Ed Palmer
11-23-05, 08:47 AM
WHAT they can pray and we cant
Giants Stadium Offers Prayer Area After Muslim Outcry
The Indy Channel ^ | November 23, 2005 | AP
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.
Giants Stadium Offers Prayer Area After Muslim Outcry
The Indy Channel ^ | November 23, 2005 | AP
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.