This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1093

Muslims Only Day as Six Flags becomes 'Islamic friendly theme park' for Muslims who "are offended by western dress"

Muslims Only Day "give Muslims a real sense of belonging"
September 18, 2005

MIM: Diversity according to the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Muslims Only Day for Muslims of all sects and nationalities...

Note the mention of the ICNA event organisers who was cited as having 'died in the 9/11 attacks' and the reporter reporter who unquestioningly related this, as an example of how the MSM aids and abets radical Islamists.

The article makes no mention of ICNA's ties to Al Qaeda or New Jersey Imam Mazen Mokhtar ,who was a speaker at an ICNA youth camps and is under investigation for ties to Ahmed Babar who was jailed for plotting to blow up US landmarks.

In fact ICNA spokesman Adem Carroll gave a very different reason for the Six Flags event last year, and said nothing of it being held in anyone's memory.

On the contrary, Adem Carroll gave a very belligerent and bellicose reason for the event. As an 'in your face' message to infidels.

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

MIM: If the link is inacessible the original article can be found on MIM:

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/289

Roller Coasters -Rides and Religion Great Adventure hosts Muslims of all sects, nationalities.


http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/12667980.htm

"...Some people are offended by Western dress, and they can't eat the food," said Ashfaq Parkar, one of more than 100 event organizers and volunteers from the local Islamic Circle. "This allows all families to come out and enjoy the day and not worry about that sort of thing..." By Toni Callas

Inquirer Staff Writer


JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - If an amusement park roller coaster stops running in the middle of the day, usually it is a sign of trouble. But yesterday, as thousands of Muslim families congregated at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park here, that was far from true.

Instead, it was time for prayer.

The Kingda Ka mega roller coaster and the Moon Flume water ride were halted while men, women and children knelt facing Mecca during the Jummah Khutbah, the first of four prayers held in the theme park during the Great Muslim Adventure Day.

While a few non-Muslims visited on their own yesterday, the park catered to Muslims of all nationalities and sects from throughout the Northeast as they enjoyed a day of family fun, charity and prayer.

"It's cool to see Muslims together, enjoying themselves," said Sarah Khalifa, a 16-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., who has attended the event for the last two years. "And it's a lot of fun."

First held in September 2000, the event started as a group trip sponsored by the Islamic Circle of North America - New Jersey, a Piscataway-based branch of the national organization that provides religious education and social services to families.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the event was interrupted. One of its chief organizers, Tariq Amanullah, who worked on the 96th floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center, was among those killed. The event is held in his memory.

After taking two years to mourn and regroup, organizers wanted to make the event specially tailored for Muslim families. In its first years, it was held during the park's normal operating hours. But two years ago, the group took a shot at renting the entire park for Muslim families in an effort to attract those who might otherwise stay away. Attendance increased. Last year, 15,000 people attended, organizers said, and they said this year's crowd was approaching that number yesterday.

"Some people are offended by Western dress, and they can't eat the food," said Ashfaq Parkar, one of more than 100 event organizers and volunteers from the local Islamic Circle. "This allows all families to come out and enjoy the day and not worry about that sort of thing."

Parkar said organizers held the event on a Friday because it is a holy day for Muslims. He added that halal food, which he likened to kosher for Jewish people, and vendors selling everything from Islamic music to Islamic clothing made the day more attractive to families. In addition to the rides and attractions offered at the park, families also were called on to be charitable.

"Give your cash, write a check, go to the ATM, and let people know that what they see in the media is not what Muslims are about," Imam Zaid Shakir told a crowd of hundreds gathered for the sermon as they filled boxes with donations for victims of Hurricane Katrina. "Let people see what we can do."

Khalifa was one of many who anxiously anticipated the closing of prayers and the opening of Kingda Ka. She eagerly awaited her chance to go from zero to 128 m.p.h. in 3.5 seconds. She did not have long to wait. The lines were short, and moved quickly. And as she sat in the front car with her friend, 13-year-old Hind Kasem, she secured her hijab by tucking the black head scarf into the collar of her shirt. She did not want a repeat of what happened last year on the Nitro roller coaster.

"I didn't tighten it, and it blew up over my head," she said, giggling.

He was not getting on as many rides as he would have liked, but Ahmed Elgabroni was just as giddy about being at the amusement park. He, his mother, his aunt, two sisters and a brother all made the trip yesterday from Jersey City.

"They said I was too short," the 12-year-old said, sounding disappointed about being a couple of inches shy of the 54-inch-height requirement to ride most of the park's 13 roller coasters. "But that's OK. I'm going to get on something."

Contact staff writer Toni Callas at 856-779-3912 or [email protected].

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MIM: Another article which uncritically lauds the Muslims Only Day and it's transformation into an "Islamic friendly theme park'.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-1/112685047794450.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

Friday, September 16, 2005

BY JULIA M. SCOTT

Star-Ledger Staff

The Azan, the Muslim call to prayer, will stream over the loudspeakers instead of pop music. Crowds will take a break from the roller coasters and thrill rides to kneel and pray on tarps facing Mecca. Instead of eating hot dogs and pizza, they feast on halal food prepared in accordance with Muslim law.

For one day, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson will transform itself into an Islamic-friendly theme park.

Today's Great Muslim Adventure Day will draw 15,000 people of Islamic faith, in what organizers call the largest single gathering of Muslims on the East Coast. And like any other day at the park, the lines will be long for Kingda Ka, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world.

The idea is to provide a fun environment that adheres to Islamic principles," said organizer Ashfaq Parkar of the Islamic Circle of North America.

In its fourth year, the gathering has taken on overtones of a cultural holiday, Parkar said.

"You want to have things you associate with your culture," Parkar said. "Christmas, Christians associate with their culture. This has become something Muslims look forward to."

Like most holidays, the preparations are extensive.

ICNA began planning months ago, selecting six caterers to bus in trays of Pakistani, American and Indian fare. They designed banners and maps so guests will know where to go for a plate of curry or to pray. Tarps will be put down in certain areas for prayer services at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., sunset and 9 p.m., at which times the rides will be shut down and the music turned off. Organizers coordinated dozens of vendors to peddle incense, clothing and trinkets around the park's central fountain.

The changed atmosphere accounts partly for the popularity of the gathering, which will draw people from as far as Michigan, Texas and Maryland.

"Some Muslims don't really like to go to a gathering where there is going to be loud pop music or where people are not dressed appropriately," Parkar said.

Being surrounded by so many other Muslims in an "Islamic" environment gives children a sense of belonging, said Mohamed Esseghir. He attended last year and plans to drive to the park with his wife and four daughters today.

"For children to see that people are observing the same lifestyle, even dressing the same, it strengthens their personality," said Esseghir, 46. "It's a struggle I'm sure every minority goes through, which is what is your heritage and how to be proud of it."

This is the second time ICNA, which counts more than a hundred members in New Jersey, rented out the entire park.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1093