Indonesian Muslims React to NYC Mosque Debate with Moderation

27 August 2010

Pedestrians stop to argue with Abu Rahman, right, Matt Sky, second from right, and Julia Lundy, third from right, as they stand in front of site of proposed mosque near ground zero in New York, 19 Aug 2010

Some of the people attending prayer service in Jakarta did not know of the controversy in the United States over the construction of a mosque in New York. The proposed mosque and Islamic center are very near the location of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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The project's sponsors say their aim is to increase interfaith understanding and tolerance. Supporters say allowing the mosque to be built is a question of freedom of religion. Critics say building a mosque two blocks from where Muslim terrorists killed 3,000 people is insensitive and disrespectful to the victims.

Here, some who have followed the debate, like Agus Sutiadi, support building the mosque, but can sympathize to a degree with the opponents' strong emotional response.

He says he can understand if there is some rejection there in the U.S. but he believes that America is big, strong country with mature people and over time, they will permit the mosque.

In Indonesia there have recently been protests organized by Muslim fundamentalist organizations against building new Christian churches.