The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported on the rejection of the violence against the Christian Church by Muslim leaders. In the Jakarta Post report stated that “Hasyim Muzadi from 40-million-strong Islam organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) deplored Tuesday the assault on religious freedom.”
At Interfaith Conference, International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) secretary-general and Nahdlatul Ulama former chairman Hasyim Muzadi (center) Speaks (Photo: JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported that Indonesia Islamic leader Hasyim Muzadi said: ‘We reserve our rights as citizens to practice our beliefs. No one can forbid us to worship, including the government, let alone our own community,’ Hasyim said during a dialogue between Muslims and Christians at the HKBP Church on Tuesday. Hasyim said that people should differentiate between worship activities and administrative issues such as legal licenses. ‘For administrative matters, let’s leave [licensing] to the congregation and the government,’ he said. ‘[Regarding worship activities], the government should protect followers of any religion so they can perform their rituals without the threat of violence.’ He called on diverse communities in the neighborhood to learn more about religious tolerance. ‘Let’s build together a harmonious inter-religious life,’ he said.”
International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) secretary-general and Nahdlatul Ulama former chairman Hasyim Muzadi
The Post also reported that “As many as 1,500 members of Solidarity Forum of Interfaith Harmony (FSKUB) staged a rally Sunday in front of the State Palace, expressing their frustration over a series of religious violence recently in related to a construction of a religious house. ‘It is an appropriate expression from a minority group which has been conflicted with a certain public organization,’ the Islamic Liberal Network (JIL) leader Ulil Abshar Abdala told kompas.com.”
Indonesia Muslim Activist Ulil Abshar Abdalla Respects Christian Frustrations in Seeking Religious Freedom (Photo: Wikipedia)
The Post reported that the assembly was “an act of peaceful protest against the state’s silence toward the persecution of religious minorities.”‘
Indonesian Muslims joined the protest with the Indonesian Christians seeking religious freedom, including Muslim legislator Eva Kusuma Sundari.
Indonesia Muslim Legislator Eva Kusuma Sundari Stands in Solidarity with Christians for Religious Freedom (Photo: Facebook)
According to the Jakarta Post, “Legislator Eva Kusuma Sundari, who joined the protest, condemned the government’s lack of action in handling the matter. ‘I urge the President to show his leadership. Authorities, including the police, the Home Ministry and the Religious Affairs Ministry, will follow their leader. And they are the actors who can solve this issue.. The President did not dare act because the Islam Defenders Front [FPI] was formed and nurtured by his seniors in the military. Police were also too scared. This is the last term of his presidency; he should dare to raise his voice to overcome this problem.”
In Indonesia, protests and attacks on Christian churches continue to escalate. On Sunday, August 8, 2010, an attack on members of a Christian Church in the Bekasi, West Java area ended in violence. The attack was made on worshipers at the HKBP church in Pondok Indah Timur at Mustika Jaya district, Bekasi, West Java, before worship services had started at 9 AM that Sunday. Reports stated that about 20 individuals were injured, most of whom were women worshipers.
One Jakarta Post reported stated, “‘The police did not do anything when the mob started throwing stones and hitting and kicking us,’ HKBP Filadelfia minister Pietersen Purba said. However, Bekasi Police chief Adj. Comr. chief Iman Sugianto blamed the victims. ‘We have warned the congregation not to hold their services in the area, because residents do not want them to do so, but they did not follow our instructions,’ Iman told The Jakarta Post.”
Islam Defender Front (FPI) Protesters (Photo: Jakarta Post)
According to multiplereports by the Jakarta Post, HKBP church members were attacled by a mob which included members of the “Islam Defender Front (FPI),” while Indonesian police were “unable” to stop the attacks. One Jakarta Post report states “‘We hadn’t started our church service when in all of a sudden FPI masses occupied the church service location by forcing their way through police barricade,’ Hendrik Siagian, a guide of HKBP church members, said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com. Hundreds of police officers had actually been on a stand-by to help secure the church service, but they turned out to be unable to stop the FPI masses from entering the church service area.”
According to the Jakarta Globe, “The HKBP’s church house was sealed by authorities in June as part of an agreement between Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Muhammad and Murhali Barda, the leader of the Bekasi chapter of the FPI.”
