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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > "Muslims Only Day" at Six Flags park sparks outrage: Islamic Circle of North America under media & public scrutiny: Lastest Updates

"Muslims Only Day" at Six Flags park sparks outrage: Islamic Circle of North America under media & public scrutiny: Lastest Updates

Muslim Youth Day sponsors - Islamic Circle of North America and Muslim American Society linked to Al Qaeda & Jihad Camps
September 19, 2004

MIM: This is the original poster which appeared on the ICNA website in July 2004.

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MIM: Update on the Muslim Only Day at Six Flags Amusement Park.

The event was marred by public outrage and media scrutiny . Criticism was directed at Six Flags Amusement Park for allowing the event to take place and dissembling about their reasons for allowing a discriminatory policy to be enacted at their park by Muslims . The management of Six Flags also acceded to the Muslim's demand that Halloween decorations be kept out of the park until after the event took place, since Muslims regard them as a form of "idol worship".

The Muslim Youth Day was organised by the Islamic Circle of North America, and the Muslim American Society, two militant Islamist groups linked to Al Qaeda . The Islamic Circle of North America's and Muslim American Sociey's stated mission is to bring Islam to North America impose shar'ia law in the US . The head cleric of MAS is Sheik Yusuf Qaradawi, who declared that :

" We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through (the) sword, but through Da'wa," al-Qaradawi told members of the Muslim Arab Youth Association at the group's 1995 convention in Toledo, Ohio.

MIM: Note : Da'wa is the religious obligation of every Muslim to convert non Muslims to Islam: http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/001104.php

MIM:"The Muslims Only Great Adventure Day" was held this Friday at Six Flags Amusement Park . The imposition of an Islamic law in the quintessentially American venue of an amusement park was a taste of things to come if militant Islam is allowed to prevail in the US. The Islamic Circle of North America's Muslims Only day was a calculated exercise in ‘psychological Jihad'. http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/212

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The Muslim Youth "mission statement" at Six Flags in 2000 declared that:

Your job of introducing Islam, introducing your purpose, goals and introducing yourself should be kept ongoing and continues. This is your mission for today. And it is for this mission that you must sacrifice your life. Allah (SWT) is your Protector and Helper. May your tongue always be busy in the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and may it always show the commitment you have made".

(see complete text below) http://www.whyislam.org/aa/nov00/index.asp?article_id=10

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Link to MIM press release about the Muslims Only Day and original Muslim Youth ‘Jihad Camp' Application

(Shortly after the application was put on the MIM site the page was removed)

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/284

'Muslims Only Day Draws Fire' - A compilation of articles which appeared prior to the event.

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/283

'Muslim Youth Leader Tayabb Yunus calls on parents to send children for Jihad in Chechyna at 2000 ICNA conference' -webpage showing American Muslim support for Jihad in Chechyna and background information on the conflict

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/274

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Dr. Daniel Pipes wrote about the controversy surrounding the event and is chronicling the developments in his blog:

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/316

Sept. 10, 2004 update: The New Jersey branch of the Islamic Circle of North America ("The organization of Islamic Workers!") announces that Sept. 17 will be "The Great Muslim Adventure Day" at the local Six Flags Great Adventure Park. Not only is "This event is designed to provide entertainment for the entire family!" not only will Imam Zaid Shakir lead the Friday prayers at 2 p.m., and not only will the comedy routine "Allah Made Me Funny" show twice, but "Alhamdulillah, the entire park is reserved for Muslims only!" If that message is not clear enough, the advertisement also states "First Time Ever! Entire park exclusively for Muslims!" One wonders how the organizers know who is a Muslim or not. Need one recite the shahada to enter the fairgrounds? It is scandalous that Six Flags – a publicly held corporation whose stock trades on the NYSE – allows such a restriction for access to its property. Oh, and will the employees also have to be Muslim?

Sept. 15, 2004 update: Aaron Klein wrote about the "Muslims only!" policy at Six Flags Great Adventure on Sept. 13 and included a statement from a Six Flags executive stating that the park would be reserved for "Muslims and their friends" (a very different and quite acceptable formulation); Klein also quotes comments by Beila Rabinowitz (who first raised alarms about this issue) and myself disapproving of the ICNA statement. Within hours of his article appearing, Klein today reports, "the ICNA website removed all references to exclusive use of the park," and indeed that is what one finds at its overhauled website. Sos, good news: entrants to the park will not have to establish their Muslim identities to enter the property.

Sept. 18, 2004 update: Not surprisingly, ICNA misstated what had happened at Six Flags. Here is the New York Times account:

Earlier this week, the words "for Muslims only" were removed from the sponsor's Internet advertisement for the event. Adem Carroll, a relief coordinator and spokesman for Islamic Circle of North America, said the event was never intended to exclude others, particularly because many of its members are in mixed families, with Muslims and non-Muslims. The intent instead was to provide a protected environment for those seeking to relax.

This is obviously self-contradictory. More dismaying yet is that Kristin Siebeneicher, Six Flags' spokeswoman, also distorted what happened. Here again is the Times account: Siebeneicher

said she spent the week in interviews with radio performers from New Jersey, California, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma who wanted to know why the park was turning its rides over to Muslims and shutting everyone else out for the day. "The concerns are that they believe the event is exclusionary," Ms. Siebeneicher said. "I don't think most people understood it was a day we're closed anyway, and we were not taking something away from the public to give to a private group."

