Here you go.
Posted on 11/23/2005 5:07:01 AM PST by Abathar
NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority says it will provide a special area for anyone who wants a place to pray while at Giants Stadium or the Continental Airlines Arena -- a reaction to Muslim groups' outcries after several fans who prayed at a New York Giants game were detained and questioned by the FBI in September.
Sohail Mohammed, the lawyer for the Totowa-based American Muslim Union, met Sunday with officials from the sports authority, the FBI and private companies that work at the Meadowlands to educate them about Islam and the cultural and religious practices of Muslims.
Five Muslim men attending the Sept. 19 Giants game against the New Orleans Saints were detained and questioned for about a half hour by the FBI after they were observed praying at the stadium. The men claimed they were singled out because of their faith, but the FBI said the men were flagged by stadium security because they were in a sensitive area near the stadium's main air intake duct.
Former President George H.W. Bush was on hand that night as part of a fundraising campaign he and former President Bill Clinton were leading for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The men were allowed to return to the stadium, but in different seats, and were escorted to their cars when they left.
George Zoffinger, the sports authority president, said space will be set aside at the stadium and the arena for anyone of any faith who wishes to pray. The exact spots have not yet been designated, he said.
"I think we did this thing exactly right," Zoffinger said. "We took it seriously. We did not like the connotation that we were profiling. We weren't.
"With this agreement, we hope we've created an atmosphere where anyone can come to our facilities and feel comfortable," he said.
Mohammed said anyone who wants to use the prayer areas should approach stadium security, who usually wear yellow jackets emblazoned with the words "Event Staff," who will then direct them to the appropriate areas.
Word of the agreement is to be circulated to mosques and Islamic centers throughout the state this week, he said.
Mohammed said sports authority staff said they also may extend prayer areas to the Meadowlands Racetrack.
"I told them you won't get many Muslims using that area because gambling is forbidden in Islam, but I understand there is quite a bit of praying going on among the track patrons while the horses are running," he joked.
Let's just keep giving them what they want. Will there be a place for Christians also?
This has got to be a joke. When will we have the first Ramadan Parade in lower Manhattan?
Nope. Only the cults need one. God can hear us anywhere.
No
One more reason to not like NJ.
Will the hot dog guy be selling rosaries as well? I demand a Catholic room! Now! If you don't give me what I want, I'll... I'll... I'll file suit!
I say right next to the dumpsters, don't like it too bad. Where's the ACLU on this?
Yes, with Christians it's faith and not rituals.
George Zoffinger, the sports authority president, said space will be set aside at the stadium and the arena for anyone of any faith who wishes to pray.
Madness.
Are we "non-muslims" going to have to wait for these cult worshippers to pray and then get back to their seats?
I say the day christians are allowed in Mecca to worship freely and fags can have a gay parade in Medina is the day I say yes, you can have a prayer room at Giants stadium!!
Stupid Appeasement! What's the last thing suicide bombers do before they blow themselves up: PRAY
Kids can't pray in public schools, God forbid the Ten Commandments shows up outside a courthouse, but we accommodate Islam.
Why bother? Does anyone think there are more than 5 Muslims at any given Giants game?
Why? Don't they have mosques to go to?
Agreed. Were it a Christian or Jewish "prayer room", this is precisely the kind of case where the ACLU would dive in to protest an "establishment of religion".
Here you go.
Hopefully they'll put hidden cameras and biohazard sniffer equipment in that prayer room.
This could actually be a good thing, used properly. Get them in one place and keep an eye on them.
LQ
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