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported on the protests and violence against the house of worship on August 8, 2010, that “For months, Christians in the industrial city of Bekasi have been warned against worshipping on a field that houses their shuttered church. They’ve arrived to find human feces dumped on the land and sermons have been interrupted by demonstrators chanting ‘Infidels!’ and ‘Leave now!’But last week, tensions finally exploded. Twenty worshippers were met by 300 Islamic hard-liners, many of whom hurled shoes and water bottles before pushing past a row of riot police. The mob chased down and punched several members of the group. ‘The constitution guarantees our right to practice our religion!’ Yudi Pasaribu of the Batak Christian Protestant Church said, vowing to return every Sunday until their request for a place of worship, made more than two years ago, is approved. ‘And we want to do that on our own property, in our own church.'”
“In a rare show of force, hundreds of police showed up to protect the Batak Christians on Aug. 8. But they made little effort to stop FPI members as they got increasingly vitriolic. ‘The Batak Christians deserve to be stabbed to death,’ yelled Murhali Barda, who heads the FPI chapter in Bekasi. ‘If they refuse to go home we are ready to fight.’ An argument broke out between Barda and three female members of the congregation. The hard-liners shoved and started punching them. All the while, men chanted from a truck and clerics made speeches saying ‘Leave. … We will not let you perform prayers here!’ The crowd, made up largely of children, cheered in response: ‘God is great!'”
On August 13, COMPASS news reported that police and government official joined forces with a mob “to close a church in North Sumatra Province on July 30, with church leaders forced to promise never to hold services at the site.” COMPASS reports that “The Rev. Leritio Panjaitan of the Binanga HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant) Church on the Gunung Tua-Sibuhan Highway in Siboris Dolok Village, Sipirok, North Sumatra Province said government officials and mobs threatened to burn the facility if worship continued there. Pastor Panjaitan said rejection of the church was aided by the presence of a Quranic boarding school, Darul Hasnah Madrassa, which appeared in the vicinity six months ago. ‘I have received information that the leader of that madrassa [Islamic school], Dr. Gong Matua Siregar, has incited citizens to reject the presence of the church,’ Pastor Panjaitan said. She said that a local government official admitted to her that the head of the madrassa had pressured him to close the church. Pastor Panjaitan added that the church had applied for a building and worship permit long ago but that authorities had not acted on it, and that all necessary administrative requirements had been fulfilled. ‘At this time, we haven’t decided if we are going to move to another place,’ Pastor Panjaitan said. ‘But temporarily, the congregation will worship by moving from house to house.'”
On the Binanga HKBP web site, a leader is quoted as stating “The government should be put in order regarding the use or development permit places of worship such as church building, but no one in this world who can arrange or give permission on a person’s right to worship according to the belief that he had because someone may do his worship of God that he worship, anywhere, anytime with no one is entitled to regulate, license or banned it because it was the essential rights of human and religious rights.”
Image from HKBP Sipirok Web Site (http://hkbpsipirok.blogspot.com/)
The Indonesian Jakarta Post previously reported that Indonesians of diverse religions “demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono take a firmer stand in the name of the nation’s credo, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) by taking action to stop attacks on churches.” Izzan Budi, a student at Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, West Java told the Jakarta Post that “Recent attacks on church congregations may be too small an issue for the President to take notice of and respond to, but it reflects the tip of the iceberg of a larger looming conflict that threatens religious harmony in the country.” One Jakarta Post commentator, reflecting on the differences between the actions of the Indonesian president on the church protests and the U.S. president on the Park Place Islamic center debate, asks “Can we trade Yudhoyono for Obama?”
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported on the rejection of the violence against the Christian Church by Muslim leaders. In the Jakarta Post report stated that “Hasyim Muzadi from 40-million-strong Islam organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) deplored Tuesday the assault on religious freedom.”
Interfaith Christian and Muslim Leaders Speak Out for Religious Tolerance, Freedom, Condemn Attacks - International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) secretary-general and Nahdlatul Ulama former chairman Hasyim Muzadi (center) Speaks (Photo: JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported that Indonesia Islamic leader Hasyim Muzadi said: ‘We reserve our rights as citizens to practice our beliefs. No one can forbid us to worship, including the government, let alone our own community,’ Hasyim said during a dialogue between Muslims and Christians at the HKBP Church on Tuesday. Hasyim said that people should differentiate between worship activities and administrative issues such as legal licenses. ‘For administrative matters, let’s leave [licensing] to the congregation and the government,’ he said. ‘[Regarding worship activities], the government should protect followers of any religion so they can perform their rituals without the threat of violence.’ He called on diverse communities in the neighborhood to learn more about religious tolerance. ‘Let’s build together a harmonious inter-religious life,’ he said.”
