Muslim gathering challenged: Six Flags Muslim Adventure Day does not amuse some

Come fly with me

Last Friday, an estimated 15,000 Muslims enjoyed Great Muslim Adventure Day at a Six Flags amusement park in New Jersey. Although the event proceeded smoothly, the confusion over exclusivity seemed to mask the hostility that prompted the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA, not to be confused with ISNA) to set up the event in the first place.

Six Flags had hosted the event twice before, most recently on September 8, 2001 (incidentally, that event’s organizer died at the WTC three days later). It has been the policy of the park to allow private groups to set up theme days during off-season weekdays. However, the original web page for this event listed it as “For Muslims Only” (a glorified typo and never the intention, says ICNA), which was changed later at the request of Six Flags management (no word on whether the same attempted exclusion existed at prior events). “The concerns are that they believe the event is exclusionary,” said Six Flags representative Kristin Siebeneicher. “I don’t think most people understood it was a day we’re closed anyway.”

More importantly, because the event was sponsored by ICNA (which failed to have a speech disclaimer at one of its events), the issue became a catalyst for radio commentators who felt Six Flags was showing terrorist sympathizers a good time (“Those who sympathize with our enemies are also our enemies. What does that say for an American institution that harbors those sympathizers?”). Underlining the point, ICNA spokesman Adem Carroll said, “A lot of people don’t feel safe going on another day. There’s a lot of hostility out there.”

Fortunately, the absence of bomb making seminars or fiery anti-American diatribes, along with the backing of Six Flags, means the event will likely continue in the future. “A lot of Muslims are scared to have big gatherings,” said one participant. “They’re afraid to be in the public eye. But we need to do this kind of thing. It’s time.”

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.