Marine Corps' First Islamic Prayer Center Dedicated

American Forces Press Service ^ | Samantha L. Quigley

[SandRat]

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va., June 7, 2006 – Calling freedom of religion a principal right in "a nation of people from all races and creeds who believe in liberty and freedom," Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England helped the Marine Corps dedicated its first Islamic prayer center here yesterday.

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee unveil a plaque to dedicate the new Islamic prayer center at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., June 6. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kara L. Coonrod, USMC  

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

England offered his congratulations to the Corps and the leadership of Quantico and the chaplain corps for seeing the need for the center, and working to establish it.

The Navy has two Islamic facilities; however, neither is a dedicated facility similar to the one at Quantico, a Defense Department official said. The Air Force has similar centers at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, according to Air Force public affairs officials. Army information was not available.

Quantico is considered the crossroads of the Marine Corps. The prayer center will help educate many about the Islamic faith while it serves the Islamic community here, England said. Quantico is host to a mixture of U.S. and foreign servicemembers, as well as civilians, Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, said.

"This Islamic prayer center, the first of its kind in the Marine Corps, is really an extension or our ethos, (the) ethos that we take care of one another," Hagee said. "It is going to provide our Muslim Marines and their families, Muslim Department of Defense civilians and Muslim international military personnel serving with us a proper place for religious services."

Spiritual devotion is an important component of the profession of arms, as well as important element in quality of life, Hagee said. He added that events like the dedication of the prayer center strengthen the ties that bind.

"I believe that we all share some very important basic values; the respect for human life, the respect for truth and the respect for personal property," he said.

Rear Adm. Louis Iasiello, chief of Navy chaplains, lent his support to the establishment of the center with a story of Marines and local Iraqi leaders who had gathered in a train terminal south of Baghdad. A Navy chaplain offered a prayer that, "Betrayed neither himself, nor his country, nor his God," Iasiello said. In fact, the prayer served as an icon of religious respect that united the two groups.

"Today ... religious respect takes the form of a center, an Islamic center established to afford those of the Muslim faith the opportunity to pray and worship God in a manner that honors and respects their religious heritage," he said.

Twenty-four of the 426 Muslim Marines currently serving are stationed at Quantico. This center is a welcome haven for them, Lance Cpl. Mehreena Ahmad said.

"There haven't been a lot of centers to pray at, but this one's solely dedicated to us," she said. "So, we're just happy that we have a place."

Staff Sgt. Madyun Shahid echoed her sentiment. "The Marine Corps is recognizing diversity in the Marine Corps, and I'm just happy to have a place ... to go worship."

The prayer center, which was established in an existing structure on the base, is only temporary until an extension to the existing Marine Memorial Chapel is complete. Ground-breaking for the extension is scheduled for fall, and completion is expected in 2008.

Before touring the center with Hagee and Navy Lt. Saiful Islam, Headquarters and Service Battalion chaplain, England acknowledged the long history of Muslim servicemembers defending the United States.

"Their service continues a long and noble tradition," England said. "Muslim-Americans served in the ships of our Navy and in the U.S. Army in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Grenada, Panama and the 1991 Gulf War."

Some of those veterans of past conflicts were present for the dedication. England acknowledged Army Sgt. Nazeem Abdul Hakeem who fought on the beaches of Normandy in World War II, Air Force Sgt. Gath Noor Kas-Heef, who served during the Korean War, and Army Maj. Christopher Bell who served at Cam Ron Bay in Vietnam.

Also present was Army Sgt. 1st Class Mujaheed Muhammed, who was a Korean War prisoner of war. Captured by Communist forces while assigned to the 15th Infantry's reconnaissance patrol, he was held from 1952 through 1954.

"Your example of service continues today with the thousands of Muslim Americans in uniform," England said, recognizing the more than 4,000 Muslims who serve. "These men and women represent the best of our nation."

