Islamic Center of America
| Islamic Center of America | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Dearborn, Michigan |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: 42°19′47.7″N 83°13′46.7″W / 42.329917°N 83.229639°W |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam |
| Year consecrated | 2005 |
| Website | www.icofa.com/aboutus/landmark.html |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | David Donnellon |
| Architectural type | Islamic architecture |
| Construction cost | $14 million |
| Specifications | |
| Dome height (outer) | 150-feet |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
| Minaret height | 10 stories tall |
The Islamic Center of America is a Shia mosque located in Dearborn, Michigan. Opened in 2005, it is both the largest mosque in North America[1][2] and the oldest Shia mosque in the United States.[3] With its large Shia Arab population (consisting mostly of Iraqi and Lebanese), Dearborn is often called the "heart of Shiism" in the United States.[4][5]
The Islamic Center of America is located at 19500 Ford Road in Dearborn. The institution was founded in 1963 by Muhammad Jawad Chirri, who remained its director until his death in 1994. The current Imam is Iraqi-born Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini.[6]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] 2007 Vandalism
The mosque was vandalized in January 2007 with anti-Shia graffiti. Many in the community believed that the vandalism was the result of recurrent sectarian tensions with the American Sunni Muslim community over the Iraq war and its Shia-Sunni conflict.[7]
[edit] 2011 mosque bombing plot
On January 24, 2011, an Imperial Beach, California man named Roger Stockham was arrested and charged with terrorism after attempting to blow up the Islamic Center of America. According to police, he targeted the city because of its large Arab-American and Muslim population although he later claimed to be a convert to Sunni Islam who harbored anti-Shia Islam sentiments.[8]
[edit] Pastor Terry Jones rally
On April 21, 2011, the day before the scheduled appearance of Pastor Terry Jones, hundreds of people from different faiths gathered in a show of solidarity. Jews, Christians and other faith groups stood side by side with inter-locked arms in opposition to Jones' planned protest.[9][10]
[edit] See also
- Dearborn Mosque, an older Sunni Muslim mosque in the same city
[edit] References
- ^ New Dearborn mosque to be the nation's largest. Michigan Daily, January 7, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ Islam's US faithful are happy to embrace the American dream, Daily Telegraph, July 23, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ The Doha Debates: Bio for Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini retrieved February 12, 2012
- ^ North County Times: "American Shias struggle with their future" July 23, 2009
- ^ Daily Telegraph: "Islam's US faithful are happy to embrace the American dream July 23, 2005
- ^ The Doha Debates: Bio for Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini retrieved February 12, 2012
- ^ New York Times: "Iraq’s Shadow Widens Sunni-Shiite Split in U.S." February 4, 2007 By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
- ^ "Mosque plot suspect rejects first appointed counsel, calls lawyer 'Shi'ite'". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/article/20110204/NEWS01/110204006. Retrieved 23 April 2011.[dead link]
- ^ Dearborn Press and Guide: "Terry Jones to be here again on Friday" April 26, 2011
- ^ Dahoui-Charara, Mariam (April 21, 2011). "Hundreds Stand Together for Peace at Dearborn's Islamic Center". Patch Media (Dearborn, MI). http://dearborn.patch.com/articles/hundreds-stand-together-for-peace-at-dearborns-islamic-center#photo-5744864. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
[edit] External links
- "In the Way of the Prophet: Ideologies and Institutions in Dearborn, Michigan, America's Muslim Capitol", at AmericanCity.org (Retrieved February 16, 2009)
- The Islamic Center of America
- Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini
