Court's Decision Opens Doors To Ground Zero Mosque
August 9, 2010 by Personal Liberty News Desk
A ruling by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission denied landmark status for a downtown building, opening the way for its demolition and the construction of a controversial Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The building at Park Place, as well as an adjacent structure, are owned by a real estate developer who intends to erect the mosque. However, the decision is seen as a serious blow to opponents of the project, including many family members of 9/11 victims and politicians such as Sarah Palin, who have said that a mosque near Ground Zero would be an insult.
For example, Anti-Defamation League issued a statement saying that “building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain—unnecessarily—and that is not right.”
However, The New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union praised the decision, saying that it followed the principles of religious freedom and tolerance.
“For hundreds of years, our pluralism and tolerance have sustained and strengthened our nation,” the organizations stated, adding that “[9/11 terrorists] would want nothing more than for our nation to turn its back on the very ideals that make this country so great.”
The project has also been supported by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.





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