Sacred space: Muslim and Arab belonging at Ground Zero

What is it about?

In the United States, Muslims are often envisioned as outsiders and foreign threats. This representation was exacerbated after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, as well as on the Pentagon. There was a notable surge in anti-Muslim rhetoric when, in 2010, plans to build a Muslim community center near the World Trade Center ("Ground Zero") were publicized. Media and political figures at the time cast Muslims as violent fanatics who sullied the site of the 9/11 attacks--a place they positioned as "sacred"--and wanted to halt development of the center, which they named "The Ground Zero Mosque." This article shows how the community center became a node of American Muslim identity and belonging, and also discusses the historical presence Arabs and Muslims have had in the area, long before the World Trade Center was built.

Featured Image

Photo by Dennis Maliepaard on Unsplash

Photo by Dennis Maliepaard on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article challenges the limited view of Muslims as newcomers, foreigners and outsiders, shedding light on just a sliver of rich Arab and Muslim history within the United States. It also shows how place making strategies can be used by particular identity groups to assert belonging--in this case, Muslim Americans as well as right wing Islamophobes, both who use claims to space to articulate their belonging as "true" Americans.