The background and pro and con arguments were written by ProCon.org staff based upon input from the following footnotes (directly referenced) and sources (used for general research and not directly referenced):

Footnotes:

  1. Samuel G. Freedman, 'Muslims and Islam Were Part of Twin Towers' Life," www.nytimes.com, Sep. 10, 2010

  2. Anne Flaherty, "Muslims Pray Daily 80 Feet from Pentagon's 9/11 Crash Site," www.huffingtonpost.com, Aug. 18, 2010

  3. Julie Menin, "Better Mosque Compromise: Chair of Community Board Wants Interfaith Center Inside Park51 Project," www.dailynews.com, Aug. 30, 2010

  4. Margot Adler, "Islamic Center Near Ground Zero Sparks Anger," www.npr.org, Sep. 30, 2010

  5. Javier C. Hernandez, "Vote Endorses Muslim Center Near Ground Zero,” www.nytimes.com, May 26, 2010

  6. Oswald Sobrino, "Ground Zero Mosque: Abuse of a Legal Right,” www.catholicanalysis.blogspot.com, Aug. 19, 2010

  7. Newt Gingrich, "Statement on Proposed Mosque/Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero," www.newt.org , July 21, 2010

  8. Keith Olberman, "Special Comment,” on MSNBC’s "Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” Aug. 16, 2010, www.msnbc.msn.com

  9. Dan Senor, comments on Fox News show "Fox & Friends”, www.foxnews.com, Aug. 23, 2010

  10. John Stewart, comments on "The Daily Show”, www.thedailyshow.com, Aug. 23, 2010

  11. "Official: 15 of 19 Sep. 11 Hijackers were Saudi,” www.usatoday.com, Feb. 6, 2002

  12. Rudy Giuliani, comments on NBC’s "Today Show”, Aug. 19, 2010

  13. Samuel G. Freedman, "Muslims and Islam Were Part of Twin Towers’ Life,” www.nytimes.com, Sep. 10, 2010

  14. Matthew Duss, "Debate Over Ground Zero Mosque Is About American Values," www.huffingtonpost.com, Aug. 2, 2010

  15. Paul Sperry, "Rauf: a Moderate?," www.nypost.com, Aug. 23, 2010

  16. Newt Gingrich, "No Mosque at Ground Zero,” www.torenewamerica.com, July 28, 2010

  17. Rick Hampson, "For Families of Muslim 9/11 Victims, A New Pain,” www.usatoday.com, Sep. 9, 2010

  18. Michael Bloomberg, speech on Islamic Center, Aug. 3, 2010. Transcripts available at www.online.wsj.com

  19. Muslim Canadian Congress, "Muslim Canadian Congress Urges New York’s Ground-Zero Mosque Imam to Abandon Project,” www.muslimcanadiancongress.org, Aug. 9, 2010

  20. Daisy Khan, "Ground Zero Mosque Founder: 'We Want to Repair the Breach'," www.blogs.wsj.com, Aug. 2, 2010

  21. Newt Gingrich, comments on Fox & Friends, Aug. 16, 2010. Available at www.foxnews.com

  22. "Battle Over Ground Zero Islamic Center," Anderson Cooper 360°, Aug. 23, 2010. Transcript available at www.cnn.com

  23. Feisal Abdul Rauf, "On Faith," www.washingtonpost.com, July 21, 2010

  24. William Saletan, "Islam is Ground Zero," www.slate.com, Aug. 16, 2010

  25. "20% Favor Mosque Near Ground Zero, 54% Oppose," Rasmussen Report, www.rasmussenreports.com, July 22, 2010

  26. Quinnipiac University, "Muslims Have Right to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero, New York Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll, But They Should Agree to Move It Elsewhere," www.quinnipiac.edu, Sep. 24, 2010

  27. Jason Kessler, "Family Members of 9/11 Victims Support and Denounce NYC Islamic Center,” www.cnn.com, Aug. 25, 2010

  28. Feisal Abdul Rauf, "A Conversation with Feisal Abdul Rauf,” www.cfr.org, Sep. 13, 2010

  29. Feisal Abdul Rauf, "Building on Faith," www.nytimes.com, Sep 7, 2010

  30. Samuel Goldsmith, "Cordoba House Mosque Near Ground Zero Slaps New Name on Itself with Park51, www.nydailynews.com, July 14, 2010

  31. Lauren Green, "Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero Riles Families of 9/11 Victims,” www.foxnews.com, May 14, 2010

  32. "Ground Zero Mosque Investor Declines Trump’s Buyout Offer,” Associated Press, Sep. 9, 2010

  33. Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein, "Half-baked Mosque,” www.nypost.com, Aug. 8, 2010

