Israel changes venue for wine fest planned to be held in mosque courtyard

[TT1]

Israel changes venue for wine fest planned to be held in mosque courtyard
4 September 2012 / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Israeli authorities have changed the venue for a wine festival which was initially planned to be held the courtyard of the historic Be'er Sheva Mosque between Sept. 5 and 6, Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

Anatolia quoted the director of Be'er Sheva Mosque Museum as saying that the festival will now be held outside the mosque courtyard. Dalia Manor reportedly said that the decision was taken by the city council of Be'er Sheva and was delivered to him on Tuesday.

Israeli plans to hold the festival in the courtyard of the mosque drew strong criticism from the Muslim world. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu strongly criticized Israel on Saturday over its plans to use the mosque as a venue for a wine festival to promote the products of Israeli winemakers.

The Be'er Sheva Mosque was built during the Ottoman reign over the region and was turned into an Islamic museum on the orders of an Israeli high court in 2011.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ also condemned the festival's venue plans, calling them a provocation and disrespectful to Muslims.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Yozgat, Bozdağ said mosques are places of worship for Muslims. Disrespect for sacred places is a violation of human rights, Bozdağ further stated, calling on the Israel government to “stop this violation.”
---
Article: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-291372-.html

Kudos to the Israeli officials who changed the plan which otherwise would be a very unnecessary and somewhat immature/provocative IMO.

[EITAN88]

Kudos to the Israeli officials who changed the plan which otherwise would be a very unnecessary and somewhat immature/provocative IMO.

Meh...

This event has being going on for 6 years without any serious outcry... so it seems to me that those who decided to make it an issue are the ones that are actually wishing to stir the pot.

The 'Mosque' itself hasn't served its original purpose for quite a while now and currently the building is used as a museum.

In a different thread I mentioned the fact that I visited a restaurant in Australia that used to be a Synagogue while pork and shellfish are served there everyday and I'm unaware of any Jews having a hissy fit since the building holds no special significance now that it's no longer a place of worship.

But fair enough I guess...

[GB_FXST]

Meh...

This event has being going on for 6 years without any serious outcry... so it seems to me that those who decided to make it an issue are the ones that are actually wishing to stir the pot.

The 'Mosque' itself hasn't served its original purpose for quite a while now and currently the building is used as a museum.

In a different thread I mentioned the fact that I visited a restaurant in Australia that used to be a Synagogue while pork and shellfish are served there everyday and I'm unaware of any Jews having a hissy fit since the building holds no special significance now that it's no longer a place of worship.

But fair enough I guess...

A former Synagogue in Lexington KY is today a pizza parlor - mighty good pizza I may add, but no outcry from the Jewish community.

BTW, how many Syrians perished today?

[EITAN88]

BTW, how many Syrians perished today?

You just reminded me of the fact that Muslims are probably tearing down Mosques on a weekly basis (many times while people are still inside) but of course a wine fest in the courtyard of a former Mosque has somehow turned into a newsworthy topic (at least in Egypt and Turkey) because it takes place in Israel.

[TT1]

Meh...

This event has being going on for 6 years without any serious outcry... so it seems to me that those who decided to make it an issue are the ones that are actually wishing to stir the pot.

The 'Mosque' itself hasn't served its original purpose for quite a while now and currently the building is used as a museum.

In a different thread I mentioned the fact that I visited a restaurant in Australia that used to be a Synagogue while pork and shellfish are served there everyday and I'm unaware of any Jews having a hissy fit since the building holds no special significance now that it's no longer a place of worship.

But fair enough I guess...

Honestly I don't find it necessary to compare. I'm one of those (Muslim, FYI) who believe that every religious building/tempel/etc should be respected and be kept out of eventual surrounding conflicts. Especially those with a longer historical past - and NO, they don't have to do with the Ottoman empire to be considered as important by me. Just to put it out there before someone accuses me of being a neo-Ottoman fascist bus driver or whatever accusation their imagination manages to construct in their dehydrated brains.

A former Synagogue in Lexington KY is today a pizza parlor - mighty good pizza I may add, but no outcry from the Jewish community.

