Replies

The poster being accused of being a disruptor is innocent. This article was posted to FR last night, and some of the replies to it speculated the same way he is . jwsmith should have posted the article himself, but he did not (perhaps cannot) so here it is, with a link so you can all see the replies for yourself.( I am not by any means endorsing the view that the original choice is a terrorist, I'm simply trying to show that smith's view isn't a disruption out of left field.)

Moslems Slam FDNY Chaplain Choice

After years of pressure from the Muslim community, the fire department finally appointed a Muslim chaplain.

But now, the department's selection is being rejected by Muslim groups.

They sued to get a Muslim chaplain.

But now that the New York City Fire Department has relented, Muslim firefighters are criticizing the FDNY's choice for the job.

"This is retaliatory," said Kevin James of the FDNY Islamic Society. "It's vindictive, and we're not going to tolerate it."

James, a firefighter and a Muslim, started the department's Islamic organization in 1997. One of the goals of the Islamic Society of Fire Department Personnel was to have a Muslim chaplain.

It took years of pressure and a lawsuit, but the city finally appointed one - Imam Abd'Allah Adesanya, who started Monday.

But James says his organization had recommended another - Imam Muhammed Abdulmalik, who was also endorsed by the Islamic Leadership Council of New York.

"This is an issue of the fire department and the way that their actions have caused a holy mess by pitting one chaplain against another chaplain vying for this position," said James. "They didn't acknowledge us in this process."

The Islamic group alleges that the fire department traditionally approves the chaplain recommendations of the New York Archdiocese and the Board of Rabbis.

Said Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid of the New York Islamic Leadership Council: "The fire commissioner has chosen to disrespect the organized Muslim leadership of this great city by implementing a different selection process for the Muslim chaplain than those of other faiths."

The Islamic Society sued last year, claiming the FDNY fails to provide the same accommodations - like a prayer room - to Muslims as they do for other religious groups.

While the suit prompted some changes, the group said it now plans to take more legal action.

"We're also going to allege a retaliation claim," said Robert Perry, a lawyer for the FDNY Islamic Society. "I'm sure that one of the principle reasons why our candidate wasn't chosen is because our guys, the Islamic Society, brought this lawsuit and the fire department chose this way to retaliate against them."

The fire department said it's not a matter of retaliation, saying the Muslim chaplain it chose was most qualified.

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