President Obama’s Praiseworthy Statement

President Obama and his wife sent a Ramzan message to Muslims in America and around the world expressing good wishes for Muslims on behalf of the United States. He also congratulated Pakistanis on Pakistan’s independence day and, expressing his sincere feelings, he stated that he stood with Pakistan in its hour of difficulty. President Obama also held an iftar ceremony at the White House where he expressed support and encouragement in an appreciation of the feelings of American Muslims.

President Obama has taken an important step by speaking in support of the hotly debated mosque near ground zero in New York. The construction of a mosque and Islamic center near the area in New York called ground zero is facing strong opposition. In addition to the relatives of those killed on 9/11 the opposition Republican party has also been at the forefront of the movement to oppose the construction of the mosque. President Obama has defended the controversial project to construct a mosque and Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks. Those opposed to the project say that the attacks on the World Trade Center were carried out by Islamic extremists and thus the project to construct a mosque in this vicinity is a demonstration of extreme insensitivity. President Obama stated that there were several sensitive aspects associated with the mosque construction project but that as an American citizen and president he wanted to make clear that Muslims in America have the same freedom to practice their religion as the adherents of other religions. This includes the construction of a mosque and Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 attacks. The disputed mosque is being built in compliance with all laws and regulations. Addressing the Muslim community President Obama stated that this is America and freedom of religion is an important American principle which needs to be maintained. This principle is a fundamental part of American identity and adherents of all religions are welcome in the country; there is no discrimination on the basis of religion. The President said that al-Qaida’s activities are not related to Islam.

The construction of a 13-storey building housing an Islamic center and a mosque has been proposed near the site where the Twin Towers were destroyed and which is now known as ground zero. A prejudiced segment of New York is obstructing the construction of this $100 million project. According to opponents the construction of an Islamic center near the location where the 9/11 incident occurred, which Muslims have been considered responsible for, is a denigration of the 9/11 incident and there is great anger and sorrow against the project. The Islamic center project has been labeled “the terrorists’ mosque”. The location where the most significant event of American history took place, the incident for which Muslims are blamed, a 13-story skyscraper “Cordoba House” will be constructed next to that historic site and will contain a mosque and cultural center. Muslims and opponents have been fighting a legal battle on this issue for a long time. There was great opposition to the project from the relatives of those killed in the 9/11 attack. After a protracted effort Muslims won this case when a [city] Board ruled in their favor.

More than 300 supporters and opponents of the project were present at the meeting of the Board. Opponents said that building a mosque at the site today would lead to explosions on the morrow. Those Muslim families whose beloved relatives were killed in the 9/11 attacks voted in favor of building the mosque. They said that many Muslim citizens also lost their lives in the attacks and considering all Muslims to be terrorists was against American values and laws. According to the American Society for Muslim Advancement, there are many Christian and Jewish places of worship in the area around the proposed “Cordoba House” so opposition to a place of worship for Muslims was a contradiction of the [American] constitution, laws, and principles.

President Obama’s support for the Islamic center is a protection of the principles outlined by President John Adams. President Obama’s statement does not come out of some emotional attachment to Muslims, instead it is the confirmation of a principled stand. By supporting the Islamic center President Obama has respected the American constitution which a prejudiced American segment is trying to destroy. Behind the effort to deny American Muslims their rights is a group of people who have taken unfair advantage of the 9/11 incident to corner Muslims. Former President Bush was a product of this same group of people. Machinations by white extremists and prejudiced Jewish groups were behind President Bush’s election to a second term. At a time when concerted efforts are underway to damage President Obama’s popularity, his permission and support for the construction of an Islamic center at a sensitive spot is a welcome step. Muslims received a Ramzan gift from President Obama in the form of support for the Islamic center. He too deserves warm wishes for his support of Muslims.