On August 16, 2010, a group of around “1,200 people supported a Sunday service near the National Monument Park in Central Jakarta, in an act of peaceful protest against the state’s silence toward the persecution of religious minorities. “Legislator Eva Kusuma Sundari, who joined the protest, condemned the government’s lack of action in handling the matter. ‘I urge the President to show his leadership. Authorities, including the police, the Home Ministry and the Religious Affairs Ministry, will follow their leader. And they are the actors who can solve this issue.. The President did not dare act because the Islam Defenders Front [FPI] was formed and nurtured by his seniors in the military. Police were also too scared. This is the last term of his presidency; he should dare to raise his voice to overcome this problem.”
The Indonesian Jakarta Post also reported that the “Islamic Community Forum (FUI), with which FPI is affiliated, was reportedly behind the fifth attack on the HKBP Pondok Timur congregation last week, leaving up to 20 people injured. Rev. Erwin Marbun from the solidarity forum urged the government to take action to settle any religious issues, including the HKBP Pondok Timur case. ‘We want a really fair solution, not just moving the wound. Bekasi administration has in fact already offered a substitute site for the HKBP Pondok Timur congregation, but it is too far away for them. The government has to act as a mediator for both sides,’ he said.”
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reports that “Many uneducated and poor people join hard-line religious or ethnic-based mass organizations to be part of a collective identity, experts say. Acts of violence carried out by hard-line groups have escalated around Greater Jakarta, with churches, residents perceived as non-native Jakartans and opposing gangs becoming prime targets.”
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reported in an editorial “Religious intolerance and Indonesia’s future” by Elwin Tobing that “Tempo magazine in 2006 reported that between 1996 and 2005, about 180 churches were destroyed, burned or closed by force. The recent attack on HKPB church members in Bekasi and the forced closure of more than two dozen churches in West Java have added to the growing list. Compared to only five similar cases for a half century, from 1945 to 1996, the recent number appears very disturbing. No society can survive long where religious intolerance is permitted to thrive.”
The editorial also states“religious freedom, which encompasses the freedom for others to practice their religious beliefs and build their house of worship, constitutes the very heart of human rights.” (emphasis added).
Surely this is a global message that applies not just to Indonesia, but also to America, and all of the world.
Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.
Yewangoe Andreas (Andrew Yewangoe), Chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), recently spoke in support of religious freedom and freedom of worship for people of all faiths in an interview with BBC Indonesia. In the interview, Yewangoe Andreas condemned an assault on a Christian church in West Java and efforts to deny others freedom of religion and worship. Furthermore, in the translated interview, the Christian leader states that those who seek to deny freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all people do not respect that nation’s Constitution.
BBC's Heyder Affan spoke with Chairman of PGI Andreas Yewangoe, the end of July in Jakarta (Photo: BBC)
“Government crackdown against violators of the rights of freedom of worship is the key to stop the attack places of worship, such beliefs Chairman Indonesian Communion of Churches, PGI, the Reverend Andrew Yewangoe. In a BBC interview to show people of Indonesia, the Reverend Andrew Yewangoe said his heart was always disturbed each rights violations that happened to freedom of religious worship. Andreas Yewangoe, 65 years, responding deeply assault case of a church in Bekasi, West Java, recently, which he termed as an example of indecisiveness local government officials. “And when there is a conflict (between people of different religions) is addressed with a less strict measures, it actually indirectly, the government rather not appreciate that freedom,” he asserted. According to the old priest who engaged in the activities of this inter-religious dialogue, local government officials should be able to find a way out when there is a case involving the rights of freedom of worship of this run. ‘Not just for Christians, but in other places if there are Muslims or Hindus, Buddhists into trouble. They must facilitate and find a way out if there is a problem,’ said Nobel degree in theology at the Vrije University, Amsterdam, 1987. Andreas was born in West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, the worry if problems like this allowed to affect the authority of the state. ‘And when this church attacks continue to occur, it is not impossible state authority would be undermined by these groups,’ he explained. In latest developments, PGI has been reported this church attack the problem to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, after he felt the report previous cases are not taken seriously by the authorities under it.
