Hartford City Council First Wants Muslims To Lead Prayer, But Then Wavers

The idea to have Muslim clergy give the standard pre-meeting prayer came from Luis Cotto, the council's minority leader from the Working Families Party. 

 

“This specific council person wanted to make a statement against the burning Qurans in Florida on Saturday, all the renting out missiles to point it at a certain spot in New York. This is just unconscionable and we cannot allow it to happen without saying something.”

 

But Democratic City Council President rJo Winch says that wasn't the point.

 

“That was not my intention at all.”

 

She says her point was to show that Hartford is an inclusive city.  But since the announcement, the city has been inundated with what Winch says is hate mail opposed to the move.  The issue has also created a divide on the city council about whether now – days before the anniversary of the September 11 attacks – is the right time to make Cotto's statement.  

 

And Winch appears to be back peddling.  While earlier this week she wanted a Hartford imam to give the prayer before Monday’s council meeting, now, she says she wouldn't make the same decision again.

 

WINCH: If I thought about it, the sentiments for the 9/11 and other people, no, because I don’t ever go out to intentionally offend anyone…We’ll get it figured out for Monday.

 

COHEN: But it’s not figured out yet.

 

WINCH: No.

 

That’s the same thing Winch told Mongi Dhaouadi, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Connecticut, after the press conference.

 

WINCH: There’s no caving in.  Theres always compromise and collaborate. Always.

 

DHAOUADI: Not on our basic constitutional rights.  There’s no compromise on that.

 

Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim from the Muhammad Islamic Center of Greater Hartford was to invited to give the prayer before Monday's council meeting. Again, Mongi Dhaouadi:

 

"Anything less than treating our imam less than anybody else – any reverend, any pastor, any rabbi – is not acceptable to us in the Muslim community."

 

Winch says it's unclear who will lead the prayer when the council meets Monday night at city hall.

 

For WNPR, I’m Jeff Cohen.