of allowing the popular and the majority to automatically rule the constitution protects the little guy who may be unpopular, that is the whole point here in the US. Everyone has the same rights. I think however if these people build in such an unpopular place it will challenge and incite some of the people who do not care to see the people responsible for killing 3000 people in the towers build anything remotely related to Islam. Here is a choice that should be carefully considered before sticking the American people in the eye once again. It is in bad taste period. How about we put up a statue of a pig in the middle of the mosque that is loaded with real pig guts? After all it is just a pig. No big deal.

2 Points Glenn F 02 Nov 2010 Stance on Question: Agree

There is no legal or moral reason for preventing the renovation of the mosque in question. There have been other mosques near that location for over 40 years. American constitutional law protects freedom of religion.

Yes, of course Muslims (or anyone else) have the right to build a mosque near "ground zero". This is America, after all.

One could only justify preventing a mosque at ground zero if America were a Christian nation -- which President Adams signed into law as not true when composing the Treaty of Tripli. http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html

Muslims are not terrorists. They are people that believe in the same God as Christians and Jews.

0 Points Benja 20 Aug 2010 General Comment

The Economist: "the terrorists claimed to be acting in the name of Islam."

Claimed to be? So when the self-inconsistent Koran is interpreted "correctly", it's obvious that the beliefs of the terrorists are inconsistent with Islam?

The politically correct left really loves pushing the Religion is Peaceful trope don't they? If only the 9/11 terrorists had subscribed to The Economist for guidance on religious matters.

1 Point Glenn F 02 Nov 2010 Editorial Comment

I have yet to read any religious text that was not self-inconsistent. The Bible is actually the least consistent / most contradictory of any religious text I've read. A few contradictions are listed below for example, and a full list is available at http://www.evilbible.com/Biblical%20Contradictions.htm

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Man was created after the other animals
Gen 1:25,26,27
Man was created before the other animals
Gen 2:18,19

The making of images forbidden
Ex 20:4
The making of images commanded
Ex 25:18,20

A man may marry his brother's widow
Deut 25:5
A man may not marry his brother's widow
Lev 20:21

Christ preached his first sermon on the mount
Matt 5:1,2
Christ preached his first sermon on the plain
Luke 6:17,20

No man is without sin
1 Kings 8:46/ Prov 20:9/ Eccl 7:20/ Rom 3:10
Christians are sinless
1 John 3: 9,6,8

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And there's this scary stuff about killing people, or raping them!

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Kill Followers of Other Religions.
1) If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:7-12 NAB)

2) Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the covenant by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden. When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5 NLT)

Kill Men, Women, and Children
"Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told." (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)

More Rape and Baby Killing
Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children. (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT)

You Have to Kill
Cursed be he who does the Lords work remissly, cursed he who holds back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:10 NAB)

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These are from the bible, and condone hate, murder, rape and other anti-peaceful acts.

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Also, a "mosque at ground zero" pre-dates the World Trade Center. The recent "crisis" isn't about a new mosque, but a renovated mosque. Learn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUcHQmUEICc

0 Points Reverend Thomas 13 Sep 2011 Stance on Question: Agree

Wonderfully stated!

0 Points Benja 19 Aug 2010 Stance on Question: Agree

I'm all for it. And as a gesture celebrating our shared belief in tolerance and cross-cultural communication, I look forward to the Imam who's heading the project to declare his enthusiastic support for a Jewish center in Mecca and an atheist center in Medina.

Do Muslims have the right to build a mosque near ground zero?

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