WereSpielChequers <werespielchequers(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> I did raise some of the issues about access to Israel during the
> bidding process - see
>
>
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimania_2011/Bids/Haifa#Arab_countries
> But Haifa was the winning bid and we now need to try and resolve any
> of the resulting issues that we can.
[snip]
> The event is also going to take place during
Ramadan which I assume
> has implications for any Moslems who do attend. Though I assume that
> the combination of hosting the event in Israel and during Ramadan will
> mean that relatively few Moslems attend. However I'd like to suggest
> to the organisers that they reconsider their commitment in
>
http://wikimania2011.wikimedia.org/wiki/FAQ#Ramadan from "Is there a
> mosque in the vicinity of the venue? Unfortunately not so close to
> the venue. Most of the mosques are located in the lower (older)
> neighborhoods, while the venue is at the top of Mt. Carmel. We can
> arrange a prayer hall for Muslims at the venue. " to "Is there a
> mosque in the vicinity of the venue?
> Unfortunately not so close to the venue. Most of the mosques are
> located in the lower (older) neighborhoods, while the venue is at the
> top of Mt. Carmel. If one of the attendees requests it in advance we
> will arrange a prayer hall for Muslims at the venue"
>
It looks the organizers are already making something like this, see
<http://wikimania2011.wikimedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Community_in_Haifa>.
--
Casey Brown
Cbrown1023