Biographies:

Gordon England

Rear Adm. (Chaplain) Louis Iasiello, USN

Related Sites:

Gen. Michael Hagee, USMC

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

Navy Lt. Saiful Islam, Headquarters and Service Battalion chaplain (left), talks with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England (center) and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee, talk inside Marine Corps Base Quantico's Islamic prayer center June 6. England and Hagee were on hand for the dedication of the center, the Marine Corps' first. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Former Air Force Sgt. Gath Noor Kas-Heef (left), now known as Eman Kas-Heef, and former Army Sgt. Abul Hakeem were present for the June 6 dedication of Marine Corp Base Quantico's Islamic prayer center. Kas-Heef served during the Vietnam War, and Hakeem fought on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Islamic members of various military services listen to remarks at the Islamic prayer center dedication June 6 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kara L. Coonrod, USMC   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Members of the Islamic faith at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., listen to remarks at the Islamic prayer center dedication June 6 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kara L. Coonrod, USMC   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England delivers remarks at the June 6 Islamic prayer center dedication ceremony at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kara L. Coonrod, USMC   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

Huh???!!!!

[GulfWar1Vet]

Is this a good idea?

[GSlob]

I have misgivings.

[silverleaf]

Ladies, note the difference between this book and Charmin...You can't SQUEEZE the Charmin!

[EBH]

It is an absolutely wonderful idea! Of all places the Marines need to understand the islamic faith the most. An islamic center where the truth can be found out. They often find themselves on the front lines of battle and an islamic center for the Marines is just perfect!

[MindBender26]

Hope they planted microphones.... or claymores.

[GulfWar1Vet]

Same here

[GulfWar1Vet]

An Islamic center? Truth? At the same place? Wow.

Sorry, guy. This ain't gonna cut with me.

[Ronin]

Not even slightly.

Dumb move totally if you ask me.

[frankiep]

Sounds like the Aryan Studies Centers that the military had back in WWII.

Wait. What's that? The military had no such thing in WWII. I wonder why....

[bnelson44]

Talk about bad timing.

[pctech]

They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Allowing the enemy to have religious services on a marine base is disgusting. I got out of the military chapel manager field because they were going to allow satanists full use of military chapels. This is just as bad.

[swheats]

Things that make you go hmmmmm

[ml/nj]

We are NUTS.

Islam is a military organization, not a religion. Allowing mosques or "Islamic Prayer Centers" on any of our military bases is insane. Maybe we should permit Iran to build a base in Kansas someplace? It would be no less insane.

ML/NJ

[Bigg Red]

Good grief!

The prayer center will help educate many about the Islamic faith while it serves the Islamic community here,....

&&
Yeah? Well, where will the mullahs come from? Saudi Arabia? Pakistan?
I guess we're in for more anti-Western garbage financed by our government.

[Shelayne]

Yikes.

[Jeff Chandler]

This is a mistake.

[GulfWar1Vet]

I sure hope the Marine Corps thought out the implications of this...

[lilylangtree]

US taxpayers dollars at work--BS! Our soldiers are being murdered by these islamics and what do we do? They get a bloody prayer center. Bullsh*t!

[GulfWar1Vet]

I just reread the article...Does the Marine Corps Chaplains really believe that allah and God (Jehovah) are the same God?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Very bad idea. Satan worshipping and human sacrifice next on the agenda. Oh wait, Islam teaches this today.

[LADY J]

The more I hear about this PC war - the sicker I get. Next they'll be issuing prayer rugs to our troops to get the 'real feeling' of being a muslim!

Tell you what - the way this is going - I would never enlist.

I pray every day for our troops. They are being tested to the limits!! God please watch over them.

[Ronin]

I am not sure they have at all.

In my opinion, there should be NO Muslims in the U.S. Military and any persons professing the faith should get a non-predjudical, convenience of the government discharge.

This is because the highest Imans and Mullahs in Islam have stated in numerous ways and places that a Muslim's highest duty is to Islam and the Koran and that his duty to other Muslims outweighs his duty to his country and oath.

Simply put, they can't be trusted.

[mathurine]

and serve sausages and bacon to acculturate them to American societ.

[swheats]

"Twenty-four of the 426 Muslim Marines currently serving are stationed at Quantico. This center is a welcome haven for them, Lance Cpl. Mehreena Ahmad said."


Wasn't it a muslim soldier that tried to kill members in his group in Kuwait during the beginning of the war? I hate to paint the whole group, but where was this guy studying?

