Mosque to be 'a hub for all religions'

Beneath the protective shade of a giant oak, prominent members of the Islamic Center of Long Island joined local politicians Saturday to symbolically begin a major renovation of the Westbury mosque.

Twenty years ago, the mosque was the first built on Long Island. Now it's tripling in size.

The $4-million renovation will create 19,000 square feet, adding classrooms, a basketball court, a conference room, two courtyards, a second floor and more parking.

The expansion project represents empathy and trust at a time when Muslim Americans often feel the weight of suspicion, said those who attended yesterday's ceremony.

"This should be a model for the rest of the world," said Faroque Kahn, coordinator of the project, at yesterday's groundbreaking. "This is positive news despite everything going on around us."

Kahn referred to the backlash over the proposed construction of a mosque near Ground Zero; the recent congressional hearings led by Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) about the "radicalization" of American Muslims; and the fast-approaching 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

"The beauty is that the local community understands we have the same issues as everyone else," said Kahn, of Jericho, who has lived on Long Island since 1971. "We are here to stay, and we are growing."

SEE PHOTOSLong Island's Muslim community

For Friday prayer services, up to 800 people now fill the mosque, center officials said.

By the time the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins at sundown next Sunday, initial demolition work should begin. Construction is expected to take two years to complete, Kahn said, and coincides with the expansion plans of two other Island mosques -- in Selden and Bethpage.

The distinguishing feature of the Islamic Center project is the commitment of space to house an interfaith institute.

"We're not just building a building," Kahn said, "we're developing a hub for all religions."

Among the 150 or so who attended yesterday's ceremony was Talat Hamdani, a Pakistani-American from Lake Grove who worships at the center.

Hamdani's son, Mohammed Salman Hamdani, was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center. He was a paramedic and New York Police Department cadet; he was 23 when he was killed.

"We need to heal and move forward," Hamdani said of the suspicion that has followed Muslim-Americans since the attack 10 years ago. "I do see a change. I think the tide has turned."

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman also participated in the ceremony.

"It's impossible to stay separate in America, whether you're in a small town or a big city," he said. "One of the true and positive features of living in a melting pot is that you can come together here in a way you can't in other parts of the world."