Islamic group denounces planned protest against Temecula mosque

A group that plans to protest a proposed new mosque in Temecula by holding a rally outside the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley during Friday prayers was harshly denounced by a Southern California Islamic organization on Tuesday.

Organizers of the rally, which appears to be organized with a Southwest Riverside County political group  affiliated with the "tea party" movement, encouraged protesters to bring their dogs -- considered an insult to Muslims.

“Californians of all faiths should repudiate those who would target a house of worship using tactics specifically designed to cause offense,’’ Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations for the Greater Los Angeles area, said in a statement released Tuesday.

An announcement for the protest earlier this month had been posted on the website of the southwest Riverside County chapter of “We the People -- Citizens in Action,” but the notice can no longer be found on the site.

On the website, the group states that one of its missions is to “return the local Tea Party Movement to the people.’’ The website calls the Islamic faith "a radically intolerant belief system that is incompatible with the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.’’

The protest comes as Islamic Center of Temecula Valley moves ahead with plans to build a 24,943-square-foot mosque on a four-acre plot of vacant land in the southeast portion of Temecula. The proposal has stirred some hostility in the mostly conservative community in Riverside County, with opponents saying they fear the mosque will attract Islamic extremists.

Leaders of the Temecula Islamic Center said they were surprised by the reaction since the organization has been in the city for more than a decade.

The city’s Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to consider the proposed mosque on Aug. 18.

-- Phil Willon

Comments

[Zach]

Just drop the "Tea Party" banner already, it's been soiled by xenophobic nonsense like this and the slimy hands of Republican usurpers. Parlay it into a big-tent movement that advocates government reform AND the rejection of dabbling in social policy and religious politics. I know there's only so much a decentralized movement can do, but at this point as a moderate libertarian I wouldn't touch the "Tea Party" with a 10-foot pole.

[Ucvbn Bjfyuvs]

"a radically intolerant belief system that is incompatible with the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.’’ - the perfect definition of the Tea Baggers.

[los angeles electrician]

Crazy stuff. California is a mess and people are looking at a way out. We will see what happens, i have a feeling this will end bad.

[obama]

I have Muslim friends that own dogs. And drink beer. But not around older family members. It's only hardcore religious buffs of all faiths that are extremists. Jehovah's come door to door and annoy people every Sunday and they don't believe in seeking medical attention when they are ill. Religion is a joke.

[Stubby]

How many times do we have to listen to these moslems whine about American disgust with their invasive stance in this country. Islam is a combination of religion, culture, societal structure, government and law. It is incompatible with life in this country as well as other Western countries.

Every muslim, deep down, believes all who aren't muslim are infidels, worthy of beheading, stoning and any atrocity they deem appropriate at the time.

It is my opinion that they are scamming all of us using the freedom of religion amendment as a cover for their jihad. Look at Europe and the problems they have with the muslim ghettos, adopting Sharia and arrogantly establishing their own tribal areas, threatening any who dare enter.

This is clearly an attempt to displace infidels, with creation of mosques, which are no more than centers of sedition aimed at the destruction of the United States of America.

[Steve]

My parents have lived in the Temecula valley for 20 years. It's definitely got its fair-share of Christian extremists. My favorite 'church' at the intersection of the 15 and 215 proudly boasts a childrens school for "Christian Warriors" which has always made me a little nervous. Not sure why these Christians and Muslims can't get along - they both seem to enjoy the glory of war.

[Brad]

Well unlike Islamic protesters - the Tea Baggers are not threatening to kill people.

Many of has not forgotten about Islamic censorship of South Park, Salaman Rushdie, etc.

[Kerstin]

Does anyone still wonder whether the Tea Party is racist?

[rob]

As an American borne christian this makes me sick to read stuff like this. America is supposed to be a melting pot. People are supposed to assimilate into the american culture. My parents assimilated and prospered. On the flip sidem, groups shouldnt antagonise muslim newcomers to this great land by bringing dogs to a rally because they know that its offends them. As long as that mosque teaches a let live policy, equal rights for all (especially women) and doenst preach sharia law of fundamentalism. I say, let them biuld it.

[paulman]

Slowly taking over the world, bit by bit.

[LarissaFae]

Assuming every mosque will attract extremists is like assuming that every Southern person is a bigot, or that every Californian lives by the beach in 70-degree year-round weather, or that all French people wear berets and smoke cigarettes outside sidewalk cafes, or that all Christians are Bible-thumping evangelicals, or that every gay person is out to "convert" you. It's ridiculous.

If you don't want a mosque to "attract extremists," try getting to know your local Muslim communities, and include them in the larger community. Walk into a mosque and ask questions. Don't just assume that you know what Muslims are like because the news says so. If you marginalise people, discontent's going to breed, ignorance will abound, and it'll be a bad situation for ALL American citizens.