This misstates the issue. It was not that the general public was excluded but that ICNA was imposing a "Muslims only!" policy. Why does a publicly held corporation dissemble like this? Surely, that cannot help a company already losing attendance and in financial trouble. www.danielpipes.org

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MIM: Note the last sentence in this article which first appeared in the NY TImes . Muslim park goer Ms. Farouqi reference to the 9/11 attacks as something which might affect Muslims if "it goes wrong again " are indicative of the Islamo facist weltaanshauung.

"After three years of lying low, most of those who came to Six Flags on Friday were happy to have Muslim Youth Day back on the calendar.

"A lot of Muslims are scared to have big gatherings," Ms. Farooqi said. "They're afraid to be in the public eye. If something goes wrong again, they don't want to be there. But we need to do this kind of thing. It's time."

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http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=55407

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http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040927-699426,00.html

Six Flags over Islam
Controversy erupted when Muslims went looking for fun, but the event was a moment of harmony
By DAVID VAN BIEMA/JACKSON

For half an hour at about 2 p.m. last Friday, the main attraction at Six Flags New Jersey was not the Nitro, the "tallest and fastest roller coaster in the East," or the Superman Ultimate Flight ride. Within sight of the front gate, not far from the faux Revolutionary battlements of Fort Independence, a succession of blue tarps had been stretched. Prostrated on them, facing Mecca (and, unintentionally, the Cannonball Lemonade Stand) were hundreds of men, heads to the ground in sajda, Islamic prayer's gesture of submission to Allah. As hundreds more entered the park and took note, many set up individual prayer rugs or simply dropped to their knees. Great Muslim Adventure Day at Six Flags had commenced.

The website ad had been an attention getter. "Insha Allah," it enthused. "The New Jersey theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure, is set to be transformed as 'The Great Muslim Adventure Day' ... ENTIRE PARK FOR MUSLIMS ONLY ... Alhamdullilah [Praise be to God], tickets are selling fast!" It promised a "special dolphin show," leading into a talk by a well-known Islamic scholar, and the comic stylings of "Allah Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour." Was this for real?

Well, yes. The first Muslim Day at Six Flags, brainstormed by the New Jersey chapter of the grass-roots organization Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), was in 2000. It drew 8,000 customers. The next did better, with co-organizer Tariq Amanullah proudly announcing the sale of 10,000 tickets. That was on Sept. 8, 2001. Three days later, Amanullah, a finance executive, was one of the dozens of Muslims who died in the World Trade Center. After that, observed ICNA's Farhan Pervez, "we couldn't do it for a time." But this year they decided to revive it. "It'll be a fun day for people to enjoy an environment they're comfortable in," said Pervez. "We're not trying to make a statement."

This being post-9/11 America, however, everything Islamic becomes a statement. The cottage industry that monitors Muslim websites publicized the event to a distinctly non—Muslim-friendly audience last week, emphasizing ICNA's alleged connections to terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists. (A Six Flags spokeswoman said the FBI assured her firm that "there is no link between the ICNA and terrorism." The group denies any.) Critics began threatening Six Flags with boycotts. A local talk-radio caller suggested that such a concentration of Muslims would make a useful bombing target.

Consequently, the park was sniffed for bombs, "Muslims Only" was struck from the website, and security at the gate was beefed up. None of that hampered the hybrid entertainment unfolding within. Boardwalk barkers persevered ("Arright, at the sound of the buzzer, you want to press both buttons on the gun") but competed with a bazaar offering stylish Islamic headwear and Koranic commentaries. Standard food concessions were shuttered in favor of ritually correct halal vendors like Shalimar and Kabob King. There was no opposite-sex canoodling, and halter tops and shorts were replaced by a vast array of hijab head scarves and ankle-length jilbabs and abayas.

Shireen Khan, 19, in running pants, a plain white shirt, Reeboks and a lavender hijab, was waiting in line for the Nitro with two female friends. She pooh-poohed the notion that the day's event might be a kind of refuge for an overscrutinized community. "It's not about that," she said. "I come here twice a year, and I like it, but today there's good halal food, and there's prayer. We have so many friends in the tristate area, we never see each other, and today everybody's here." Her cousin Soofia Tahir suspected there might be a bit more to it. Perhaps it's a pride thing? "No, it isn't," Khan asserted. "Yes, it is," said Tahir. "There's no pride," Khan shot back. "You mean like being vain? " "No," said Tahir. "I mean like bonding." She paused and gazed up at the Nitro's looming bulk. "If it's raining, I'm not going up on that thing."

But eventually they did. Higher and higher their car climbed--230 ft. and then 85 m.p.h. free fall. Khan's hijab flapped but held. "It was good," she exclaimed at the ride's exit. "I'd never been on a roller coaster at night before. When you open your eyes, there was just, like ... nothing!" She smiled broadly. Then she made her way to the ladies' room, ritually washed her hands, face, arms and feet and found a small group of other women by the Ferris wheel. Turned into silhouettes by its dazzling illumination, they prayed.

Stalled since 9/11, a Muslim gathering resumes in US

by Jill P. Capuzzo

JACKSON, N.J., Sept. 17

It may have been Aqsa Khan's first visit to Six Flags Great Adventure, but she knew enough to hustle over to the park's largest roller coaster as soon as the midday prayer ended.

"I thought I was going to die," said Ms. Khan, a sophomore at New York University, upon exiting the Nitro, the mile-long roller coaster that drops 230 feet at about 85 miles per hour.

