Controversial Muslim Prayer Service At Washington National Cathedral Interrupted By Woman

It was supposed to be a historic example of religious tolerance and brotherhood. However, the first ever recitation of weekly Muslim prayers at the Washington National Cathedral was bound to be controversial – and it did turn out that way, reports Reuters. On Friday, both Muslims and Christians gathered at the iconic National Cathedral, where religious leaders from both the faiths were to give a sermon on religious unity in the face of the current world scenario. The event, however, will now be known for the interruption caused by a lone woman protester who wasn’t particularly happy about the National Cathedral being thrown open for Muslims.

At the invite-only event, there was tight security in order to ensure that an event of this nature goes through without any interruptions, according to the Washington Post. However, the organizers were unable to screen a woman who went on an outburst once the sermons were in progress. This in spite of the fact that police officers stationed outside the cathedral had screened every individual who had made it to the cathedral.

She was later physically removed from the premises by a reverend and cathedral police.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, shouted, “Jesus Christ is on that cross over there. Get out of our church. Leave our church alone.”

Before being taken out, she added, “Why can’t you worship in your mosque?”

The service continued normally after the woman was evicted.

There were dozens of Muslims inside the National Cathedral where special arrangements, including prayer rugs, were made for them to offer their prayers. For many Muslims, an interruption of this nature did not come as a surprise. Many of them had talked about security and other threats if the event does go through.

One of the Muslim invitees to the event was Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador to the United States. A devout Muslim, he gave a sermon that talked about religious freedom and criticized extremist elements from within Islam.

“They invade lands, behead journalists, execute civilians and declare war on anyone different to them,” he said.

Rasool was in fact one of the chief organizers of the event, along with National Cathedral’s Reverend Canon Gina Campbell, who termed the Washington National Cathedral to be “a place of prayer for all people.

“Let us stretch our hearts and let us seek to deepen mercy for we worship the same God,” she said.

Meanwhile, the woman who was evicted out of the National Cathedral was not arrested. She has offered no in-depth explanation as to why she disrupted the service.

“I didn’t do it for myself, I did it for the Lord,” she added.

[Image Via Reuters]