The Issue of the Mosque

I admit that forming an opinion about the debate raging in the United States around the planned mosque and its construction two blocks away from the site of the World Trade Center and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, seems to be a difficult matter. Both for its supporters and its opposition, particularly within American society and for the families of the victims of 9/11. Each party has its own point of view, just as the issue itself has specific sensitivities. It also has a political dimension for both the Democrats and the Republicans concerning the upcoming midterm elections in November. Both sides have been keeping an eye on the opinion polls.

Why specifically this site, which carries with it such strong emotions for the families of the victims and the American public, who are shocked by what happened on 9/11? The opposition has asked this question, and they have a right to do so, because the mosque could be built in any other area. Generally, in Islam, rituals and worship can be performed anywhere.

The question from the other side is: Why not? Muslims are not responsible for the group of terrorists who perpetrated the attack, and some were also victims of it. President Obama said as much during an iftar for Ramadan, reminding us that there is a difference between Islam and al-Qaida, and that the latter does not represent Muslims as a whole. However, Obama found himself in the midst of a political storm by voicing his support for the construction of a mosque on that specific site. This statement came after the White House had kept silent on the issue for two weeks. He was then forced to clarify the next day, saying that he was not supporting the specific site, but the right of Muslim Americans to worship and build a house of worship, according to the principals of the Constitution regarding freedom of religion.

A journalist from The New York Times described the issue of the mosque as it pertained to Americans. There are those who believe in the Constitution and the right to freedom of religion, no matter the religion, and the rights to equality for all citizens, old and new. Others look at society from the perspective that particular cultures should fuse, thus melting together large waves of immigrants into American society, as happened during the 1920s. However, the world today is different than it was in the 1920s. It has become entangled and interconnected. There are international concerns regarding the fight over this mosque, over and above a local framework, including the message that will be sent internationally, and to the Muslim world in particular.

It could have been possible to avoid this controversy, which brought back an atmosphere of Islamophobia similar to that after 9/11, if sufficient studies and opinion polls had been conducted before choosing the site. The polls show that 70 percent of Americans oppose the building of a mosque on that site.

The difficulty now, for Muslim groups, is to undo the negative image and correct the misconceptions that have been cast upon them, including the idea that there is a relationship between Islam and the attacks of 9/11. In reality, the terrorist organization that carried out the attacks is being chased by almost all Islamic countries.

The solution? Maybe the way out is to return the issue to its local framework. Leaving the decision up to the residents of New York and allowing them to decide, using the city’s laws, what they want to do. There is no problem with considering the sensitivities that have arisen regarding this mosque because at the end of the day, this project is meant to serve American Muslims, and they too should be part of the debate surrounding this issue.