Accompanied by a half-dozen classmates, Ms. Khan was among the estimated 15,000 Muslims who came out for Muslim Youth Day on Friday, when the Great Adventure theme park was set aside for Muslims from as far away as Massachusetts and North Carolina. Many of the children were off from school, since public schools in New York City, Philadelphia and much of New Jersey were closed for Rosh Hoshanah.

"It's nice to see so many here," said Ms. Khan's friend Maheen Farooqi, a junior from Long Island. "I haven't really been around so many Muslims at one time before."

Shaista Barch, who was waiting in line at the giant swing ride with some of the 50 relatives who joined her here, concurred. "It's a good Muslim day," she said.

Yet Muslim Youth Day, intended as a day of relaxation and morale boosting, has not been a thoroughly smooth ride. The last week has been fraught with threats and racial epithets lobbed at the Islamic Circle of North America, the group that rented the park for the event, and the corporate offices of Six Flags Great Adventure.

Kristin Siebeneicher, Six Flags's spokeswoman, said she spent the week in interviews with radio performers from New Jersey, California, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma who wanted to know why the park was turning its rides over to Muslims and shutting everyone else out for the day.

"The concerns are that they believe the event is exclusionary," Ms. Siebeneicher said. "I don't think most people understood it was a day we're closed anyway, and we were not taking something away from the public to give to a private group."

In the spring and fall, Six Flags is open only on weekends, and the park is often rented out to groups on weekdays, Ms. Siebeneicher said. She added that the National Conference of Synagogue Youth regularly rented the park for a day, as well as the Catholic Youth Rally and an organization of home-schooled children.

Earlier this week, the words "for Muslims only" were removed from the sponsor's Internet advertisement for the event. Adem Carroll, a relief coordinator and spokesman for Islamic Circle of North America, said the event was never intended to exclude others, particularly because many of its members are in mixed families, with Muslims and non-Muslims. The intent instead was to provide a protected environment for those seeking to relax.

"A lot of people don't feel safe going on another day," Mr. Carroll said. "Because of our dress standards, they might be afraid of being taunted. There's a lot of hostility out there."

Raza Farrukh, chairman of the organization's local chapter and chief coordinator of the event, said some people who bought the discounted $20 passes were concerned for their safety.

On Thursday, the F.B.I. brought in bomb-sniffing dogs to do a full sweep of the park, said Mr. Farrukh, who sent out a mass e-mail message to ticketholders earlier in the week informing them of added security. The park brought in not only the Jackson Township police but also a contingent of F.B.I. agents for the day.

Ms. Siebeneicher said that the most disturbing thing about the questions she fielded about the event was the implication that Six Flags was playing host to a terrorist-friendly organization.

She said one talk show host asked if the company would rent the park to Nazis. The park's guest services phone lines and the company's corporate offices in Oklahoma were flooded by callers asking Six Flags to reverse its decision and threatening to boycott or sue the park.

"It's truly sad and very unfortunate that people feel that way," she said. "This is America. Six Flags doesn't discriminate against race, religion or sexual orientation. We're not about politics."

Nevertheless, Six Flags did run an additional F.B.I. check on the sponsoring group, despite the fact that they had rented the park to the group twice before.

In fact, the last time Muslim Youth Day took place here was just three days before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Farhan Pervez, the secretary of Islamic Circle of North America, said his group, based in Queens, decided to skip the event the last two years because "we didn't want to be in a festive mood around that anniversary."

When talks resumed with Six Flags last winter to bring the event back, the group sought to book a day in a month other than September, but were told that Friday was the only day available, Mr. Pervez said.

Most of those who came to Friday's event - while highly sensitive to the bias against Muslims, often brought on by their style of dress - were unaware of this week's controversy.

"Of course we are looked at," said Bayan Adileh, a 14-year-old from North Bergen, N.J., wearing a black and white scarf covering her head. "People wonder why we are outside our house. You learn to ignore it."

While most of the women at the event complied with some version of the dress code, or hijab, fully covering their bodies and heads, standards were somewhat loosened for the men, many of whom were admitted in shorts and T-shirts.

With rides scheduled to open at 3 p.m., the lines to enter the park grew slow and long by early afternoon, as the security force raked through pocketbooks, backpacks and baby strollers. With the crowd growing antsy, the park added security guards at 2:30 p.m. to speed up the entry process.

After waiting two hours to get in, Yassar Abraham and his family headed straight to the picnic area, where halal dishes like samosas, biryani and buttered chicken replaced the usual burgers and fries.

Before racing off to their favorite rides, most gathered for the midday prayer. Giant blue plastic tarps were spread across the pavement in front of Fort Independence, where men knelt facing east during the hourlong sermon. Behind them, women lined more blue tarps on the ground beside Bluebeard's Lost Treasure Train. Three other less formal prayer sessions were scheduled throughout the day.

Six Flags would usually have had its Halloween decorations up by now, but the park honored the sponsor's request to hold off hanging skeletons, witches and ghosts, which Mr. Farrukh said were viewed as idols by some Muslims.

Most of the park's shops and concessions were closed, and those that were open were not too busy. Much more active was the open-air bazaar outside the Batman and Robin roller coaster, where shoppers could buy a new gown, scarf or prayer rug.

Youssra Kamal of Matawan, N.J., was doing a brisk business in scarves, head pieces and sleeve extensions. "It's difficult to get these around here," Ms. Kamal said. "We're trying to do something that looks fashionable and elegant, but still is religious."

