Islamic Group Cleared To Cut Crosses Off Syracuse, NY Church

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A city board in Syracuse, N.Y., has given a Muslim group the go-ahead to remove six crosses from the roof and spires of a century-old former Catholic church so the now-vacant Gothic structure can be used as a mosque.
More than 200 people had signed an online petition calling on the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board to deny an application by North Side Learning Center to remove the crosses and build a six-foot chain-link fence.
Yusuf Soule, the center’s director, said the crosses must be removed because Islam prohibits the worship of idols and symbols.
Before the vote to allow the alterations, Chairman Don Radke said the board cannot interfere with a decision that involves religious freedom.