Potential move brings potential conflict

For students living on Beige Block, the potential move of the liquor store closer to the area may be a godsend.

But to Ahmed Rushdie, the news is nothing less than "insulting."

Officials familiar with the negotiations say that there are talks to move the 41st and Market streets liquor store to 43rd and Walnut streets, a location close in proximity to a K-8 school and a community mosque.

The Masjid Al-Jamia Mosque is located at 4228 Walnut St., while the Penn-Alexander school is at 4209 Spruce St.

Rushdie, a professor in Penn's Near Eastern Language and Civilizations Department and a board member of Masjid Al-Jamia, says the move raises serious issues for Muslims in the area - under Islamic law, it is illegal for Muslims to consume alcohol.

Rushdie's concerns go further than religious convictions, however: He said Masjid Al-Jamia is most concerned about the possible negative side effects that a liquor store might have for the area.

"Most importantly, it's really bad for the neighborhood because there are many families, and [it would be] less than 300 feet from the school on 42nd" Street, he said. "We're not disputing the relocation of this store because it's a religious matter only."

Although the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has denied that there are present plans to move the store, Spruce Hill Community Association officials and the building's developer have both confirmed that a zoning-board meeting - in which community members will be allowed to voice their concerns - will be held Feb. 28 to discuss the move.

"I'm sure the mosque will be there, make their case [and] be heard," said Barry Grossbach, chairman of the Spruce Hill Zoning Committee. All parties "have the right to speak, and then the zoning committee decides."

If the PLCB were to move locations, they would need to obtain a permit approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

And the Muslim community hopes that, at the meeting, its voice will be heard.

"If this is the motivation of the establishment or to further fuel the pockets of the government through liquor tax, I'm unsure," said area resident Asalamu Alaikum, a member of Masjid Al-Jamia. "However, we all agree that we don't want to see our community fall victim to these types of establishments, as others have done all too often."

College junior Artina Sheikh, vice president of the Penn Muslim Student Association, also spoke out against the possible relocation.

"The MSA is extremely concerned over this issue and objects to this establishment because of the moral implications of permitting wider distribution of alcohol to society at large," she said.

But Grossbach said he hopes that an amiable conclusion can eventually be reached.

"Everyone is looking to find some solution . that is acceptable across the board," he said.

Comments (77)

To all the people quoted in the article: Where does the following come from: "...we don't want to see our community fall victim to these types of establishments..." and "...moral implications of permitting wider distribution of alcohol to society at large..." 1. Every neighborhood I've ever lived in has had a liquor store. None of them "fell victim" to them. There are plenty of other things, much worse than a neighborhood liquor store, that affect an area. How about we focus on them first. 2. If you're morally opposed to having a liquor store across the street from a mosque, then argue that. I can understand that argument. But please don't argue that there are "moral implications" of alcohol distribution in general. My religion and moral upbringing doesn't teach that and I have no desire to abide by that rule.

What this article fails to mention is that there is a Beer distributor at 43rd and Walnut directly across 43rd from the mosque and exactly one block from the school. I agree that establishing a liquor store across the street from a mosque near a school isn't a great idea, but if a similar store already exists, why not mention it in the story, and why isn't the community up at arms about it?

Say no to Sharia law in America.

it's totally insane that the rest of us should have to observe someone else's religious laws, just because they might be "offended" if we drink alcohol. bring on the liquor store.

Dear Ahmed, we are deeply saddened that you are "insulted." Perhaps moving to a different country would eliminate these insults that we Americans are so free with. What do ya think, Ahmed?

...we don't want to see our community fall victim to these types of establishments... That could also of apply to Christians and other faiths when they see mosques going up everywhere, they are in England, we are going to have one of the biggest in Europe soon.

a question for Artina Sheikh...just what are the "moral implications of permitting wider distribution of alcohol to society at large"? alcohol has been distributed in my country since its inception and we remain a very moral society. also, we had this little values failure in America not too long ago called PROHIBITION, perhaps you didn't attend class that day...if you don't like alcohol, don't drink, and don't force your values on me

Muslims and their constant complaints and demands. If it's not demanding prayer spaces everywhere, or cab drivers refusing to transport infidels, or taking offense at cartoons, it's now the Islamification of the neighborhoods in which they reside, all the while complaining of "Islamophobia". Fit in, like everyone else has who have come to America before you, or leave. There are plenty of Muslim countries in this world where you won't have to worry about all these things, and where the freedoms that the American Democracy are built upon won't get in the way of your pursuit of Sharia-compliant happiness. If you don't like liquor stores, don't go into them. If you don't like cartoons, don't read them. If you are not willing to transport everyone in your cab, find a different career. If you want to pray instead of watching sports, stay home or go to your mosque and watch it on TV. Oh, and you might want to stop the jihad too. That would go a long way to reducing the "Islamophobia" we "pigs and monkeys" are so apparently exhibiting.

