Religion of peace, turns ugly at amusement park in NY

[Danno 1,228]

Dispute over Muslim headwear sends scores of police to Playland; 10 arrested

RYE — A large disturbance broke out at Playland Park today when Muslim visitors got angry that the park was enforcing its ban on headgear by prohibiting the women from wearing their traditional head coverings on some rides.

< i>If you were at Playland today and have video or photos of the confrontations, please call The Journal News at 914-694-5077.

Police from at least nine other agencies converged on the park beginning at 3 p.m. after county police sought assistance in responding to the disturbance, which involved about 30 to 40 people. Twelve men and three women were arrested, mostly for disorderly conduct, and two park rangers were injured, authorities said. Two people were charged with felony assault after, officials said, they attacked park rangers.

The park was crowded with Muslims celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, one of Islam's two major holidays. Most were from community groups around New York City as part of a day-long event arranged by the Muslim American Society of New York.

Parks officials had “painstakingly” told the organizer about the headgear ban, said parks spokesman Peter Tartaglia, but he said that the rules might not have been communicated by the organizer to some attendees. The ban was implemented about four years ago to keep hats and other head coverings from landing on tracks and derailing rides.

“It’s a safety issue on rides. If it’s a scarf, you could choke,” Tartaglia said.

Accounts of what had happened varied, but everyone agreed the dispute began after park-goers were told the headgear ban applied to women wearing traditional Muslim head coverings, known as hijabs.

Tartaglia said once word of that got out there were “a lot of unhappy people.”

He said park officials were in the process of arranging refunds when members of the Muslim group got into a scuffle with each other.

The two rangers, seasonal county police employees, were hurt trying to break it up, he said. He said one suffered an injured knee and the other an injured shoulder.

(Page 2 of 3)

Lola Ali, 16, of Astoria said she had witnessed a group of girls and women wearing hijabs go to park security to confront them about the headgear issue.

She said the women were upset and yelling. She said the security officers started pushing them away and the girls stood their ground, at which point the security officers grabbed them, pushed them to the ground and handcuffed them.

Men within the park saw this and tried to intervene, Ali said, and the situation went downhill from there.

“They were beating down the girls then they started beating down the guys,” she said of the security officers.

Earlier, a park cashier told a Journal News reporter that a woman wearing a hijab either pushed or hit a ride operator who forbade her from going on the ride. She said a police officer tried to restrain the woman and the woman’s husband took offense, at which point a multiple-person fight broke out.

The park was never closed to attendees but for a time new visitors were not being allowed in. Crowds were being turned away at Playland Parkway and Forest Avenue. Officials said late in the afternoon that they were slowly reopening the park to new visitors and that the group’s religious ceremony planned for 9 p.m. could still occur.

The organizer had put together the gathering with an offer of $20 ride-all-day wristbands and $3 spectator wristbands. Visitors had come from around the tri-state area to take advantage of the offer.

Brooklyn resident Amr Khater, who had come to the park at about noon with his family, said his family was told about the hijab rule by park employees when they arrived.

“Everybody got mad, everybody got upset,” he said. “It’s our holiday. Why would you do this to us?”

He said he had left the park and was not being allowed to return, but his children and wife were still inside.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a three-day period during which Muslims give to charity and celebrate their completion of Ramadan's requirements with family and their community.

<snip>

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/NEWS02/110830004/Dispute-sends-scores-police-Playland-park-reportedly-closed

[mawilson 2,133]

Nice photo switcheroo trick

These guys are not from New York, are they?

[Danno 1,228]

The Stock photo was obviously a little over the top humor and not related to this story.

( did that really need to be said)?

[mawilson 2,133]

I love that photo

[웃 910]

Nice photo switcheroo trick

These guys are not from New York, are they?

Apparently that is "Islamic Rage Boy".

[mawilson 2,133]

Apparently that is "Islamic Rage Boy".

[luckytxn 2,264]

Guess the Islamic day at the park was a bad idea.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Missing from the OP

"Three accidents on Playland rides that killed two children and a park worker between 2004 and 2007 were unrelated to clothing the victims were wearing. But the headgear ban was among safety rules that went into effect after those deaths.

“It’s a safety issue on rides. If it’s a scarf, you could choke,” Tartaglia said."

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/NEWS02/110830004/Dispute-sends-scores-police-Playland-park-reportedly-closed

[keysjangle 145]

"I'd rather suffocate and maybe derail a train than give up my modesty"

[Dakine10 5,452]

Missing from the OP

"Three accidents on Playland rides that killed two children and a park worker between 2004 and 2007

Three deaths in four years? I'm not sure Playland is the most appropriate name for this place.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

One inappropriate comment violating TOS has been removed.

[Danno 1,228]

Three deaths in four years? I'm not sure Playland is the most appropriate name for this place.

Apparently "Ali-Land" isn't going to fit either.