Keeping The Faith -- NJSEA Creates Prayer Areas At Facilities

(From The Newark Star Ledger)

NJSEA officials said that the organization will set aside areas at GIANTS STADIUM and CONTINTENTAL AIRLINES ARENA
"for fans who want to pray," according to DIAMANT AND
BEN-ALI of THE NEWARK STAR-LEDGER.

The decision, which is believed to be the first such designation in the country, follows the detention of five Muslim fans who knelt in prayer during the Giants/Saints game September 19th at the stadium.

NJSEA President and CEO GEORGE ZOFFINGGER said, "I think we handled this situation with sensitivity, and it's the right thing. We reached out to the people in the community who felt offended and we put in an expert on both Muslim culture and religion to address all our staff in terms of the sensitivities involved."

SAMI SHABAN, one of the men detained, said, "It's a very good start. It was not our main aim, though. Our main aim was to bring to light and educate people about what it is we're supposed to do, that (our praying) is not suspicious behavior and we shouldn't have been treated like this."