Finally, after nearly ten years, construction has begun at the site of the World Trade Center. Too bad its not the reconstruction of our Towers.
A Muslim group with unknown sponsors has purchased a building steps away from Ground Zero to turn it into potentially one of the largest New York City mosques.
The old Burlington Coat Factory was destroyed by a wheel from one of the planes but now serves as a mini-mosque. Every Friday afternoon an Imam leads prayers a few yards away from where Islam’s bombers killed nearly 3000 people in 2001.
The Imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf, told the New York Times, which put the story on its front page Wednesday, that he has assembled several million dollars to turn it into ‘’an Islamic center near the city’s most hallowed piece of land that would stand as one of ground zero’s more unexpected and striking neighbors.’’
The 61-year-old Imam said he paid $4.85 million for it in cash, records show. With 50,000 square feet of air rights and enough financing, he plans an ambitious project of $150 million, he said, akin to the Chautauqua Institution, the 92 Street Y or the Jewish Community Center.
The origins of such monies are unexplained; neither are the countries or entity advancing such huge donations. Most US mosques, including many in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are funded directly or indirectly by Saudi Arabia the country to which 15 of the 19 hijackers who bombed the World Trade Center belonged. The UAE, Qatar and Iran are other major sponsors across the USA.
The Inman said it seemed to be planned this way by God.
