News and Views

Salon: Saudi prince opposes Park51 mosque

Published

November 1, 2010

Amir

Prince Alwaleed has urged backers of the proposed Islamic center not to “agitate the wound” of 9/11

A Saudi prince who has aided the imam spearheading a proposed Islamic center near New York’s ground zero is appealing for another site not associated with the “wound” of the Sept. 11 attacks, a report said Thursday.

In interview excerpts published by the Dubai-based Arabian Business magazine, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was quoted as saying that moving the planned mosque and other facilities would respect the memory of those killed in the 2001 attacks and allow American Muslims to choose a more suitable location.

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The comments are reportedly the prince’s first public views on the dispute, which has stirred street protests and fiery debates between religious and political leaders over America’s freedom of worship versus the lingering anger over the 9/11 attacks.

Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Foundation has contributed to the group run by New York’s Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, but said he has given no funds to the planned center.

Prince Alwaleed urged the backers of the proposed Islamic center not to “agitate the wound by saying, ‘We need to put the mosque next to the 9/11 site.'”

“Those people behind the mosque have to respect, have to appreciate and have to defer to the people of New York,” the prince was quoted as saying by the magazine, which said the full interview will be published Sunday. “The wound is still there. Just because the wound is healing you can’t say, ‘Let’s just go back to where we were pre-9/11.'”

Prince Alwaleed, who chairs a Saudi investment company that has major stakes in international giants News Corp. and Citigroup, also said Muslims in New York should consider a more “dignified” location than the proposed site in lower Manhattan.

“It can’t be next to a bar or a strip club, or in a neighborhood that is not really refined and good. The impression I have is that this m

Source: Salon.com

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Amir

Muslim American born in Brooklyn, NY with Guyanese parents currently living in Virginia working full-time as a web developer.

7 Comments

Abu Ayesha

November 1, 2010 at 5:01 PM

Prince Waleed is right. Why do Muslims always pick the wrong battles to fight?

Reply
- Muhammad
  
  November 1, 2010 at 5:04 PM
  
  It’s no surprise your precious prince wants the masijd moved; his company (FOX…he’s the second largest holder) has been arguing against it forever
  
  Reply
Yahya

November 1, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Alwaleed is being an a-hole on this one, plain and simple.

Reply
Anne

November 1, 2010 at 5:41 PM

As mentioned he is the second largest stock owner in FOX, whose entire industry is demonizing Muslims. If he didn’t speak out against it, he would loss favor with the FOX’ies, which might cut into his profits. It was funny when FOX kept hinting about some evil Saudi guy helping the Park 51, all the while it is the guy who helps cut their paychecks.

Comically, the Park 51 crowd pratices an infinitely more liberal Western approved Islam than many of his fellow Saudi’s but whatever….. It is a war of sound bites not using one’s brain.

Reply
M

November 1, 2010 at 6:57 PM

I wonder if the prince was encouraged to say something like this by FOX. Because he clearly does not realize the implications of what he’s saying.

Reply
Olivia

November 2, 2010 at 1:45 AM

“defer” to the people of New York, as if Muslims living there are also not the people of New York? it’s not like saudi is trying to build the mosque. it’s by the people, for the people.

and yes he and fox are in each other’s pockets. he should keep his nose out.

Reply
Murabitun Takruri

November 6, 2010 at 8:46 PM

SALAM,

If he is the second large stock holder of this LOW network fox and he allows them demonizing and bashing muslims all the time in America, then it only tells what he thinks of Islam and Muslims as well. Of course he does not want to upset his americans friends

is he muslim? or just muslim by name?

wa salam

Reply