SALT LAKE CITY—
The proposed Islamic Center and Mosque near Ground Zero in New York has drawn protests from many Republican leaders. Major national GOP figure, Senator Orrin Hatch is defending the right of Muslims to build there. "If the Muslims own that property," said Hatch. "It's private property and they want to build a Mosque there, they should have the right to do so."Most prominently, Hatch sponsored the religious land use and zoning bill, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in 2000. Hatch said it is really an issue for New Yorkers and for the Mosque builders themselves. "The only question is are they being insensitive to those who suffered the loss of loved ones? We know there are Muslims killed on 9-11 and we know it's a great religion," Hatch told FOX 13.
Hatch relates his sensitivity to the issue to his own experience fighting for building rights for the LDS Church, in particular the LDS Boston Temple dedicated in Massachusetts in 2000. Hatch said he is aware that public opinion is against building the Mosque. "That should not make a difference if they decided to build it and I'd be the first to stand up for their rights," Hatch said.
FOX 13's Max Roth reports.