[proud to be a american]

ARE YOU FRICKIN NUTS!!!! I WILL SELL MY HOUSE... I AM OUT.BURN IT DOWN!!

[some guy]

’’ The website calls the Islamic faith "a radically intolerant belief system that is incompatible with the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.’’

that says it all this way of thinking in our youth will definately produce homegrown terrorist. someone from this mosque wil kill an american citizen it's just a matter of time. do the math every attack agianst the u.s. is from a muslim. did everyone forget were fighting these guys?

[dana johnson]

How soon they forget an amendment. Freedom of speech...... something Muslim countries don't have. Please respect it!

[Frank S]

People have a right to protest is guaranteed in our Constitution, but don't go insulting other people's religion because it will make you sound like an idiot.

[Khadija Anderson]

This is really disturbing, I hope the police will be there to oversee these people and their dogs. I wonder if they will bring guns too? I hope some other religious groups will join with the Muslims to defend their right to build an Islamic center.

[michael morales]

i've been to temecula. grandparents lived in the area. it's a nice retirement community. however those that live there that are retired are ok, but the rest are a bunch of loser, low class, ignorant thugs.

at night in the streets, all you see are a bunch of *hit kickers driving around in big pick-up trucks looking cool with their bleached mullets. all they do is look for trouble and who's *ss they are going to kick or bully the elderly. temecula sounds cool on the commercial for pechanga casino. but believe me, temecula is as trashy as the neighboring city, hemet, ca. all the san diego rejects go to temecula.

i bet you that all the posts that follow this one will reveal their true colors. i apologize to those temeculans that are good people, but unfortunately you have a bunch of trailer trash ignorant people that still drive people away with their coon hounds or trailer dogs (pit bulls with their ears sliced off).

and to those that want to respond to me .... don't bother. i'm not going to read any ignorant posts on this article. cheers. and may you all burn in hell.

peace,
michael o'neil
former marine! yes, i served our country for our freedoms, and you retards are driving out innocent civilians with dogs...really? u might as well accuse them of being witches and burn them on a cross...morons.

[SeaStink]

The last thing I would want in my town would be a mosque. If islam wasn't such an ultra-violent, sick ideology they wouldn't have these problems. Protesting construction of a muslim gathering site is a righteous thing to do. The muslims should stop playing the fake victim, reform their ideology and join the human race. Otherwise, they are useless and not needed in the modern world.

[john]

Interesting how Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations for the Greater Los Angeles area, is quick to come out and make statements against rally organizes for their views on building a mosque, yet he, nor his organization, will stand up against the horrors muslims do on a dialy basis in the name of Ali....I guess murder, rape, torture, and oppressive laws towards muslim women and children as well as any non-believer is ok.

[David Murphy]

Those Tea Party folks are the ones incompatible with the US Constitution. Literally. Ever heard of the First Amendment? Freedom of Religion?

Their vile hatred is disgusting and shameful. Absolutely sickening. Stunning!

[Lorry]

Any American citizen has the right to protest against any organization, group, company or religious party that it feels it does not want in it's community. Do you think that any member of an American community dominated by Islamic followers would want Christians to build a cathedral in their community? I highly doubt it. However, protesting should be done in a manner that contributes to the cause, not in a manner which is directed solely to offend the party they are protesting against. Each American has the right to express how they feel or what they believe about anything that happens in this country, but they are also responsible for accepting things, when decisions are made against what they believe, because the other side has just as much right to fight for what they want. Your side may not always win but you should feel proud that you have the right to fight for what you believe in not use it as an opportunity to be un-American.

[Thomas Sloan]

If they can buy bombs they can surely by votes with the greedy Americans who will sell their souls to the devil himself!!

[Eric]

Some people are so ridiculous, imagine if Muslims went out and protested the building of a Church. This is a secular society one religion shouldn't be more revered than another.

[sam]

Anyone who still believes that the tea party is not racist need look no further than Temecula. "Saying they fear the mosque will attract Islamic extremists" is a scare tactic used to make those who have little understanding or interest in non christian/Judo faiths afraid. Being afraid of those that differ from you is one of the building blocks of a dystopia, a long with the idea that only one political ideology can save us. The tea party it seems is taking a page right out of Brave New World.

[Lanerd]

Gee , the Muslims don't like the protest against their mosque , to bad this is America , here we have that right . And the Tea Party isn't part of the protest , read the article and comprehend what you read , it says , a political group from Southwest Riverside with an affiliation with the Tea Party " not the Tea Party " organized the protest . And Zach , who care s what you'll touch , its far more important what you stand for , and it sounds to me that you are far more progressive than moderate . Thomas , I'm sure you are the first in line for that cash handout , being a unprincipaled American yourself .