Lets see Mr. Rushdie, are you not offended by the way muslims kill people all around the world in the name of your moon god allah? Let me tell you I am very much offended byt such murder in the name of a false god or should I say in the name of your true god satan! If you don't drink alcohol, then do not by it and consume it. This is the land of the free not the land of islamic bondage. My suggestion to you Mr. Rushdie is to leave this great country and move to a country where they allow bondage and slavery and murder of infidels. I for one am tired of your pagan beliefs being spewed across this great land. If you do not like this land...LEAVE and do it soon, because now we know who you are and we are tired of your islamic trash and we will start doing to you just what your jiahdist are doing to our great American soldiers and other Americans around this world. We will put an American woop ass on you and all like you...want to try us? You should fear greatly!!! In American Truth, Ormus

These muslims believe that they are in their own country. You're in the good old USA...either love it or leave it. Take your sharia law and shove it where the sun don't shine. And if that's not possible, flush it down the toilet. Demonstrate to me where in your country does a christain have the right to make demands that Islam adhere to our customs and beliefs. Is it any wonder why so many americans are fed up with muslims to a point that we all could lose our heads and heavens know what we are capable of. The USA is not Britain where the British parliment bows down to Islamist demands.

Most of you posting seem to be filled with so much hate. From my understanding, individuals from a mosque (or church or synagogue or neighborhood) are acting completely within their rights to try and fight the move of a liquor store (or any other establishment) into their neighborhood. Am I missing something? Is there something un-American about that? Google "church protest liquor" and you can find a large number of churches that have objected to the same thing. Some people believe it is a social ill (though I don't) and have every right to peacefully try and keep it out of their neighborhood without being accused of trying to overthrow the entire system of government. Not to mention of course that one of the men quoted said it was not simply a religious objection, but the belief that the store would detract from the neighborhood. Whether that belief is a fair one or not is what you should be arguing, not that this objection makes them "un-American".

Come on everyone. If it was a church instead of a mosque, I can guarantee there would be a lot of parishoners vocally protesting a new liquor store across the street. Perhaps even some of you would. Yes, it is a more sensitive issue when the religion forbids alcohol. But even if it was a Christian establishment, there would still be moral qualms about a new store. So stop making this an anti-Muslim outcry. Also- as I'm glad "sciencegeek" pointed out, University City Beverages, the beer store, is right next to the mosque and school right now. Shame on the author for failing to point out that extremely relevant fact.

I can guarantee there would be a lot of parishoners vocally protesting a new liquor store across the street. I have never seen such a protest. Are we all to become dhimmis to the extreme demands of the Islamists? There is no American law against opening licensed liquor stores. There is no zoning violation here. Soon they will be telling us that women have to go to beaches in burqhinis so that their sensibilities won`t be harmed. This is still the USA isn`t it?

Oh look! Muslims are upset again. What a surprise. It never seems to end. One thing after another. Like they are just trying to wear us down. And don't forget to "read the Quran". So that you can get relief by converting to Islam. In the end, those are the choices - convert or suffer. A simple look around the globe and through history will make it all quite clear. Allahu Akbar and your grandchildren are all Muslims. Or dead.

