Muslims drawn to Pentagon attack site

Rebuilt as worship space that's especially popular with devout Muslims who unroll prayer rugs and chant there throughout the day:

Washington Post lauds Manal Ezzat as 9/11 hero—she created a religious haven at the Pentagon

"Eighteen years ago on a September morning she’ll never forget, Manal Ezzat fled from the burning Pentagon building in such a panicked rush that her hijab fell off. The next day, when the fires were still burning, Ezzat set to her task of rebuilding....Today, at the very spot where the plane piloted by terrorists crashed into the Pentagon, there is a chapel."

"Ezzat, an Army Corps of Engineers employee who was project manager for the Army’s space in the Pentagon at the time of the attack, knew right away when she and her co-workers were charged with designing the reconstruction that she didn’t want to make that segment of the Pentagon into office space again."

"For Ezzat — who is Muslim and who was bothered by those who blamed her entire religion because the terrorists who attacked the Pentagon were Muslim extremists — seeing Muslims who are devoted U.S. military employees at prayer in the chapel is fulfilling....she herself prays, five times a day."

"Ezzat said she appreciates that her team created a prayer space where Muslims who devote their careers to America’s security can worship....'In Islam, we believe prayers — supplications — to the dead reach them, wherever they are'."

"Qawiy Abdullah Sabree, a cybersecurity expert who has been a civilian employee at the Pentagon for 27 years, goes to the chapel every day, sometimes twice on Fridays....'It’s a very good thing to have,' he said. 'The Pentagon is a place for employment....It’s a privilege to have a place for prayer'."