Muslim Group Allowed To Cut Off Crosses From NY Church

A Muslim group purchased a century-old Catholic church in Syracuse, NY and are converting it into a mosque/learning center.  What has some people upset is the decision to remove 6 crosses from the roof of the historic Gothic church. Now I understand why Muslims wouldn't want crosses on their mosque, but not for the reason given by the center's director, Yusuf Soule.  He claims that Islam forbids the worship of symbols and idols, hence the need for removal; as if the Muslim congregants would be actually worshiping a cross.  But if this is the case, then why is it okay to have a crescent moon perched on top of the spires of most mosques?  Is that not a symbol?

A city board on Thursday gave 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, the church's new owner, to remove the crosses and build a six-foot chain-link fence.

Before the vote to allow the church alterations, Chairman Don Radke said the board cannot interfere with a decision that involves religious freedom.

More on the story here.

Couldn't they have found another building for their mosque, rather than defacing a landmark Christian structure?

I wonder how Muslims would react to a Christian group removing the crescent moon from atop one of their mosques.