| − | Many critics of the mosque's planned construction worry that the placement of a mosque so close to the site of an Islamic terrorist attack is tantamount to allowing a declaration of victory by al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations that supported the 9/11 attacks. This became more and more evident when government of New York City offered the Islamic group the option to build elsewhere in the city, at reduced cost, which the group quickly refused.<ref name="foxnews">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/11/ny-governor-offer-state-property-mosque-built-farther-away-ground-zero/ Offer Rejected to Move Mosque Away From Ground Zero]</ref> Dr. Gamal Abd Al-Gawad, director of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, Egypt, stated that the mosque's presence and location would "remind Americans of what Muslims did on 9/11" and that "it's not good for Muslims and Islam to be in the heart of such a controversy."<ref name="hnn">[http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/130299.html History News Network]</ref> | + | Many critics of the mosque's planned construction worry that the placement of a mosque so close to the site of an Islamic terrorist attack is tantamount to allowing a declaration of victory by al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations that supported the 9/11 attacks. This became more and more evident when government of New York City offered the Islamic group the option to build elsewhere in the city, at reduced cost, which the group quickly refused.<ref name="foxnews">[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/11/ny-governor-offer-state-property-mosque-built-farther-away-ground-zero/ Offer Rejected to Move Mosque Away From Ground Zero]</ref> Also telling was the original proposed name of "Cordoba House," Córdoba being a former Roman city conquered by Muslims in 711 AD. Moorish troops destroyed much of the city and built numerous mosques. The city became a hugely important site in the early Islamic movement.<ref>http://www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/cordoba-history.htm</ref> In one concession to decency, the Park51 organizers agreed to drop the reference to Muslim conquest and rename the project.<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/14/2010-07-14_new_name_doesnt_mosque_their_ire_tense_hearing_on_park51_near_ground_zero.html</ref> |
| | + | Dr. Gamal Abd Al-Gawad, director of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, Egypt, stated that the mosque's presence and location would "remind Americans of what Muslims did on 9/11" and that "it's not good for Muslims and Islam to be in the heart of such a controversy."<ref name="hnn">[http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/130299.html History News Network]</ref> |