After three years of lying low, most of those who came to Six Flags on Friday were happy to have Muslim Youth Day back on the calendar.

"A lot of Muslims are scared to have big gatherings," Ms. Farooqi said. "They're afraid to be in the public eye. If something goes wrong again, they don't want to be there. But we need to do this kind of thing. It's time."

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MIM: Lorenzo Vidino, an associate of Steven Emerson's 'Investigative Project', spoke to John Kasich on Fox News about ICNA's ties to Pakistani extremists and explains reasons why the FBI has failed to take action against ICNA.

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Fox News
Heartland With John Kasich
September 18, 2004

John Kasich: Welcome back to ""Heartland."" The Six Flags Amusement Park in New
Jersey hosted Muslim Youth Day on Friday but questions have been raised about
the Islamic Circle of North America, the group sponsoring the event. The group
recently featured speakers that denied Muslims were responsible for 9/11 and the
same Muslim youth group has conducted jihad camps. Six Flags says the FBI had no
problems with the group. With us is a terrorism analyst for the Investigative
Project, Lorenzo Vidino. Before you say anything, I have a statement here –
I'll read part of it -- from this group. It says "Scare stories have often
misrepresented what we say and stand for by taking statements out of conntext.
Moreover the word jihad has been misunderstood as a call to war or violence, a
view that we at ICNA oppose." Tell us about this group.

Lorenzo Vidino: Well, their comment that their statements are misunderstood and
taken out of context just doesn't make sense. The Islamic Circle of North
America and the other organization, Muslim American Society are two
organizations that push for radical agenda. The Islamic Circle is related to a
radical islamic party out of Pakistan that wants to overthrow the Musharref
government and the creation of an Islamic state in Pakistan with islamic law,
and basically a radical islamic theocracy. Members and leaders of ICNA have
endorsed suicide bombings in Israel. They have said that the World Trade Center
bombing in 1993 was a Zionist conspiracy and that Muslims were not behind it.
They have endorsed jihad in Chechnya even though they claim the word jihad might
have a double meaning. They clearly say they want jihad (holy war) in
Chechnya and Palestine and claim that suicide bombers in Israel and Palestine
are not murderers.

John Kasich: Lorenzo, why would the FBI not know about the background of this
group? Can you tell me? Six Flags called the FBI and asked what do you know. The
FBI said they are fine. Why would the FBI have given that kind of
recommendation?

Lorenzo Vidino: Two explanations. Maybe the FBI doesn't know because they are
not a terrorist organization. They might be endorsing terrorism but the FBI
might not know what they are up to since they haven't committed any crime, any
terrorist activity but they just somehow endorse terrorism. So they are not
exactly a terrorist organization and the FBI might not know. The other
explanation might be that political correctness rules and the FBI knows that if
they attack ICNA they will go public and say they have been profiled, the FBI is
racist, they are treated unfairly because they are Muslims and something like
that, and the f.b.i. doesn't want that kind of publicity.

John Kasich: Lorenzo, let's change topics quickly. We had a report that came in
early this evening that said CBS is reporting al-Qaeda may be determined to
attack before the election. They are saying that the FBI is being warned that
this could happen. it is not the FBI -- CBS making the claim. They are just
reporting that there are emails out there warning agents of a possible attack.
Can you comment on that?

Lorenzo Vidino: Yes, sure. We know that U.S. intelligence has gathered
information on whether an attack may be planned by al-Qaeda before the
elections. It looks like the FBI wil be proactive and basically surveil people
they believe are alQaeda sympathizers or other groups activities in the States.
The FBI knows 50-60 people are known al-Qaeda sympathizers in the United
States. The FBI is going to monitor these guys and hopefully these guys will
get nervous and might be caught, or do something stupid.

John Kasich: Forget political correctness.

Lorenzo Vidino: I guess. But I am sure the big groups like ICNA will bash the
FBI for it.

John Kasich: Thanks for being with us. The Investigative Project. Always a
valuable resource.

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MIM: Radio Host Phil Valentine comments on "Thank Allah it's Friday"- "Great Muslim Adventure Day"

http://reviewappeal.midsouthnews.com/news.ez?viewStory=25358

Shame on Six Flags for tolerating the intolerable

Phil-osophy 101 / By Phil Valentine

TGIF. Thank God It's Friday, right? How about TAIF? Thank Allah It's Friday. Yes, indeed, this Friday is "Great Muslim Adventure Day" at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. Bring your burqa and join the fun! Muslims from all over America will pour into this tiny borough for one action-packed day of fun. Friday, Jackson will become the Muslim merriment Mecca, if you'll pardon the expression.

The Muslim Youth Division of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) proclaims on its Web site, "First Time Ever – All Day – Entire Park Exclusively for Muslims!" They promise "entertainment for the entire family." Highlights include afternoon prayers at 2 p.m. led by Imam Zaid Shakir along with the comedy routine "Allah Made Me Funny." (I'm not making that up.)

Sounds innocuous enough. But hold the phone.

What exactly is the ICNA? WorldNetDaily.com reports that it's not just some benevolent, fun-loving Muslim group. A reporter from that Internet news site recently attended a conference in Orlando, Fla., sponsored in part by the ICNA. What they heard from the stage was nothing less than chilling. A featured speaker voiced empathy and support for suicide bombers. He vehemently denied Muslims were involved in 9/11. He also characterized the war on terror as a "conspiratorial Zionist plot designed to destroy Islam and Muslims" and blamed attacks on affirmative action on "the rise of the Jewish cracker."

