FYI:
Press Release
23 November, 1999
Contact: Salam Al-Marayati
(213) 383-3443
MPAC calls on Muslims of Nazareth to suspend building Mosque
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) issued an appeal to the Muslims of Nazareth to suspend plans to build the mosque at this particular time. Plans were approved by the Israeli government for a mosque to be built next to the Basilica of the Annunciation in the West Bank City of Nazareth. MPAC officials said that insisting on building the mosque would be divisive and detrimental to the cause of human rights.
"In our religion, the common good of Muslims takes precedence over any
shrine,
including the Kabba in Mecca," said Dr. Maher Hathout, Sr. Advisor
of MPAC. Furthermore, he stated, no mosque acquires any special status
if it is named after a person. The builders of the mosque
want to name the mosque after Shihab el-Din, a historic Muslim figure.
MPAC is ready to lead a delegation of concerned Muslims and Christians
to defuse this harmful situation.