Thaindian News

New York, Sept 28 (ANI): The latest revelation about Ground Zero would definitely shock the opponents of the proposed Islamic community center and mosque, with reports claiming that the mosque is already in existence for more than a year in the proposed 9/11 site.

“The mosque near ground zero is a fact. The only question is whether the community center will go ahead,” The New York Daily News quoted CBS correspondent, Scott Pelley, as saying.

For over a year, prayer services have been held at 47 Park Place, the former Burlington Coat Factory store that was bought by real estate developer Sharif El-Gamal in July 2009.

After the nearby Manhattan mosque lost its lease and was no longer able to fit its regular 1500 worshippers, hundreds of Muslims began to gather for prayer services in the Park Place building every Friday, the paper reports.

In an advisory issued on August 19, the Associated Press advised its reporters saying, “It may be useful in some stories to note that Muslim prayer services have been held since 2009 in the building that the new project will replace.”

Meanwhile, El-Gamal has said that such a hue and cry over the proposed project was irrelevant as he does not consider his faith responsible for the September 11 terror attacks.

“I was affected by the horrific events that happened that day as well, and I do not hold myself or my faith accountable for what happened during that horrific day,” he added. (ANI)