NEW YORK - It was, a year passed controversial development at the former Islamic Center building twin towers, WTC, New York. Sarcasm and invective is no longer heard aloud. However, the effort to realize the mosque construction project continued even starting to organize.
Although intensive, the New York Times wrote what the committee sought pemgembang projects tend to slow down. However, it is unclear whether the delay was intentional or what it is. New York Times Analysts said it is not easy to determine what type of facilities required Muslims and non-Muslim visitors. Not to mention the matter of funding and public support in the building.
While analysts predict, the realization of the construction took five years. Therefore, the plan will change the total pole building construction Burlington Coat Factory stores. According to them, with the position of the old building such a strategic, you can bet the value of land to be purchased will be looming.
According to observers, the organizers of the Islamic Center project developers need at least $ 100 million fund. With such a large fund, automatically building mosques intangible ordinary mosque but the "mega mosque". When the U.S. got the impression the luxury of building a mosque be built, the reaction was so incredible.
Relatives of victims of 9 / 11, is the most sensitive about that development. Not to mention, conservative view of U.S. society, which in turn is represented by Pastor Terry Jones with the idea of "Day of Burning Qur'an". Condition becoming worse, when the attacks are so powerful publication through the Internet.
Those who brought the idea of not giving up. They knew I'd pressed the various parties. The condition is precisely increasingly strengthened the belief in the perceived benefits of U.S. society where the idea of building the mosque really teralisasi. Furthermore, by them, it will be named Masjid Mosque Victory or Cordova House.
Sharif El-Gamal, chairman of the Project Development Committee, a figure that is so hard working. His efforts led him to fight with Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf. He then decided to part with the priest who sparked the idea of an Islamic Center in New York.
He also traveled the U.S. to withdraw funds, relations with the U.S. Muslim community and Muslim organizations throughout the country and recruit families of the victims of September 11 2001 as adviser. "Everything went backwards," said El-Gamal, 37, said in an interview session. "We'll come back from the beginning."
Not Changed
El-Gamal said the idea of the Islamic Center will not change, similar to the idea of the Jewish Community Center. According to him, by providing facilities for various religions, would be in line with U.S. efforts to attract a multicultural society to come and find out about Islam. "Obviously we will make a special Muslim place of worship in the form of a large mosque," he said.
He said the final form, by Gamal version called Park51, depending on the citizens of New York. If New Yorkers want three or four floors will be built in accordance with the wishes of the citizens of New York. For that, repeatedly, Gamal, an exhibition of art and culture involving Muslims and citizens of New York. "If people only want four or five floors, it will be four or five floors," said Mr. El-Gamal.
However, he said, there is one thing that should be no question of U.S. citizens, primarily New York, which is about the construction of the mosque. According to him, legally, the construction of places of worship do not require zoning approval, despite the need to get volunteer support from local residents.
Moreover, the Mayor of New York has been blessed. However, El-Gamal realize there are still groups in U.S. society that does not require the construction of mosques.
Pamela Geller, a blogger is one of those who shout loudly about the plan. The same is also done other bloggers such as Robert Spencer. Both agreed, the construction of the mosque is tantamount to giving opportunity to the U.S. Muslim community to change the face of the U.S..
Fruit of the attacks carried out two publications which delivers Behring Anders Breivik, to kill some people in Norway on July 22 because of concerns about the takeover of Norway by Muslims. "What do you feel when in the midst of society, but you were the creator of anxiety and sadness to the people around you, obviously it is not something we expected," said El-Gamal.
Katerina Lucas, head of the committee staff said the Islamic Center project developer any development, the development must be done in an honorable way.
Source: REPUBLIKA.CO.ID
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