And that ain't all.

Terrorism expert Steve Emerson says, "The ICNA's hatred of the Jews is so fierce that it taunted them with a repetition of what Hitler did to them." Judicial Watch says the ICNA has ties to the terrorist organization Hamas. Emerson writes, "The ICNA openly supports militant Islamic fundamentalist organizations, praises terror attacks, issues incendiary attacks on Western values and policies, and supports the imposition of Sharia (Islamic code of law)." The Web site JihadWatch.org reports that the ICNA is under investigation by FBI counterterrorism agents.

To add insult to injury, Six Flags Great Adventure admits that the event in their public park is open only to "Muslims and their friends." In the wake of public outrage after the story broke, Six Flags changed their stand and will now allow the public to attend.

See, here's the problem. In this day and age of political correctness, people all across this wonderful country of ours are bending over backward to appear tolerant. Tolerance is good, don't get me wrong. However, tolerance of the intolerable is not. In their effort to ingratiate themselves with the "Muslim community," Six Flags has opened its roller coasters, bumper cars and cotton candy stands to a group that supports the very destruction of everything they — and we — hold sacred.

Conspicuously absent is the public condemnation of the ICNA by those Muslims who continuously insist that Islam is a peaceful religion. Instead, when groups like this are outed for their insidious ties to organized terrorism, the outcry is most often against the messenger. I'm still waiting for the wholesale denunciation of those who support terrorism from the "Muslim community." That's not to say there's no such thing as "good Muslims." I'm just not hearing from many of them.

We're at war, folks. It's not your run-of-the-mill, garden-variety war. It's America's new war. It's a war against an enemy hellbent on our destruction just because we live and breathe. Whether the ICNA has ever flown an airplane into a building or not is inconsequential. They are on record as being sympathetic to that cause. Those who sympathize with our enemies are also our enemies. What does that say for an American institution that harbors those sympathizers?

Six Flags should be ashamed.

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MIM:This from CBS News:

http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/topstoriesny_story_263115525.html

Muslim Youth Day Held At Great Adventure

  • An Estimated 15,000 Took Part In Firday's Event

Sep 19, 2004 11:47 am US/Eastern

Thousands of youths gathered to celebrate Muslim Youth Day for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks amid threats aimed at the amusement park that hosted the event.

A spokeswoman for Six Flags Great Adventure theme park spent the days leading up to Friday's gathering answering charges that the event was exclusionary since it was closed to the public.

Phone lines at the park and at the company's corporate offices in Oklahoma were inundated by callers threatening to boycott or sue the park, Kristin Siebeneicher said.

"It's truly sad and very unfortunate that people feel that way," said Siebeneicher. "This is America. Six Flags doesn't discriminate against race, religion or sexual orientation. We're not about politics."

An estimated 15,000 Muslims took part in the event, called "The Great Muslim Adventure Day," and sponsored by the Queens, N.Y.-based Islamic Circle of North America, The New York Times reported in Saturday's editions.

Security was high at the event, everyone was required to pass through metal detectors and all bags were inspected. And in keeping with Muslim tradition, participants were instructed to wear clothing that was loose, non-provocative and covered neck to ankle for all visitors over the age of 10.

Siebeneicher said the park is open only on weekends during the spring and fall, and is frequently rented to private groups on weekdays. In the past, it has been rented to the National Conference of Synagogue Youth and the Catholic Youth Rally, among others.

The last time Muslim Youth Day was held at the park was on Sept. 8, 2001.

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MIM: Newsday Report on the Muslims Only event:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--sixflags-muslims0918sep18,0,4124534,print.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

Muslim Youth Gather at Park Amidst Threats

September 18, 2004, 7:05 PM EDT

JACKSON, N.J. -- Thousands of youths gathered to celebrate Muslim Youth Day for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks amid threats aimed at the amusement park that hosted the event.

A spokeswoman for Six Flags Great Adventure theme park spent the days leading up to Friday's gathering answering charges that the event was exclusionary since it was closed to the public.

Phone lines at the park and at the company's corporate offices in Oklahoma were inundated by callers threatening to boycott or sue the park, Kristin Siebeneicher said.

"It's truly sad and very unfortunate that people feel that way," said Siebeneicher. "This is America. Six Flags doesn't discriminate against race, religion or sexual orientation. We're not about politics."

An estimated 15,000 Muslims took part in the event sponsored by Queens, N.Y.-based Islamic Circle of North America, The New York Times reported in Saturday's editions.

Siebeneicher said the park is open only on weekends during the spring and fall, and is frequently rented to private groups on weekdays. In the past, it has been rented to the National Conference of Synagogue Youth and the Catholic Youth Rally, among others.

The last time Muslim Youth Day was held at the park was on Sept. 8, 2001.

---------------------------------

MIM: Themeparks online is also dealing with the subject of militant Islam as a result of the Six Flags Muslims Only Day.-

http://www.themeparksonline.org/tponews.asp?ID=3914

Great Adventure's Muslims-only day

9/14/04 8:38:39 PM

A popular North American amusement park is scheduled to host a "Great Muslim Adventure Day" this week in which the park will be open only to Muslims, drawing fire from various monitor groups, WorldNetDaily has learned.

The Muslim Youth Division of the Islamic Circle of North America and the Muslim American Society, two of the largest Muslim organizations in America, have arranged exclusive use of Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., for the entire day Friday.