  34. David Caruso, "Backers of NYC Mosque Appear Divided,” www.washingtonpost.com, Sep. 9, 2010

  35. Ralph Blumenthal and Sharaf Mowjood, "Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero,” www.nytimes.com, Dec. 8, 2009

  36. "New Islamic Mosque at Ground Zero?,” www.youtube.com, Dec. 21, 2009

  37. "Questions About the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’,” www.factcheck.org, Aug. 26, 2010

  38. Tom Topousis, "Panel Approves ‘WTC’ Mosque,” www.nypost.com, May 6, 2010

  39. Justin Elliott, "How the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Fear Mongering Began,” www.salon.com, Aug. 16, 2010

  40. Gary Leupp, "Hurt Feelings and the Ground Zero Mosque,” www.counterpunch.org, Aug. 20-22, 2010

  41. Javier C. Hernandez, "Vote Endorses Muslim Center Near Ground Zero,” www.nytimes.com, May 26, 2010

  42. Rob Sgobbo and Samuel Goldsmith, "Supporters, Opponents Debate Merits of Controversial Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground
    Zero,” www.nydailynews.com, May 26, 2010

  43. "1,000 Protest Planned Islamic Center, Mosque Near Ground Zero," www.nydailynews.com, June 7, 2010

  44. "SIOA 911 Mega Mosque Protest,” www.sioaonline.com, May 11, 2010

  45. www.twitter.com/sarahpalinusa, July 18, 2010

  46. Michael Howard Saul, "Mosque Near Ground Zero Gets OK,” Wall Street Journal, Aug. 4, 2010

  47. Barack Obama, "Remarks by the President at Iftar Dinner,” www.whitehouse.gov, Aug. 13, 2010

  48. James Hohmann, Maggie Haberman, and Mike Allen, "Mosque Flap Swirls Around Obama,” www.politico.com, Aug. 14, 2010

  49. John Boehner, "Boehner Statement on Construction of Mosque Near Ground Zero,” www.gopleader.gov, Aug. 14, 2010

  50. Harry Reid, comments on Islamic center near Ground Zero, www.abcnews.go.com, Aug. 16, 2010

  51. Tim Pawlenty, comments on Fox News show "Hannity,” Aug. 16, 2010

  52. Ron Paul, "Ron Paul to Sunshine Patriots: Stop Your Demagogy about the NYC Mosque!,” www.ronpaul.com, Aug. 20, 2010

  53. Amber Sutherland, Douglas Montero, and Sabrina Ford, "Mosque Rallies Mar Solemn 9/11,” www.nypost.com, Sep. 12, 2010

  54. Sharif El-Gamal, interview with New York City news channel NY1, www.manhattan.ny1.com, Aug. 17, 2010

  55. Hisham Elzanaty, interview with New York City news channel MyFoxNY, www.myfoxny.com, Sep. 20, 2010

  56. "Imam of Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero Receiving Death Threats," www.foxnews.com, Oct. 3, 2010

  57. Joshua Miller, "Imam Won't 'Barter' Over So-Called 'Ground Zero Mosque' with Florida Pastor," www.abcnews.go.com, Sep. 9, 2010

  58. "Most U.S. Foreign Direct Investment Is in Rich Countries," www.dlc.org, Nov. 3, 2009

  59. Robert Mackey, "Saudi Royal Backs Imam and Fox News," www.nytimes.com, Aug. 26, 2010

  60. "'Everything Is on the Table': Ground Zero Mosque Imam Hints at Compromise to End Row," www.dailymail.uk.com, Sep. 14, 2010

  61. Michael Moore, "If the 'Mosque' Isn't Built, This Is No Longer America," www.michaelmoore.com, Sep. 11, 2010

  62. Feisal Abdul Rauf, interview with Ed Bradley on CBS's 60 Minutes, www.islamfortoday.com/60minutes.htm, Sep. 30, 2001

  63. "Quran Burning Still on for 9/11, Minister Says," www.cbsnews.com, Sep. 8, 2010

  64. CNN Opinion Research Poll, Opinion Research Corporation, Aug. 11, 2010

  65. Chris McGreal, "'Ground Zero Mosque' Furore Could Take Heat Off Obama, Republicans Fear," www.guardian.co.uk, Aug. 18, 2010

  66. Jeannie DeAngelis, "One Mosque at a Time," www.americanthinker.com, Aug. 24, 2010
  67. Sabine Heinlein, "The Changing Face of Park51," www.brooklynrail.org, Sep. 3, 2012
  68. Huffington Post, "Park51 Islamic Center Opens Its Doors Near Ground Zero," www.huffingtonpost.com, Sep. 22, 2011

Sources:

All sources used for this website are listed above as Footnotes.