[QUOTE id="4f21d6ec-8b01-47e9-bc03-f1827fe11522"]Say no to Sharia law in America.[/QUOTE] Yeah, read the Quran. Muslims just don't realize that to a post-enlightenment mind, reading the the Quran is the last thing we should do for their benefit. Muslims plot that since a bunch of illiterates, and jungle-dwellers who knew nothing better were convinced by it (albeit with a little persuasion of the scimitar type) that the same tactic will work on the Western (White) man. Um, no. We know better. We've read a few books already. Some that you as a Muslim are prohibited from reading, for the Mullah's fear that it will open your mind, and actually force you to THINK for yourself. We've seen a few philosophers in our neck of the woods, as well as a few crackpot fascists. The Quran is a bad book. If it were not being shoved down people's throats, it would be in the dustbin of history (a time that can not come to soon). It is a contemptuous, presumptuous, rambling, repetitive, bastardized book of obvious lies. Anyone who believes that what is written within came from the creator of all life and the universe is a dangerous person. No "God" would have a message so filled with violence and enmity for mankind. No messenger of such "God" would have acted so abhorrently during his lifetime and spoken so badly of other men. What the world faces now is the legacy of a brutal mad man and his supremacist Arab cult of blood that he used to run amok. Mohammad condoned rape, stealing, lying, slavery, and murder, and had sex with a 9 year old girl at the age of 53. Some "prophet". It's all in the Quran. Muslims just have no perspective. No context for introspection. Sad, but mostly, dangerous. Islam is a farce. A cruel and insane hoax perpetrated upon the ignorant by rich men in dresses and poofy hats who rule with iron fists and outlaw for man now what they promise for him some some blissful afterlife for the obedient. Grow up Muslims. Before the punishment your religion is founded upon is turned back upon you.

2 notes before I leave. 1. Thomas. Because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. http://www.naaapi.org/nowineshop/media.html is a story from Philadelphia in which "Church leaders, dental students and residents of the Nicetown-Tioga section of the city are determined to keep a liquor store from opening in their community." http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/25/sitroom.03.html shows "In Philadelphia, another pastor tried to attract a convenience store chain as competition to force out a nearby liquor store." 2. Christian- there are enough Christian missionaries and televangelists that tell me the same thing: Read the Bible, convert or suffer. Let's keep this in perspective. This is about the relocation of a liquor store into a neighborhood where many residents don't want it. They have a right to protest. As you all say- this is America, isn't it?

Ang. Your link takes me to Saddam`s trial. Not to where you said it would. The Islamists have a right to protest and we have a right to criticize them for their belligerent, forceful way. But there is no law against opening liquor stores so they have no viable right to protest. Therefore it is incumbent on us all to support the rights of the business people who wish to operate a legitimate business. If we don`t we'll all wind up like the good folks in Eurabia who are bowing under to the yoke of Islamofascism. As we have discovered, everywhere on the planet, they are in bloody conflict with their neighbors. [QUOTE id="bb26eb1f-f6fb-4938-accd-2ca10e515190"]2 notes before I leave. 1. Thomas. Because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. http://www.naaapi.org/nowineshop/media.html is a story from Philadelphia in which "Church leaders, dental students and residents of the Nicetown-Tioga section of the city are determined to keep a liquor store from opening in their community." http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/25/sitroom.03.html shows "In Philadelphia, another pastor tried to attract a convenience store chain as competition to force out a nearby liquor store." 2. Christian- there are enough Christian missionaries and televangelists that tell me the same thing: Read the Bible, convert or suffer. Let's keep this in perspective. This is about the relocation of a liquor store into a neighborhood where many residents don't want it. They have a right to protest. As you all say- this is America, isn't it?[/QUOTE]

I just can't believe the level of ignorance in these posts. Everyone here is using this story to show showcase their hatred and blatant intolerance. There is nothing to be upset by here. Zoning hearings are not to rubber stamp plans, Thomas, they are to get community input to decide on the merits of the proposed establishments. And Christian, you apparently forget about the history of your faith. Look to the indigenous people of the Americas to see what Christians did to those who failed to convert.

I'm offended by the way that radical Muslims intentionally kill thousands of innocent people around the world and moderate Muslims don't condemn the acts or distance themselves. Also, I can understand an argument where people don't want a run-down liquor store in their community because of the crowd that it attracts. But an upscale liquor store shouldn't be a problem. And nobody cares that Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol. If you don't want to drink it, don't. Left-wing radicals in Philly may bow to these absurd Muslim demands, but America at large won't.

Okay, I hate to descend into this particular pit, but if everyone wants to be upset about the intrusion of religion into the economics of alcohol, I'll ask two questions: Is it difficult to buy alcohol on Sunday in Pennsylvania? Which religion do you think is responsible for that? I happen to live in the neighborhood where the mosque, the school, the beer distributor and the proposed site for the state store is. From a completely practical standpoint, I'd like to have a state store nearby and in a location that I'm comfortable being in after dark. From the standpoint of belonging to a community, I understand the objection of my neighbors - whether they are members of the mosque or parents of children at the school. I like my neighbors, so I hope that these discussions of zoning are constructive and that people's opinions are heard. I do think that the argument against the state store is badly handicapped by the preexisting beer distributor at 43rd and Walnut, and I think that the author of this piece was negligent in failing to mention it. Perhaps because it has been there for so long he no longer notices it. I certainly remember moving into the neighborhood five years ago and finding it incongruous. This article isn't proposing that we all follow Sharia, it is reporting on a community disagreement. I think that this disagreement has parallels in recent community uproar over the casinos in South Philly and the plan to put a brew pub in the old Firehouse in West Philly. People get upset about liquor, gambling, nudity, and firearms regardless of their religious background.

