According to historians, the planned museum site was once the largest Muslim cemetery in Palestine. Companions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad and Islamic jurists and scholars are said to be buried there. The Israeli government go-ahead on Oct. 29 for construction of the museum came only after a lengthy court battle.
The Wiesenthal Center has falsely claimed that the land it is building on is a parking lot and that there have been no protests regarding building on the cemetery in the past 50 years.
SEE: An Intolerable Spot for a Museum (Forward)
In the letter to the Wiesenthal Center, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush stated in part:
"As stated in our initial letter, the cemetery land, along with other property in the waqf Islamic trust, was designated as 'absentee property' when West Jerusalem came under Israel's control after 1948. The land was ruled no longer sacrosanct in 1964 by a body called the 'Islamic Sharia Court,' whose members were appointed by Israel and largely distrusted by the Muslim population. In violation of international law, the land was then designated by Israel as public open space, and the municipality built a parking lot over it.
"Your additional claim that there has not been any opposition to the building of the parking lot ignores the fact that Israel imposed martial law on Palestinians from 1949 to 1966. Under this martial law, Israel ensured that any indications of national spirit or identity among Palestinians were quickly and forcefully crushed. Despite this, Muslims in Israel did legally oppose the designation of waqf land as absentee property in the 1960s, lobbied to rebuild and maintain the Ma'manullah graves after the 1967 war, protested the desecration of the graves in the 70s and 80s, and have been opposing the building of the Center for Human Dignity on the cemetery land. One cannot blame Muslims in Israel for sounding their claims upon deaf ears.
"...the land on which you plan to build is the site of a Muslim cemetery, a historic landmark, and a place revered by many. The Israeli Supreme Court's decision cannot erase the fact that more than 150 skeletons have been unearthed at the cemetery, under the Wiesenthal Center's supervision. Neither can the Court's ruling erase the historic and religious value of the cemetery. You may claim the legal power to build the museum on the cemetery, but you do not possess the moral right to carry out such plans."
SEE: CAIR-LA Response to Wiesenthal Center's Letter
CAIR-LA has launched an online petition drive to halt the desecration of the Muslim cemetery.
SEE: Urge Wiesenthal Center to Halt Construction of Museum on Muslim Cemetery
In November, CAIR-LA and three American Jewish groups called for a halt to the Wiesenthal Center's building plans.
SEE: Joint Letter from U.S. Muslims and Jews to the Wiesenthal Center
SEE ALSO: U.S. Muslims, Jews Ask Wiesenthal Center Not to Build on Muslim Cemetery
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