“Although the group that attacked the church in Bekasi cited using the attributes of Islam, Andreas denied if the case of Islamic-Christian confrontation. ‘We do not want this happening as if the conflict between Christians and non-Christians,’ said Petronella Lejloh husband, this. According to his reasoning, the relationship between Muslims and Christians has been almost no problems. ‘What then is the problem, is when other aspects of entry, such as political or economic aspects,’ said the father of two children who claimed to have a Muslim family. Instead, he referred to the perpetrator’s right to religious freedom as ‘a person lacking respect for the constitution’ or ‘does not respect the constitution.’ This he made clear repeatedly since the rights of religious freedom in Indonesia has been secured and protected by the Constitution of 1945.”
…
“As supreme leader of the organization Fellowship of Churches of Indonesia, PGI, which collects about 80 percent of Protestants in Indonesia, Andreas claimed to have established communication with leaders of other religious organizations. ‘Not only limited dialogue, but also personal relations with leaders of intimate enough Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and other Islamic organizations,’ he said.”
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Green Bay City Council met on the evening of August 17, 2010 to approve a decision made July 2010 by the Green Bay planning commission to allow a zoning request that would allow a mosque to be built in Green Bay for the Islamic Society of Green Bay. The Islamic Society has been worshiping in temporary facilities since 2005, and says says that it has run out of space at its current location. WLUK-TV also reported that the new mosque would be associated with the Islamic Society of Wisconsin, with the application listed for the “Church of Islam.”
Green Bay's Arasumus Autry Seeks New Mosque to Replace Outgrown Facility (Photo: WFRV Video Screen Shot)
Green Bay City Council Alderman Voting Against Zoning for Mosque: Guy Zima, Steven Deneys, and Andy Nicholson (left to right) (Photo: Green Bay City Council web site)
The zoning request was to allow the Islamic Society of Green Bay to use a commercial building on Velp Avenue, which had once been a bait and tackle shop, but had been closed and shuttered for the past 5 years. Some city council members also sought to consider the financial implications of loss of commercial tax dollars by allowing the mosque to built in the abandoned facility, which is across the street from a cemetery.
Green Bay: Abandoned Building to Be Purchased to Support New Mosque (Photo: WFRV Video Screen Shot)
The decision to approve the Green Bay planning commission zone recommendation to allow the building of the mosque came after public debate by speakers and by members of the City Council on the zoning request, as well as on Islam.
WFRV News provided a video report on the City Council hearing, where some debated issues about Islam when considering the zoning application for the mosque. WFRV News described the meeting as “at times a tense discussion. Most [City Council] alderman felt that religion had no place in the debate.”
Mosque protester Doug Cayer said about the planned mosque in Green Bay “It disturbs me highly. I don’t understand a lot of the religion, but what I read about and hear about is so against what I stand for – I’m just dead set against this. I have a problem with radical Islam and its connotations in my neighborhood.” The Green Bay Press-Gazette also reported that “Doug Cayer, who said he lives nearby, said he was concerned about Islamic followers turning radical and potentially disrupting the neighborhood.” The Press-Gazette said that Cayer told the City Council: “I don’t want something scary coming to my neighborhood.”
Green Bay Resident Doug Cayer Stated He Didn't Know Much About Islam, But Found It Scary (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)
Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima, on the Green Bay Council since 1976, had indicated that he had concerns about sound disturbing others. (The abandoned building is near a cemetery.) WLUK-TV reported that “Guy Zima requested the item be sent back to committee to see if a noise stipulation could be added.”
Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima then stated that concerns involved Islam. WLUK-TV reported that Guy Zima stated: “Everybody’s been hopping on the equality bandwagon, which has been part and parcel of the United States of America since its foundation. But this religion at its depths, I don’t think really has the same interest as the American way of life or its values.”
Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima Opposed Zoning for Mosque Because "Islam has a history of intolerance" (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on Mr. Zima’s comments: “Alderman Guy Zima raised several issues with the mosque proposal, including his belief that some followers of Islam are intolerant toward other religions. ‘It has been very divisive in other communities,’ Zima said.” WLUK-TV News quoted Guy Zima as stating that Islam “has a history of intolerance.”
At the August 17, 2010 Green Bay City Council hearing, Green Bay City Council Alderman Brian Danzinger condemned comments made by other elected officials on Islam, stating “we are coming dangerously close to comments that are circulating stereotypes, and again propagating the perceptions that really doesn’t exist.”
Green Bay City Council Alderman Brian Danzinger Rejected Comments on Religious Stereotype (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that City Council Alderman Ned Dorff said that such decisions cannot be made based on religion or fear: “Alderman Ned Dorff, who represents the area, said the city should view the issue strictly as a land-use matter and should not attempt to legislate any particular religious denomination, ‘It’s not a decision we can make based on religion or based on fear,’ Dorff said.”