[Ax]

In Aug 1993 my late wife and I were assigned to the U S Diplomatic Mission in Havana. Our sponsors were the NCOIC of the Marine Security Guard Detachment and his wife. On our second night on-island, they invited us to dinner at the Marine House. They served an excellent lobster lasagna. The NCOIC (Gunny) asked one of his watch-standers to say grace. The watchstander, a Marine formerly known as Chris (Last Name unremembered) had recently been converted to islam, and and had changed his name to something in Arabic. His grace mentioned allah a lot. I was shocked.<.>
I could tell by his demeanor that Gunny was not very happy with this apostasy. From a strictly administrative point of view, the Marine Corps had to do a lot of changing; he needed new forms for everything. New dog tags. New name tapes. Everything. This guy's name had been "Christopher." I feel certain that his parents back in North Carolina weren't altogether happy with his decision to turn his back on Christianity.

[nothingnew]

I guess Muslims need an entire building devoted to them and Allah (praise be unto him). I guess they can't just pray to Allah (praise be unto him) just anywhere....you know, like most people who aren't Muslim can just speak directly in private or in public to Him, not needing a prayer rug, special clothing, a Koran, facing east at explicit times of the day...Oh well, we'll pay for all this crap with our taxes and be happy about it...OR ELSE!

Feh!

FMCDH(BITS)

[sgtbono2002]

Doesnt pass the smell test does it?

[GulfWar1Vet]

Exactly well put.

If the muslim's dedication is to his "god" instead of country, don't bother joining the Armed Forces.

[stuartcr]

Maybe they're actually just fighting terrorists.....and not a religion!!

[usmcobra]

I actually knew two Marines that claimed to be members of the Church of Satan and it said so on their dog tags.

Remember the Movie "Battleground" where Leon Ames plays the Chaplin, and says "All us Holy Joes are switch hitters" one can only hope and pray it's true in this case.

[Minutemen]

WHY? Politically correct crap alert!

[La Enchiladita]

Hasan Akbar, sentenced to death for killing two officers and wounding 14 others in a sneak grenade attack on the eve of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Army Capt. Chris Seifert, 27, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, were killed.

Akbar is and was a muslim.

[clintonh8r]

Well, I'm sure that in muzzlim countries the military provides places of worship for their Christian service members.....

.....*spit*

[Dick Vomer]

[La Enchiladita]

As much as I admire, respect and honor our armed forces as the best in the world ever, I MUST SAY:

The Marine Corps is insane to build and dedicate an 'islamic prayer center' and no branch of the U.S. armed forces should enlist muslims.

Period.

[EBH]

Ahhh...gee that's too bad.

I don't remember war being declared on islam. Afghanastan, & Iraq, but not on the ROP. In fact I recall clearly hearing we were not at war with islam and islam is not the enemy.

If that is not the case, then someone should tell the president.../sarcasm.

[Dick Vomer]

Akbar is and was a muslim.

correction sir.

Akbar is and was a f#@*ing muslim.

praise be on to allah...shama lama ding dong.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Is this a sick perverted joke? We have brave Marines in solitary and who cares about Islam. Aren't there wackos beheading people in the name of Islam, aren't they burning bodies and hanging them from bridges, aren't they planting IEDs to maim and kill our brave soldiers? I don't recall us building prayer huts for the Viet Cong? Something is very sick in our country and I hope it gets cured real fast! The only cure is for Americans to wake up before it's too late.

[Eagles6]

Don't know if ya'll are old enough to remember the western "Branded" with Chuck Conners. In front of formation they ripped off his shoulder patches, broke his saber and tossed him out of the fort. They should do this to akbar just before they hang him...tomorrow.

[Species8472]

I have read in a number of sources that our military and intelligence agencies are critically short of personnel that speak middle eastern languages and "understand" islam.

In my experience, the vast majority of Marines that make it through boot camp are intensely pro-American (john murtha excepted), regardless of their religion. This is a fertile recruiting ground for personal that will serve vital functions while we are at war in the middle east.

Good move

//shields up

[La Enchiladita]

All I Need to Know About 'islam'

[sport]

No.

[magslinger]

Both. How else would they know when to detonate the claymores?

[TheWasteLand]

Not a good thing.

[GulfWar1Vet]

Well, dude..there might be a time when we will have to declare war on Islam...

[SandRat]

You left out that they ripped off all his coat buttons, the braided cavalry cord from his hat and the crest from his hat too.

[GulfWar1Vet]

ummm..no

[ladyinred]

Wish I could agree, but I do not. I just am not PC enough to think that our enemies should have their own centers among the military. There is something really wrong in this country.