From the Prague Post, with thanks to Nicolei:
TEPLICE, NORTH BOHEMIA: Milos Kejzlar angrily recalls the reaction of visiting Arabs in Teplice following the events of 9/11.
“The people of the town were very surprised to see a great number of Arabs here celebrating in the parks and the restaurants after they learned what happened in the U.S.,” he said, downing shots of slivovice at his well-kept house in a leafy suburb.
Shocked by some Arabs’ response to the destruction of the World Trade Center and flooded by constant media coverage of terrorist plots, Kejzlar concluded that a mosque a few blocks from his home was a bad idea.
“It seems that terrorism often springs from those who gather at the mosques and from those who preach from them,” said the 41-year-old high school math teacher.
Last spring, after learning of a private company’s plans to erect a temple to cater to the thousands of Arabs, mostly Saudis, who seek extended medical treatments in this historic spa town, Kejzlar launched a petition against the mosque, which would be the country’s second.
An informal prayer house already exists on the proposed site of the 132-square-meter (1,467-square-foot) mosque.
“Islam is a strongly orthodox religion that is based on principles that are contrary to our cultural environment as well as the development of our society,” the petition reads.
“At the time when Arab terrorism is growing all around the world, it would be very dangerous even to consider granting a permit for such a building. … Recently there have been many cases of mosques becoming centers of radical Muslims who preach about the necessity to physically liquidate people of different faiths.”…
Ramiz Ahmadie, a Beirut native and owner of the Lebanese restaurant that would abut the controversial house of worship, said he doesn’t care if the mosque is built because he is a Druid, not a Muslim. However, he scoffed at the notion that the mosque would attract terrorists. He said most of the spa-going visitors are over 60 years old.
“I thought there was supposed to be freedom here. If I want to go to the disco, I can go to the disco,” Ahmadie said. “So what’s the big deal if someone wants to go pray in a mosque?”
Is he really a Druid? An old English pagan — from Lebanon? Probably he is a Druze. Anyway, the man’s questions are answered above by Kejzlar. Until they are addressed by the Muslim community, Kejzlar has reason to be concerned.