Green Bay Council Alderman Ned Dorff Says "It's not a decision we can make based on religion or based on fear" (Photo: Facebook)
The Islamic Society of Green Bay told WFRV News “they do not tolerate extremists saying it is against their beliefs.”
The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that a group called the Church of Islam seeks Green Bay city zoning approval to build a mosque “in the shuttered Bob’s Bait and Tackle shop, 1512 Velp Ave.” The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that a Green Bay city District 7 City Council Alderman Ned Dorff, representing the west side area of Green Bay “questioned whether many nearby residents and business owners are aware of the proposed development” and might “ask for a postponement on council action to allow for more public debate.” Green Bay alderman Ned Dorff told the Press-Gazette that because he has not heard from any constituents on the zoning request,”We need to talk about this more publicly.” Ned Dorff was endorsed by the Green Bay Press-Gazette in his 2010 campaign to win a seat on the Green Bay City Council.
On Ned Dorff’s Facebook page, he asks “Proposal to rezone commercial land for religious use on Velp is coming to council tomorrow night. Good idea? Bad idea? Sound off here or come to council 7 PM 2nd floor city hall.”
Green Bay Council Alderman Ned Dorff Says Postponement of Mosque Zoning Hearing Needed For More Public Debate (Photo: Facebook)
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Update:
Ned Dorff sent the following statement to R.E.A.L. on his position:
“To give you some background on a few points in your article: The reporter asked me if I’d heard public feedback about a commercial area being rezoned for non-taxable religious use. I said I hadn’t and that it’s a sign that word didn’t get out. My only concern is taking a property off the tax rolls that we just (July 20) voted on to zone as commercial in an area we are trying to redevelop as a business district might go against the overall plan for the corridor. (Those concerns have since been assuaged).”
“I consider myself a progressive person and I am proud to represent the most progressive voting district in the city of Green Bay, which traditionally hasn’t voted based on race, gender, or creed.”
“Please issue a correction to your article that my only concern was about taking a commercial parcel off the tax rolls. That concern has since been addressed by very capable staff in our planning and economic development departments. The Press-Gazette shaped their story the way they wanted. You can also feel free to include the other statement I wrote on Facebook about how council should treat this as a zoning issue, not a religious debate. Please contact the others who have picked up your story. I might have been painted as a xenophobic enemy by a quote taken out of context, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
“I do not look forward to the day where city government meddles with the First Amendment to favor one group over another. I will _not_ delay or vote down the proposal based on anti-Islamic sentiment. That would be an ugly, irresponsible thing to do.”
Ned Dorff also states on his Facebook page: “This debate has unfortunately turned into one over religion. Really, as a council, we should have no say over legal religious activity, as per the 1st Amendment. To do so in Green Bay would set a very dangerous, probably illegal, precedent. What we are looking at is the zoning of the area and the best way to redevelop Velp. How do we zone properly to provide neighborhood services, encourage business and keep the street in good condition?”
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The Press-Gazette stated that the Green Bay planning commission had already unanimously voted last month to support to zoning change to allow the former bait and tackle shop to be converted into a mosque, and stated that the decision had to be ratified by the Green Bay City Council to allow the mosque to be built.
Anti-Mosque Protester Comment on Green Bay Press-Gazette Web Site (Screen Shot) Anti-Mosque Protester Comment on Green Bay Press-Gazette Web Site (Screen Shot) Anti-Mosque Protester Comment on Green Bay Press-Gazette Web Site (Screen Shot)
Wilson, Wisconsin Mosque Protest: A member of the audience expresses her views Monday night while a speaker addresses the Town of Wilson Town Board on whether to grant a conditional use permit for a mosque in the town. Photo by Gary C. Klein/The Sheboygan Press (The Sheboygan Press)
“In passing this law, Congress found that the right to assemble for worship is at the very core of the free exercise of religion. Religious assemblies cannot function without a physical space adequate to their needs and consistent with their theological requirements. The right to build, buy, or rent such a space is an indispensable adjunct of the core First Amendment right to assemble for religious purposes. Religious assemblies, especially, new, small, or unfamiliar ones, may be illegally discriminated against on the face of zoning codes and also in the highly individualized and discretionary processes of land use regulation. Zoning codes and landmarking laws may illegally exclude religious assemblies in places where they permit theaters, meeting halls, and other places where large groups of people assemble for secular purposes. Or the zoning codes or landmarking laws may permit religious assemblies only with individualized permission from the zoning board or landmarking commission, and zoning boards or landmarking commission may use that authority in illegally discriminatory ways.”