The ICNA website boasts, "First Time Ever – All Day – Entire Park Exclusively for Muslims!" The event is designed to "provide entertainment for the entire family!" says the site. Imam Zaid Shakir will lead the Friday afternoon prayers at 2 p.m., the comedy routine "Allah Made Me Funny" will show twice, Comedian Azhar Usman will perform, and "Alhamdulillah, the entire park is reserved for Muslims only!"



Read the original story here! WorldNetDaily: Great Adventure's Muslims-only day
Learn more about Six Flags Great Adventure
Read the decision forum about this Great Adventure's Muslims-only day


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MIM: A comment on the "Muslims Only" Adventure Day message board reveals that Americans are standing up to Muslim attempts to impose Islam and protesting against companies who do business with Islamist groups .
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http://www.themeparksonline.org/tpoforum3.asp?threadid=2899&forumid=1

Posted by:
Brad

Posted:
9/17/04 9:22:59 PM
Great Adventure's Muslims-only day
I think Six Flags used very poor judgement in allowing a group to exclusively be able to use one of their parks. I was going to go to Six Flags in two weeks, now I'll be going to Disney's California Adventure instead. Good job Six Flags! P.S. Would you allow the KKK an exclusive day, or a Christian or Jewish group the same privilege?

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MIM: A comment from the blogger at 'Planet Parmesan':

Muslims Only Day?

Yes, it's true, Six Flags Great Adventure right here in Jackson, NJ is having a "muslims only day" this Friday. They expect 10,000 muslims. If you are Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Agnostic, you are not welcome this Friday at the park. Not even if you plunked down cash for full season tickets. Well, let this be the last crowd they get for the rest of the season- I say boycott the park for the rest of the year what? 2-3 more weeks to closing at maybe 15,000 people a day times $50 bucks or so per ticket? Maybe if Six Flags takes a 10- 22 million dollar hit this year, they will stop discriminating against people ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE ! Why do muslims get away with it? nobody has the stones to challenge them, nor Six Flags Corp, not the media, for fear of being labled a racist or "politcally incorrect" Well guess what- Six Flags is acting just so by discriminating against all the rest of us. Give me a break - if you are not pissed off about this, there is no hope..........

http://parmasan.reger.com/entry-logid5501-eventid20963-Muslim-only-Day.log

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MIM: The' Muslims Only Day' may have passed with" little problems"( see below) but attention was drawn to the the true agenda of the Islamic Circle of North America and the Muslim America Society, militant Islamist groups with ties to Al Qaeda which are trying to pass themselves off as mainstream Muslim organisations.

The controversy surrounding the "Muslims Only ' event will hopefully serve to remind other institutions to vet Muslim groups attempting to hold events and conferences on their premises in the future, and refuse access to those groups who have documented ties to terrorism .

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http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/611

Muslim Day passes with little problems

by Aaron

Sep. 20th, 2004 -- For the first time since Sept. 8, 2001, over 15,000 Muslims crowded into Six Flags Great Adventure for Muslim Youth Day on Friday. Although the park was closed to all other guests, it was bombarded by protests against SFGAdv's actions.

The phone lines of both the park itself and Six Flags corporate headquarters were clogged by callers protesting the decision to only allow Muslims into the park. Many said they would boycott or sue the company. Six Flags has vehemently denied allegations that the company's actions were discriminatory.

At SFGAdv, visitors were subjected to heavy security, including metal detectors and bag inspections.

Visit CBS 2 for more information.

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http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/p/parks/2004/parks092204.htm

Men's News Daily - Lessons Unlearnt Part 1

9/21/04

The Safest Place In The World… For A Day

The two largest Muslim organizations in America, the radic al Islamic Circle of North America and the Muslim American Society, hosted the "First Time Ever – All Day – Entire Park Exclusively for Muslims!" at the Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

The theme park, closed to all but Muslims, came complete with Friday afternoon prayers and the comedy routine "Allah Made Me Funny."

"Alhamdulillah, the entire park is reserved for Muslims only!"

Nevermind the screech that would've been heard from the left if any other religious group locked out the general public; Six Flags Great Adventure in Jersey was the safest place in the world last Friday.

You know what I'm sayin'…?

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MIM: The "Muslims Only Day" was a subject of discussion at the Free Republic forum.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1179965/replies?c=2

Letters From the Enemy (Part 2): "The Great Muslim Adventure Day"
Islamic Circle of North America ^ | unknown

Posted on 07/27/2004 9:52:34 PM PDT by MarcoPolo

Well, here it is: installment number two of the "Letters From the Enemy" series. It's not really an article this time---it's a flyer. Read it and think. This is what's happening in our own land, and we should be aware of it. It is interesting to mention that one of the speakers they're having is W.D. Mohammad, the son of the famous Elijah Mohammad and a big friend and ally of Louis Farrakhan.

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MIM: The Muslim Youth Day at 2000 in Six Flags mission statement declared in no uncertain terms that the Muslim Youth Day at Six Flags Amusement Park was a deadly serious event and part of an ongoing "Jihad " to spread Islam in the U.S.

"Your job of introducing Islam, introducing your purpose, goals and introducing yourself should be kept ongoing and continues. This is your mission for today. And it is for this mission that you must sacrifice your life. Allah (SWT) is your Protector and Helper. May your tongue always be busy in the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and may it always show the commitment you have made".

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http://www.icna.org/

MIM: The Great Muslim Only Day as seen by the Islamic Circle of North America on their website :

"All this would not have been possible without the help and blessings from Allah SWT".