I just don�?t understand why all this attack on Islam and Muslims? Those who commented rudely have no idea about true moderate Islam and Muslims. The true Islam is not based on violence nor enforcing anything on others, rather it is based on respecting the freedom and the belief of the others. I don�?t understand why some ignorant people generalize? Why they don�?t want to understand that the extremists among Muslims are the minority? Nobody wants to impose Islamic laws on America as was misunderstood from my talk. Can someone tell me what was the situation going to be if the mosque was a church or a senagueck? Once again, we want to say that it is not only a religious issue but it is also moral and is also pertaining to the well-being of the whole community in the area regardless their religion. As I said, there are many negative effects for establishing such store in the area. A few days back, I saw a man on 43rd street during the day time drinking alcohol while walking, and he threw the empty bottle on the street after he finished. Moreover, I have irresponsible neighbors who cause noise and inconvenience for me and for my household from time to time. Can anyone of those rude persons tell me if it is fair to have neighbors live just next door, who sometimes have loud parties? Not just that, they also spill alcohol in front of our door and break bottles and dump cigarettes. Is that the American freedom you are talking about?

Mr. Emad, I have nothing against anyone of any faith. Muslims who are not apologists for the Islamist radicals are brave, strong people whom I respect.I am an admirer of the likes of Walid Shoebat, Hirysa Ali, and IRshad MAnji. However, I see mass mayhem and acts of terror being committed in the name of Allah worldwide.But I see no condemnation from the Islamic world against these people who are committing such acts. Instead we hear the aplogists blaming everyone else....It`s America`s fault. IT`s ISrael`s fault. It`s Russia`s fault. It`s Thailand`s fault. It`s the Phillipines fault. It`s Spain`s fault. It`s the UK`s fault....Always someone else to blame. I saw a poll not too long ago which suggested that hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide supported the mass murderer, Osama Bin Ladin. We read about Muslim women being abused in the vilest of manners. We see Jews and Christians being referred to as apes and monkeys. Then we see Muslims immigrating to our country and trying to impose Sharia law ( Ontario Canada), taxi cab drivers who only want to pick up those who don`t have liquor on their person and of course, now your liquor store fiasco. Well sir, if you don`t want to drink alcohol or if you don`t want to see women`s hair because it will tempt you, that`s your problem. Get over it. You`re living in the west. Women walk beside men. They drive. They work. They copulate if they so wish. Your post underscores your contempt for the rest of us and your hatred towards your neighbors. Maybe that`s why so much booze is being spilled on your doorstep.

If this is really a Penn professor, I am ashamed. Do you know proper grammar? ...And by the way, if moderate Islam isn't based on violence, where are the condemnations of terrorism occurring in your religion's name? You guys protest about everything else, from alcohol to displays of sexuality...why not protest about the fact that people are claiming to kill innocents on YOUR behalf? Why not protest the way Sharia law is carried out in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and almost every other Muslim/Arab country in Asia and Africa? Trust me...people of your religion have more to worry about than the location of a liquor store. (Btw...maybe move the mosque?)

For those ignorantly criticizing Emad Rushdie: He is a fantastic professor who teaches Arabic, and if he made a few grammatical mistakes on an internet post online I have no doubt about his ability to teach Arabic. He heads his department and is an enthusiastic professor who makes one of the hardest languages a joy to learn. He is being nominated for the SAS Dean�?s Award for Distinguished Teaching by Affiliated Faculty, something he wholly deserves. He is kind and thoughtful and shatters the ignorantly held view most people have of Muslims. I am ashamed to be part of community that has people who are so ignorant as those that have posted above. If you want to criticize Rushdie's opposition to liquor store do it at the zoning hearing. Do not use his understandable stand against a liquor store in his neighborhood to claim he is a fundamentalist or to perpetrate hatred. The racism so many people are showing here proves that extremism and hatred are cancers that all societies deal with, not just Islamic ones.