“To address these concerns, RLUIPA prohibits zoning and landmarking laws that substantially burden the religious exercise of churches or other religious assemblies or institutions absent the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest. This prohibition applies in any situation where: (i) the state or local government entity imposing the substantial burden receives federal funding; (ii) the substantial burden affects, or removal of the substantial burden would affect, interstate commerce; or (iii) the substantial burden arises from the state or local government’s formal or informal procedures for making individualized assessments of a property’s uses.”
“In addition, RLUIPA prohibits zoning and landmarking laws that: (1) treat churches or other religious assemblies or institutions on less than equal terms with nonreligious institutions; (2) discriminate against any assemblies or institutions on the basis of religion or religious denomination; (3) totally exclude religious assemblies from a jurisdiction; or (4) unreasonably limit religious assemblies, institutions, or structures within a jurisdiction.”
“The Department of Justice can investigate alleged RLUIPA violations and bring a lawsuit to enforce the statute. The Department can obtain injunctive, but not monetary, relief. Individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions can also bring a lawsuit in federal or state court to enforce RLUIPA.”
Tea Party Patriots Web Page: NYC Tea Party Activist "Jerry" Promotes Park Place Islamic Center Protest (image: TeaPartyPatriots.org web screen shot)Park 51 NYC Islamic Center Logo
Kentucky: Plot Where Planned for Florence, Kentucky Mosque (Photo: Fox 19 News)
On July 25, 2010, the North Kentucky Enquirer reported that that “Boone County Assistant Zoning Administrator Mitch Light said there has been no such public response to this plan. ‘We have not heard from anyone opposed to the project,’ Light said.”
Kentucky: Florence Mosque Illustration (Image: Islamic Center of Northern Kentucky)
Apparently this has now changed. According to the August 16, 2010 Kentucky Courier-Journal, the mosque proposal is now receiving “a strong reaction from some in the community,” including calls to Forence city officials, a flier being distributed in Florence neighborhoods.
FOX 19 News reports in its story “Neighborhood flyer rejects mosque”: “A flyer left on doors and mailboxes in a Florence neighborhood is stirring up more attention around a mosque being built nearby. Neighbors we spoke with had mixed feelings about the mosque, but everyone had the same concern, who is circulating the flyer and why didn’t that person/group want to be identified.”
According to the Courier-Journal, the anti-mosque flier states: “Cayton Road is in your neighborhood… Everyone needs to contact Florence City Council to have this stopped. Americans need to stop the takeover of our country.” FOX 19 News has images of the flier including its statement urging protesters to “Do your part to stop the take-over of our country of our country. Use your voice to speak out. If anti-American people do not like the way we are, they are free to leave. We are the United States of America, not an Islamic nation.” The fliers were anonymous, but appears to have the same image as an individual’s Facebook page photo background graphic, with a web site protesting the mosque.
Kentucky: Anti-Mosque Flier Being Circulated (Photo: Fox 19 News)Kentucky: Anti-Mosque Flier Being Circulated (Photo: Fox 19 News)
The Courier-Journal quotes Joshua Wice, community/business development director for the city of Florence who states that he is not surprised that people have questions, but all of the questions are being answered to people’s satisfaction.
The Courier-Journal also states: “”Much of the criticism has focused on city or county officials for allowing the project to go forward or not holding public hearings, but undue scrutiny or unwarranted efforts to impede the project might well have violated federal laws. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is often described as federal zoning for religious uses.”
Kentucy Mosque Protester "The Vigilante" Mark Hallenberg (Photo: Facebook)
The Kentucky anti-Islam, anti-Mosque website called “The Vigilante” describes “Enemy One” as “Islam.” The anti-mosque website is led by a Christian, Mark Hallenberg, in Kentucky who views the anti-mosque campaign as part of promoting “Christian values” and attacking a “Marxist-Socialistic agenda.”
In his protest against the planned mosque and “Northern Kentucky Rising,” Mark Hallenberg claims that he contacted two dozen Boone County residents about the planned Florence, Kentucky mosque, with 50 percent opposing it (according to him). Mr. Hallenberg also calls for an investigation into the funding of the mosque and into Mercy Foundation. He also repeats claims from others that “Islam declared war on the United States.”