Coasters and a Case of Nerves

Jazakum Allahu Khairan for making the Great Muslim Adventure Day a huge success. All this would have not been possible without the guidance, help and blessings from Allah SWT. We thank Him in granting us successes. May Allah SWT forgive us for all our mistakes and failings and accept all that was right and reward us all.

Alhamdulillah, more than 15,000 attended the largest Muslim gathering of the North East. Muslims came from Connecticut Delaware Maryland Massachusetts Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Vermont Virginia Washington DC

Send us your feedback and suggestions to make it better the next time around! Also do not forget to send us pictures from the event. We will post them at event website.

Volunteer and support our activities. Contact ICNA-NJ at [email protected].

Filename: SL00229_.wmf
Keywords: bigtops, buildings, camping ...
File Size: 11 KB Young Muslims Regional Summer Camps
Towards Understanding the Qur'an
August 11-15, Indiana

A Few Good Men - Lives of the Khulafa ar Rashideen
August 21-25, Pennsylvania

More Info Speakers Program Activities

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MIM: Those of us whom" Allah did not make funny " failed to be amused by "Muslims Only Day" this article in Alt.muslim shows the Islamic Circle of North America and their spokesman Adem Carroll shows derision and contempt for non Muslim who objected to the event . Carroll portrays Muslims as the victims of fear and arrogantly sneers at American's worries about terrorist bombings while taunting them that the event will "continue in the future".

"Fortunately, the absence of bomb making seminars or fiery anti-American diatribes, along with the backing of Six Flags, means the event will likely continue in the future. "

http://www.altmuslim.com/headlines_comments.php?id=1297_0_24_0_C

Six Flags Muslim Adventure Day Does Not Amuse Some

Last Friday, an estimated 15,000 Muslims enjoyed Great Muslim Adventure Day at a Six Flags amusement park in New Jersey. Although the event proceeded smoothly, the confusion over exclusivity seemed to mask the hostility that prompted the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA, not to be confused with ISNA) to set up the event in the first place. Six Flags had hosted the event twice before, most recently on September 8, 2001 (incidentally, that event's organizer died at the WTC three days later). It has been the policy of the park to allow private groups to set up theme days during off-season weekdays. However, the original web page for this event listed it as "For Muslims Only" (a glorified typo and never the intention, says ICNA), which was changed later at the request of Six Flags management (no word on whether the same attempted exclusion existed at prior events). "The concerns are that they believe the event is exclusionary," said Six Flags representative Kristin Siebeneicher. "I don't think most people understood it was a day we're closed anyway." More importantly, because the event was sponsored by ICNA (which failed to have a speech disclaimer at one of its events), the issue became a catalyst for radio commentators who felt Six Flags was showing terrorist sympathizers a good time ("Those who sympathize with our enemies are also our enemies. What does that say for an American institution that harbors those sympathizers?"). Underlining the point, ICNA spokesman Adem Carroll said, "A lot of people don't feel safe going on another day. There's a lot of hostility out there." Fortunately, the absence of bomb making seminars or fiery anti-American diatribes, along with the backing of Six Flags, means the event will likely continue in the future. "A lot of Muslims are scared to have big gatherings," said one participant. "They're afraid to be in the public eye. But we need to do this kind of thing. It's time."

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A Historic Day for Muslims

Shaikh Yusuf Islahi's speech
given on Muslim Youth Day
Sept 9, 2000
Great Adventure, NJ
http://www.whyislam.org/aa/nov00/index.asp?article_id=10

On Saturday, September 9, 2000, ICNA (Northeast region) organized the Muslim Youth Day with great zest and spirit at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park. On the evening of this memorable day, the main session was held in the North Star arena. Eminent American and international speakers expressed their ideas and warmed the hearts of the audience. The whole stadium resounded with the shouts of "Allahu Akbar". The last speech, given by renowned scholar Shaikh Yusuf Islahi, was very enlightening but had to be shortened due to time constraints. Following is the complete speech for our reade

Respected brothers and sisters:

Assalaamu Alaikum!

I thank Allah (SWT) with all sincerity Who brought me here across the seven seas to participate in this great gathering to share in your happiness, Who gave me an opportunity to address thousands of young men and women and the honor of expressing my warm feelings towards you. It is indeed a gift from Allah (SWT) that you were able to celebrate historic "Muslim Youth Day".

The owner of the Six Flags Great Adventure never imagined even in his wildest dreams that a mere recreation area of this kind would be filled with Allah's praise; that speeches on the subject of Islam would be delivered; Dawah towards Islam be given; Allah (SWT) would be remembered; the cries of Allahu Akbar would be heard everywhere. Young men and women dressed Islamically with sound knowledge of their beliefs and practices would represent Islam and hear greetings of "Assalaamu Alaikum" everywhere. Any amount of thanks is but little for the gift, favor honor and guidance that we have received from Allah (SWT). In thankfulness to Allah, we should fall down prostrating: O Lord! this is nothing but Your Benevolence and Mercy. O Allah! it is Your promise that the one who is thankful receives even more from Your bounties. "la in shakrthum la azeedanna kum":

I congratulate those young people who were determined to celebrate this day and please Allah (SWT). I also congratulate those elders who put their sons and daughters on this path, supported them morally and spiritually, and encouraged them to work in the mission of introducing Allah's Message. May Allah accept our endeavors. Ameen.

