Radical Islamic front group CAIR is doing a full court press to push through the construction of a huge mosque in the Orland Park suburb of Chicago—and anyone who protests is being labeled a “racist” and a “bigot:” Mosque foes’ fear is clear. (Hat tip: fiery celt.)

The concerns of some about the mosque, planned for 16530 104th Ave., is a prime example of the hardships faced by American Muslims since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, religious experts and observers said.

They said many Americans still know little or nothing about Islam. Though there are no official statistics, the Council for American-Islamic Relations says backlashes against new or enlarged mosques are becoming increasingly common.

“Sometimes people don’t even realize the concerns they have are fueled by prejudices,” said Rabiha Ahmed, spokeswoman for the council. “But you can’t (defeat a mosque plan) if you’re openly racist. So, they come up with issues like noise and traffic and parking to hide their real issues.”

“Sometimes people look at what they think will be perceived as their best argument, even if that may not be their real argument,” Orland Park Trustee Patricia Gira said.

Aminah McCloud, director of DePaul University’s Islamic World Studies program, said a lack of knowledge about the Muslim community makes it harder to break through people’s prejudices.

“Churches and synagogues don’t have to do a PR campaign to build their houses of worship,” she said. “(But) to judge by the media coverage, you would think there’s a Muslim terrorist around every corner.”

Meanwhile, around the corner in nearby Bridgeview, the mosque openly supports and raises money for Hamas and Islamic Jihad: Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque.

Fiery Celt reports that at the Orland Village Hall last night, opponents of the mosque were shouted down by CAIR members, prohibited from asking where the mosque’s funding was coming from (can you say “Saudi Arabia?” I knew you could), and then ejected from the meeting.

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