Kentucky Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) Supporter Mark Hallenberg Started Recruiting Anti-Islam, Anti-Mosque Supporters for Kentucky in May 2010 (Image: Facebook)
On Mark Hallenberg’s Facebook page, he states that he is a member of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party. R.E.A.L. has contacted the Boone County representative of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party for comment, and received the following response: “The Northern Kentucky Tea Party is not involved in any way with a protest of a planned mosque in Florence, or anywhere. Our issues are those which impact free people of all faiths: Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government, and Free Markets.””
Global Christian activists, however, continue to grow in numbers in rejecting the Dove World Outreach Center’s “Burn a Qur’an Day.” Christian activists from various parts of the world have spoken out to reject the plans by U.S. Christian Church Dove World Outreach Center to hold an “International Burn a Koran Day” on September 11.
In the United States, the National Association of Evangelicals denounces the church’s Quran burning event. In the NAE press release, the group stated “The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) encourages increased understanding and reconciliation between those of different faiths and backgrounds, and it laments efforts that work against a just and peaceful society. The plans recently announced by a Florida group to burn copies of the Qu’ran on September 11 show disrespect for our Muslim neighbors and would exacerbate tensions between Christians and Muslims throughout the world. The NAE urges the cancellation of the burning.” NAE’s press release also stated “The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect. The proposed burning of Qu’rans would be profoundly offensive to Muslims worldwide, just as Christians would be insulted by the burning of Bibles. Such an act would escalate tensions between members of the two faiths in the United States and around the world. ‘We have to recognize that fighting fire with fire only builds a bigger fire,’ said Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Orlando, Fla., and member of the NAE Board of Directors. ‘Love is the water that will eventually quench the destruction.’ Anderson said, ‘The most powerful statement by the organizers of the planned September 11th bonfire would be to call it off in the name and love of Jesus Christ.'”
Indian Christians have also made statements rejecting Dove’s Qur’an burning plans. The Pakistan Christian Post reports on Indian Christian human rights activists sending a letter to the United States Ambassador on this subject, reporting that two Christian human rights activists J. G. Anthony and RL Francis said in a statement released in New Delhi, India that: “We strongly condemn the provocation of Pastors Terry and Sylvia Jones and urge the president of the United States of America Barrack Obama to take legal measures against such hate speech.” According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “the two Christian human rights activists also appealed to the US government to immediately intervene to halt the plan, which they said, could trigger religious conflict around the world. Such insult to any religious holy book in the name of Jesus is insult to the Christianity, such people cannot be called ‘true Christians’, and Muslim brothers must ignore such fanatic statement in the larger interest as this does not represent popular Christian feeling, Stated Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) president RL Francis.”
In Washington DC at a Pakistan Christian and interfaith conference on August 2, 2010, remembering the continuing attacks on Christian minorities in Pakistan, Christian leaders also objected to Dove’s Qur’an burning plan. Dr. Nazir Bhatti of the Pakistan Christian Congress stated his rejection of the Dove World Outreach Center’s call for burning of the Qur’an, stating, “I would like to express my views on a very recent news item that has appeared in U.S. papers that was from a church that in Florida who plans a ‘Burn a Qur’an Day’. I must express my clear concern on this issue of burning a Qu’ran Day – they have affixed 9/11 as the date when they will collect a lot of Qur’ans over there before they burn them.” Dr. Bhatti told a story of how hatred against Americans in the 1990s led to reprisals against Christian homes, and expressed similiar concerns that such hateful acts against Qur’ans in the United States could lead to reprisals against Christian churches in Pakistan by extremists. (See video,MP3).
Indonesian Christians and Indonesians of other faiths also have objected to the Dove World Outreach Qur’an Burning plans in public statements. The Union of Catholic Asian News has reported that “‘The campaign and provocation of Pastors Terry and Sylvia Jones deserves to be condemned,’ Indonesian religious leaders said in a statement read out by Reverend Henry Lokra of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and Damien Dematra of the Pluralism Care Movement. The Catholic, Confucian, Hindu, Muslim and Protestant leaders, at their Aug. 4 press conference, described the American church’s proposal as an abuse of Islam, and a violation of religious freedom and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ‘We condemn the Dove World Outreach Center’s plan and ask the church to immediately withdraw its statement and call off its ignoble plan, which puts other religions in contempt,’ they said. The leaders also called on the US government to immediately intervene to halt the plan which they said could trigger religious conflict around the world.”