Youth is the essence of life. This is the period when one makes major decisions in life. One has the strength to pursue huge missions. The period of youth is, filled with high spirits, hot blood, plenty of desires, free of many shackles and has the power to make revolutionary decisions in life.

This is why Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (saws) have given special importance to this period in life. Great events in history and golden eras of time are decorated with the feats of the youth. Youth is the essence of life and our ummah's wealth. Rasulullah (saws) said that on the day of judgment one the five questions that every son and daughter of Adam will be asked will be about the youth.

"How did you spend your youth?"

Fortunate are those youth who spend their prime age in the path of Allah, who spend their days and nights in Islamic activities. A hadeeth in Bukhari assures youth who strive in the service of Allah (SWT) of a special reward. Seven kinds of people will be under the shade of Allah (SWT) on a day when there will be no shade other than Allah's. Among those fortunate seven will be those who were brought up in the service of Allah (SWT).

Youth are the mirror of a nation's destiny. To know whether a nation's future is bright and promising or bleak and lamentable, take an account of its young men's lives. Scan their desires, wishes, hobbies and aspirations. Look at their character and behavior, their achievements and activities. Take an account of their prayers.

These youth on who rests our ummah's future are not just our boys but also our girls. Do not forget or ignore these young girls and boys. Both play a role in their respective arenas in framing our future.

We are celebrating Muslim Youth Day with three main goals. Keep all three in perspective. Think seriously of how to achieve all of them.

Goal # 1: Introduce Islam

Remember! This introduction will also be from your character, your actions, your movements, your behavior, treatment to others, from your conversation and speech, in the manner you present, your food, your attire, your activity, cleanliness, discipline, personal hygiene, firm standing and seriousness at work.

The carefully weighed and judged talk of our speakers and the clear picture of Islam presented will also have an effect. Also the frequent remembrance of Allah (SWT) when you go about your activities and duties, the love and concern you show for Allah's servants will go a long way.

Islam states that all of mankind is from the same tribe, and are the children of one father and mother. It teaches us to love everyone. It doesn't teach us to hate anyone. It teaches us to believe, love and respect all the Prophets (may Allah be pleased with them). Your faith is incomplete if you reject any of them. Islam is the only religion that gives equality to the whole humanity, regards everyone with equal respect. This is the only religion that the whole of mankind can be brought together on the principle of Tawheed, the worship of Allah alone, and belief in all the Prophets! This is the very basis on which all religions and humanity can be brought together.

Goal # 2: Introduce your role and mission

Unlike the past ummahs, you are entrusted with a special purpose. The same way that the Prophets were raised, Allah (SWT) has sent you for the guidance and success of humanity.

Allah (SWT) has favored you as the best of ummahs and has said "ukhrijat linnas." You are the ummah of the last Prophet and Messenger. There will not be any Messenger after Prophet Muhammad (saws) until the day of Judgment. The task of spreading the message will remain until the last day, and Allah has a chosen the Muslim ummah to convey the Message to everyone. You are the result of the acceptance of Prophet Abraham's prayers. The Quran has addressed you as "kuntum khaira ummatin ukhrijatlinnas........."

Today we are celebrating this day to accomplish this mission and fulfill its duties and remind Muslims of their forgotten responsibility. This is certainly a huge honor that Allah (SWT) has given you. No doubt such a high status is a great honor but with it comes certain responsibilities and obligations. Certainly such honor and greatness goes only to those who fulfill their duties and obligations. Those who fail to fulfill their obligations are the ones in manifest error who deserve the anger and punishment of Allah (SWT). Those who rightfully fulfill their duties are the ones who receive this great honor and high status.

Goal # 3: Introduce Yourself

Your third goal of celebrating this day is to convey that you are a peace-loving group and that you strive for the good and success of mankind. You have declared that the propaganda against us done by our enemies is nothing but blasphemy. Under the label of fundamentalism, Muslims are being publicized as terrorists, mischief-makers and violent. All of this is nothing but blasphemy and a pack of blatant lies. After all, on the streets of Great Adventure all these numerous Muslim men and women, young boys and girls moved around with smiling faces greeting one another with Assalaamu Alaikum, peace and blessing for everyone, prayers of goodness and forgiveness on their lips for everyone and welcoming all with open arms. This whole atmosphere, our behavior as a group, our dignified dress, including these well covered young girls and women will serve as a lesson, and cast an example for those present here and also to the rest of the population of this country. Muslims are a peace-loving group who spread the message of the Truth and peace.

Today this gathering as a whole, its discipline, character, speech and action will all have an effect on the minds of a large group and mitigate this propaganda against us. These people will serve as a source to convince the rest of the population that this propaganda is false. But this is possible only if you are serious in achieving these objectives and spend the day conscious of your purpose.

Lastly, I want to remind you, and let this be an advice engraved into your minds, that you may feel that after celebrating this day you have finished your duty, and be satisfied that you celebrated a successful day and that your work is now over. Your work is NOT over; today it has just begun! This is not the end but it is the beginning. Now be steadfast and earnestly continue the good work. This is a never-ending obligation and must continue for life. You are the worker in the path of Allah (SWT) and a worker in the path of Allah (SWT) never rests.

Your job of introducing Islam, introducing your purpose, goals and introducing yourself should be kept ongoing and continues. This is your mission for today. And it is for this mission that you must sacrifice your life. Allah (SWT) is your Protector and Helper. May your tongue always be busy in the remembrance of Allah (SWT) and may it always show the commitment you have made.

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