Muslim Chaplain Needed for New York City Fire Department

May 16, 2001

Source: Newsday

On May 16, 2001, Newsday published an opinion piece by Kevin James, a fire marshal at the New York City Fire Department, president of the Islamic Society of Fire Department Personnel and a spokesperson for the Council on American Islamic Relations-New York, condemning the New York City Fire Department's "continuing refusal to hire a Muslim chaplain...The Islamic Society of Fire Department Personnel has presented Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen with more than 60 signatures of employees requesting a Muslim chaplain...A Muslim chaplain would encourage diversity in the fire department and provide a sorely needed interface between the department" and the area's growing Islamic community.