In addition to these statements by Christian organizations condemned the Dove World Outreach Center’s plans, groups opposed to the Qur’an burning event have also appeared on Facebook as well.
One such Facebook group, “In Protest of “International Burn a Koran Day,” was apparently organized by a Christian for people of all faiths, who states that “This page does not stand for a certain religion or set of beliefs; we are against the disrespect and intolerance that these people have for the Muslim people. As a Christian myself, I am totally embarrassed to have this event affiliated with my beliefs.”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) joins with global Christian activists and people of diverse faiths in denouncing the planned campaign to burn Qur’ans by the Dove World Outreach Center. We urge the Dove World Outreach Center and those who would support their Qur’an burning plans to note that Jesus tells those who believe in him: John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
R.E.A.L. condemns calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship.
We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), “The AFA’s founder, the Rev. Don Wildmon, has made dozens of highly controversial statements, including the claim that ‘anti-Christian’ material on TV is a result of the media being largely controlled by Jews who work to undermine Christianity.”
CBS News reports that: “Fischer is the AFA’s director of Issue Analysis for Government and Public Policy. The AFA is a conservative Christian group that been in the news before for taking a number of extreme positions — for instance, earlier this year Fischer called for Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca that thrashed its trainer to death, to be killed according to Biblical rules. In 2005, the AFA finally ended its boycott of Disney, which it kept of for nine years to protest the company’s erosion of moral values. The AFA operates nearly 200 radio stations across the country under the American Family Radio banner and sometimes features congressmen on its shows. Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), for instance, were recent guests of one show. Fischer is listed as an invited speaker at the Values Voter Summit next month, along with Rep. Michele Bachmann, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, among others.”
The Values Voter Summit is scheduled for Friday through Sunday on September 17 through the 19 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. In addition to the AFA, it is co-sponsored by the Family Research Council, American Values, the Heritage Foundation, Liberty University, and The O’Leary Report. Conservative commentators Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Michelle Malkin, Laura Inghram, Sarah Palin, as well as representatives from the Wall Street Journal and the Tea Party Express will be in attendance.
International Business Times also reports about the Values Voter Summit that “Three of the scheduled speakers are current elected U.S. lawmakers – Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN and Rep. Mike Pence, R-IN – each of whom has taken an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution, which includes upholding the First Amendment protections to religion, the same protections Fischer would deny to Muslims. None of the three lawmakers responded to inquiries asking specifically if they knew Fischer was a scheduled speaker, if they knew of his views on mosques and Muslims, if they supported his views, or if they thought they were legitimizing his views by appearing at the same event with Fischer.”
Anti-mosque protest leader Kevin Fisher was one of 20 speakers and a primary organizer of the anti-mosque protest event. Kevin Fisher is a former candidate for the local school board and the state legislature, according to APB.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Politician Kevin Fisher Leads Anti-Mosque Protest (Photo: John A. Gillis/DNJ)
Kevin Fisher has also expressed his opposition to other belief and spiritual systems, including the Falun Dafa / Falun Gong, who have been oppressed by the Communist Chinese party for 11 years, and which in March 2010 received a U.S. Congressional resolution opposing their oppression in the Communist nation. Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline consisting of moral principles and slow-motion physical exercises, has been persecuted in Communist China since 1999.
Two Falun Dafa / Falun Gong practitioners hold a candle at the candle light vigil in Washington, DC on July 22nd -- marking 11 years of persecution in China. (Jeff Nenarella / The Epoch Times)
We ask those in support of the anti-mosque campaigns if this is the direction that they want to take America, to openly seek to deny our Constitutional and Universal Human Rights for all Americans and all human beings, and to follow a course to openly seek to deny freedom of conscience to others, as the Communist People’s Republic of China has done.
In January 2010, R.E.A.L. attended a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC, where Shen Yun performers and Falun Dafa practitioners were shocked that Hong Kong had blocked one of their performances, based on perceived influence against their freedom of expression and conscience by the Communist People’s Republic of China.
January 2010: Falun Gong Practitioner Leeshai Lemish Asks Americans to Stand Up for Human Freedoms at Shen Yun Press Conference, Condemning Communist Influence to Block Hong Kong Freedom of Conscience and Expression
But now we see Americans who are leading anti-mosque campaigns that share the same perspective of a totalitarian nation such as Communist China to seek to deny freedom of conscience in America.
