The Interfaith Center of New York joins the Turkish American Cultural Center, Eric Adam’s Office, and other organizations concerned about anti-Muslim speech and behavior in noting that the photographs and captions’ placements in the article “Mosque Hysteria” in the Thursday October 22, 2015 issue of the New York Daily News delivers to the reader a deeply misguided impression that The Turkish Cultural Center and ISIS terrorist organization are somehow linked.
Nothing could be further from reality. The Turkish American Eyup Sultan Cultural Center has been in the country since 1992. In addition to holding services, the mosque is a community center for people of all faiths. It has an award-winning children’s Karate team and a five day a week after school program that includes Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Youth from the neighborhood.
During a time when anti-Muslim political rhetoric is endangering the well-being of Muslims and others of minority of other faith traditions, the Turkish American Cultural Center is deeply concerned about the implications of an image of a gun-carrying ISIS fighter displayed across another photo of worshipers praying in the sanctuary of the Turkish American Cultural Center. A reader of the Daily News who is not acquainted with the mosque could easily draw the mistaken conclusion based on this highly suggestive piece of visual information.
