VOA标准英语2010年-Suburban Chicago Muslim Center Denied

The debate surrounding a proposed Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan shed light on what could be growing religious intolerance in the United States. But despite the public outcry over the so-called Ground Zero mosque¹, the proposed Islamic Center has not been denied permits. That's not the case in suburban² Chicago. Members of the Irshad Learning Center, a Shi'ite congregation in Naperville, Illinois are trying to use an existing building on their property for worship and an education center. But some residents of the neighborhood have opposed their plans and the county has refused to issue a permit. At a Methodist church in suburban Chicago, a worship service is underway.
The call to prayer is not for Christians³, but for Muslims from the Irshad Learning Center. They temporarily use the hall in the church. "Irshad Learning Center is a shelter for faith, for people who want to once in a while get together and pray together, worship, and perhaps help their kids get some acquaintance with their faith and cultural background," said Mojtaba Noursalehi.
Mojtaba Noursalehi is originally from Iran, but is now a U.S. citizen. He's a member of the Board of the Irshad Learning Center. He says many members of the Center are of Iranian descent. "Unlike churches which are on every street corner, there are no mosques⁴ especially with our particular kind of background," he said. "We are looked at here as being from Iran, and in Iran we are looked at as being from the U.S. It's a very peculiar⁵ situation even for our kids. We have an identity crisis and this is one situation or one opportunity for us to come together and at least put our voices together and worship together. and that kind of thing."Members of the Irshad Learning Center do not lack money or a location for their own place of worship. And there's already a building on the property, a former day care center. What they do lack is the permission to use it for worship. "They were denied a special use permit to use the property as a religious institution," said Kevin Vodak.
Kevin Vodak is an attorney for the Council on American Islamic Relations, a group that advocates for American Muslims. He says denying Irshad a permit violates the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, also known as RLUIPA.
"Basically RLUIPA says that you cannot impose a substantial burden on a religious institution in granting permits or basically allowing a religious institution to use the property as they see fit," he said.
In April, CAIR filed a federal suit against 18 members of the DuPage County Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals. The lawsuit⁶ claims that denying the special use permit violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments⁸ of the US Constitution. Those amendments guarantee basic rights to all Americans. "Here in DuPage county officials seem to be more focused on the types of land that's available in residential⁹ areas and want to appease¹⁰ residents' concerns rather than the rights of religious institutions," said Vodak.
DuPage county officials declined multiple requests for comment. But a spokesperson who refused to go on camera said the basis for denying the permit had nothing to do with religion. He said it had to do with zoning in a residential area.
Several DuPage County board members echoed those concerns at public meetings held after the lawsuit was filed.
"Let it go on the record that any one who thinks this board is anti-Islamic or singling out, we do not it," said a board member. "And that's a matter of absolute certainty."CAIR attorney Vodak believes the board was influenced by people who live close to the proposed site. "The concerns that were raised were the lights that would be shown at night from cars and things like that, and it just seems like there are plenty of barriers and the concerns are not legitimate¹¹ at all," he said.
Attorneys representing the county have filed a motion to dismiss the case.
As the lawsuit makes its way through the courts, county officials are moving forward with a permanent zoning amendment⁷ that would prevent religious institutions from building places of worship in the future - in certain residential areas.

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

3 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

4 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

5 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

6 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

7 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

8 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

9 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

10 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

11 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。