Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al Saud, the chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, told CNBC Wednesday that he’s against building a mosque near the ground zero site in New York City.
“I personally am against putting the mosque in that location. At the end of the day, it’s New Yorkers who have to decide where to put a mosque or a synagogue or a church,” said Prince Alwaleed, a member of the Saudi royal family.
The prince’s holding company owns hotels, including a stake in the Savoy in London and the Plaza in New York. Kingdom also has holdings in Citigroup , News Corp. , EuroDisney and other companies.
“I believe to put that mosque in that particular location is going to be agitating to the feelings of New Yorkers," he said. "It should not be there.”
New York City Michael Bloomberg and President Obama have supported the mosque on the basis of protecting religious freedom. The proposed location is on private property, not far from the site of the 9/11 attacks.
Prince Alwaleed cited aesthetic reasons also for opposing the mosque at the site. “A mosque should never be next to a bar or a strip mall or a place that’s not suited for it,” he added. A church or synagogue or mosque has to be in a dignified location.”
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