BTW, how many Syrians perished today?

And what does that have to do with anything but confusing me?

[KoTeMoRe]

You just reminded me of the fact that Muslims are probably tearing down Mosques on a weekly basis (many times while people are still inside) but of course a wine fest in the courtyard of a former Mosque has somehow turned into a newsworthy topic (at least in Egypt and Turkey) because it takes place in Israel.

Communists were killing workers on a daily basis as well...the Human kind dwells on paradoxes.

[TT1]

You just reminded me of the fact that Muslims* are probably tearing down Mosques on a weekly basis (many times while people are still inside) but of course a wine fest in the courtyard of a former Mosque has somehow turned into a newsworthy topic (at least in Egypt and Turkey) because it takes place in Israel.

*a small amount of people who consider themselves as being Muslims (I don't and I can't say that they aren't, because I don't consider myself being the one who should judge that) who do clearly not represent the rest of the Muslim population - and I can promise you that.

[EITAN88]

Honestly I don't find it necessary to compare. I'm one of those (Muslim, FYI) who believe that every religious building/tempel/etc should be respected and be kept out of eventual surrounding conflicts. Especially those with a longer historical past - and NO, they don't have to do with the Ottoman empire to be considered as important by me. Just to put it out there before someone accuses me of being a neo-Ottoman fascist bus driver or whatever accusation their imagination manages to construct in their dehydrated brains.

No one calling you anything.

But here are the facts...

1) The event has been conducted at this location 5 times already without any known issues.
2) The event isn't even held in the building.
3) The building is no longer a place of worship.

I personally don't see a real issue since wine was never served nor was it intended to be served inside the building and even if it was, I don't see how it would matter since it no longer serves as a place of worship.

You have your opinion and I have mine.

[EITAN88]

*a small amount of people who consider themselves as being Muslims (I don't and I can't say that they aren't, because I don't consider myself being the one who should judge that) who do clearly not represent the rest of the Muslim population - and I can promise you that.

Never claimed that they represent the rest... just stating an interesting fact.

[Hollis]

No ones calling you anything.

But here are the facts...

1) The event has been conducted at this location 5 times already without any known issues.
2) The event isn't even held in the building.
3) The building is no longer a place of worship.

I personally don't see a real issue since wine was never served nor was it intended to be served inside the building and even if it was, I don't see how it would matter since it no longer serves as a place of worship.

You have your opinion and I have mine.

Obviously it is important today, but for what reasons? What else is happening in the ME?

[EITAN88]

Communists were killing workers on a daily basis as well...the Human kind dwells on paradoxes.

Very true.

[GB_FXST]

... snip ...

And what does that have to do with anything but confusing me?

Simply my observation that there are much more pressing issues for the OIC than a wine festival in the courtyard of a former Mosque.

[TT1]

No ones calling you anything.
...

I'm sorry I've should have been more clear with that I wasn't referring to anyone who have posted in this thread but rather posts by various paranoid people in other threads.

...
But here are the facts...

1) The event has been conducted at this location 5 times already without any known issues.
2) The event isn't even held in the building.
3) The building is no longer a place of worship.

...

1) Didn't know that to be honest. But I'm not seeking to accuse any part with anything, just telling my opinion on this matter.
2) Don't know anything about that either but I got the impression from the article that it was relatively close to the mosque, no? And by relatively..well you probably get what I mean since I'm not trying to impose a ban on alcohol on a radius of 5 miles from the mosque or so.
3) But it's still a mosque right?

...
You have your opinion and I have mine.

Yes indeed.

... just stating an interesting fact.

So did I

[TT1]

Simply my observation that there are much more pressing issues for the OIC than a wine festival in the courtyard of a former Mosque.

Oh, I see and I agree with you. However, I don't (as a Muslim) relate my stance on topics to theirs [OIC's] but I still find it kind of provocative if in fact the event was going to be held in the mosque, which would only not be somewhat insulting to Muslims but also very bad PR for Israel :/

[shelata]

Kudos to the Israeli officials who changed the plan which otherwise would be a very unnecessary and somewhat immature/provocative

----- x2.