Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No community programs at ‘Ground Zero’ mosque a year after the controversy
NY Post ^ | december 9, 2012 | ISABEL VINCENT and MELISSA KLEIN

Posted on 12/09/2012 6:28:07 AM PST by lowbridge

It’s all pray and no play.

The Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero that opened with great fanfare a year ago is now an empty space with no community programs.

And while the developers behind Park51 insisted for two years that the project was more than a mosque, it now appears to be just that. Dozens of worshipers gather at the site on Park Place Friday for prayer services — but that’s the only activity in the building.

Gone are the Arabic classes, workshops in calligraphy, talks on the genealogy of Muslims in America, film screenings and art exhibits. The sole community event is a class in capoeira — an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance and music. The teacher of the twice-weekly class said she has five students. PRAYER BOOKED: Although popular as a place of worship, the controversial Park51’s vaunted role as a cultural center has all but evaporated.

“We are the only cultural program that is still there,” said Luz Emma Canas Jesus, of Capoeira Mucurumim.

The Park51 Twitter feed was last updated in June, and its Web site lists no events. The Web site for the mosque, formally called Prayer Space, lists four services a day, and a handwritten note on the building’s window also advertises a 4 a.m. service.

Park51 organizers repeatedly refused to answer questions about what happened to the programs offered last fall and spring. Sharif El-Gamal, the lead developer behind the project, ducked out the women’s entrance for the prayer space and would not speak to a reporter.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 911; mosque; newyork
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 12/09/2012 6:28:17 AM PST by lowbridge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

<—face palm
I am shocked!
/sarc tag
Freegards LEX


2 posted on 12/09/2012 6:30:48 AM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge
Taqiyya.
3 posted on 12/09/2012 6:31:39 AM PST by Truth29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

If and/or when I discover I’m terminal ....


4 posted on 12/09/2012 6:32:42 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: knarf

I’m with you brother.


5 posted on 12/09/2012 6:34:12 AM PST by onona (Merry Christmas Brothers and Sisters)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: knarf

Oh, yeah!


6 posted on 12/09/2012 6:34:42 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge
The Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero that opened with great fanfare a year ago is now an empty space with no community programs.


"Do I really have to say it?"

7 posted on 12/09/2012 6:34:57 AM PST by Condor51 (Si vis pacem, para bellum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge; Yehuda
Dozens of worshipers gather at the site on Park Place Friday for prayer services — but that’s the only activity in the building.

Why is it I doubt that?

8 posted on 12/09/2012 6:35:28 AM PST by Ezekiel (The Obama-nation began with the Inauguration of Desolation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

I’m sure there is more “activity” than that...like plotting to overthrow our Republic and applying sharia law.


9 posted on 12/09/2012 6:37:46 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: hal ogen

Nope. That’s going on in the White House.


10 posted on 12/09/2012 6:38:56 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

News bulletin!! Muzzlems lied about something!


11 posted on 12/09/2012 6:39:34 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

I also doubt this-—and just about anything else coming from them.


12 posted on 12/09/2012 6:39:47 AM PST by basil (Second Amendment Sisters.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel
You doubt because you have not buried your head in the sand. You are wise, FRiend.
13 posted on 12/09/2012 6:43:33 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Please God, Protect and Bless Our Men and Women in Uniform with Victory. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: no-to-illegals; basil; hal ogen

You just know the place is buzzing with activity, a locus of locusts as it were. Noctural vermin then come out for the night shift.

Why is it that they have no more time/patience/interest in maintaining the typical ROP front operations? Maybe all the classrooms are already filled to capacity.


14 posted on 12/09/2012 7:06:34 AM PST by Ezekiel (The Obama-nation began with the Inauguration of Desolation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

Well-—this is a wild guess out of left field: Maybe they are building a dirty bomb in the basement........


15 posted on 12/09/2012 7:10:29 AM PST by basil (Second Amendment Sisters.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

White Rabbit ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwU0lEzVokI


16 posted on 12/09/2012 7:16:51 AM PST by no-to-illegals (Please God, Protect and Bless Our Men and Women in Uniform with Victory. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: no-to-illegals

That song needs to be about 10X longer.

(One of my faves.)


17 posted on 12/09/2012 7:25:39 AM PST by Ezekiel (The Obama-nation began with the Inauguration of Desolation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

Our Lord God works in mysterious ways.


18 posted on 12/09/2012 7:27:20 AM PST by upchuck (America's at an awkward stage. Too late to work within the system, too early to shoot the bastards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

No one wants to be in there because it stinks like hell.


19 posted on 12/09/2012 7:47:38 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lowbridge

I’d wager there are programs other than prayer being carried out, but not the sort of “community programs” the article is concerned about.


20 posted on 12/09/2012 7:55:03 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson