Opening Statement:

Today we are here to argue whether or not a Muslim Community Center should be built near Ground Zero, where 9/11 commenced. Our opponent is going to try to prove to us today, that a Muslim Community Center should be built next to a place where a Muslim terrorist act was initiated. Anybody in America should be able to worship freely, like the 1st amendment states,our team, however, will try to prove to you that there is a limit to the amendment, and by building the Muslim community center, that limit is broken. First of all, as 9/11 was inspired by Islam, it would be purely insulting to the memories and families of those who lost their lives, to build a Mosque right there. Ground Zero should remain untouched and serve as a cemetery and a memorial to 9/11. Second of all, as Islam promotes equality, it seems wrong that no churches or synagogues are permitted to be built in Saudi Arabia, and that Christians and Jews are not allowed to enter Mecca. And so before questioning American ways, they should look over their own. Lastly, building the “Ground Zero Mosque” will spark protests and riots all over New York, and soon anti-Muslim extremists would launch attacks on the Mosque. This would endanger all the local residents. We believe that it would be beneficial for everybody, including Muslims, if the Mosque is not built there, as many losses could be avoided. The mosque could be built anywhere else in New York without any problems occurring. We will try and prove to you that “Ground Zero” is not the correct place for a mosque, and we hope by then end of the debate you will be on our side

Before trying to build a Mosque in a controversial area, the Muslims should review their own views. As Islam promotes equality, it seems wrong that no churches or synagogues are permitted to be built in Saudi Arabia, and that Christians and Jews are not allowed to enter Mecca.

The spiritual leader of the so called “Ground Zero Mosque,” Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is an Islamic extremist. He refused to acknowledge Hamas as a terrorist group. During an interview on September 30, 2001, he said that "the United States’ policies were an accessory to the crime” and that "Osama bin Laden was made in the USA.” Furthermore, in his speech in July, 2005, he said that "the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims.”

According to an August 23, 2010 Fox News report, the “Ground Mosque” project was funded by Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. It was discovered, that he also funded several fundamental Muslim schools. From this, it was concluded, that he has ties with the extremists, as 15 of the 19 people that day we from Saudi Arabia.

Building an Islamic Mosque nearby a place where killings were inspired by it seems absurd, as a Serbian Orthodox church near the killing fields of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslims were brutally murdered would never be built, and neither would a pro-Japanese monument near Pearl Harbor.

As 9/11 was inspired by Islam, it would be purely insulting to the memories and families of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Leaving Ground Zero as it is, a memorial and a sacred burial, would be the correct thing to do.

According to former New York Mayor, Rudi Giuliani, “All the proposed Muslim community center near Ground Zero will do is create more division, more anger, and more hatred." This proves that building a mosque by Ground Zero will result in hatred towards the Muslims.

Polls that were conducted to find out what people thought of the “Ground Zero Mosque” and these were the results against the Mosque: CNN - 68%, Rasmussen - 54%, and Quinnipiac - 71%.

Other names of the Mosque include: Cordoba Initiative and Park 51. According to former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, "The name 'Cordoba House' is a deliberately insulting term that refers to Cordoba, Spain - the capital of Muslim conquerors who symbolized their victory over the Christian Spaniards by transforming a church there into the world's third-largest mosque complex." This is yet another proof of their unclear intentions.

And this is why we believe that no Muslim community center should be built next to “Ground Zero.” It is wrong in many ways, and even though in America freedom of religion is guaranteed, there are limits to it. Firstly, as 9/11 was inspired by Islam, it would be purely insulting to the memories and families of those who lost their lives, to build a Mosque right there. Secondly, as Islam promotes equality, it seems wrong that no churches or synagogues are permitted to be built in Saudi Arabia, and that Christians and Jews are not allowed to enter Mecca. Lastly, building the “Ground Zero Mosque” will spark protests and riots all over New York, and soon anti-Muslim extremists would launch attacks on the Mosque. By avoiding building the community center, Muslims will guarantee a safe future, and many losses would be avoided and many lives saved. It is important not repeat past mistakes, as they all lead to chaos. Islam is all about peace, so it should be kept in mind while making the decision, because that decision decides the fate of innocent people that do not deserve to suffer.

And this is why we believe that no Muslim community center should be built next to “Ground Zero.” It is wrong in many ways, and even though in America freedom of religion is guaranteed, there are limits to it. Firstly, as 9/11 was inspired by Islam, it would be purely insulting to the memories and families of those who lost their lives, to build a Mosque right there. Secondly, as Islam promotes equality, it seems wrong that no churches or synagogues are permitted to be built in Saudi Arabia, and that Christians and Jews are not allowed to enter Mecca. Lastly, building the “Ground Zero Mosque” will spark protests and riots all over New York, and soon anti-Muslim extremists would launch attacks on the Mosque. By avoiding building the community center, Muslims will guarantee a safe future, and many losses would be avoided and many lives saved. It is important not repeat past mistakes, as they all lead to chaos. Islam is all about peace, so it should be kept in mind while making the decision, because that decision decides the fate of innocent people that do not deserve to suffer.

Building the “Ground Zero Mosque” will spark protests and riots all over New York. This would endanger all the local residents, as anti-Muslim extremists would launch attacks on the Mosque. On October 3, 2010, the NYPD confirmed that they were investigating death threats against Imam Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan. A pastor from Florida threatened to burn 100 Qur’an’s on September 11, 2010, if the Mosque was built in the proposed location. An example of this story would be the bombing of Churches in Lahore, Pakistan in 2015. The bombing of 2 Christian Mosques resulted in at least 14 deaths and above 70 casualties. Violent riots and protest were sparked against the bombers, claimed to be Jamatul Ahrar. During the protest 2 people were accused of the bombings and killed by the mob. As well as this in Northern Nigeria a terrorist organization known as Boko Haram has been subject to killing thousands and thousands of people including the majority of them Christians. Goodluck Jonathan has even claimed that they have killed 13,000 people and recently around January several Churches were destroyed and several hundred people to even thousands of people were killed. This is just one of several examples why the Christians and Muslims are bashing heads so much currently. Even between the Muslims and the Jewish things are extremely heated with the Palestine/ Israel conflict occurring at this moment of time. Jews also feel that Muslims shouldn’t be able to open a mosque and opening a mosque wouldn’t only likely cause conflict in New York but would also cause conflict in Gaza, Jerusalem and the rest of Israel and Palestine.