August 18, 2010 4:11 PM

"Ground Zero Mosque" Developers: We Won't Move

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Domestic Issues

The site of a proposed mosque near Ground Zero has launched a heated debate about whether the mosque is appropriate.

(Credit: CBS)

The religious group and developers behind the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" say they have no intention of moving their project to an alternate site, as has been proposed by New York Gov. David Paterson.

"Cordoba Initiative and Park51 are committed to maintaining the current planned location for the Community Center," reads a statement on the Cordoba Initiative website.

Paterson indicated yesterday that he plans to meet with the backers of the mosque this week to discuss "the possibility of moving it to an alternate site."

But the statement on the Cordoba Initiative website says that Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf is not in the country and adds that "there have been no meetings scheduled between Imam Feisel and Governor Paterson, nor have there been any communications between the offices of Cordoba Initiative and the Governor."

Rauf is traveling to Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on a trip to promote religious tolerance that formally begins tomorrow. A senior State Department official today rejected speculation that the trip - sponsored by the State Department - would be used to raise money for the project. "None of that is true," said the official.

In a statement to Hotsheet yesterday, Paterson Deputy Press Secretary Maggie McKeon said, "We are working with the developers on a staff level but there have not been any formal discussions between the Governor, the Imam or the developer. However, we expect to have a meeting scheduled in the near future."

Paterson has discussed the possibility of offering state land as an alternative site for what has become known as the "ground zero mosque" - actually a proposed 13-story Islamic community center that would include a mosque roughly two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

His office did not have an immediate comment on the Cordoba Initiative statement.

More Coverage of the "Ground Zero Mosque" Controversy:

Obama has "No Regrets" Over Weighing in on "Ground Zero Mosque"
Pelosi Wants to Investigate Funding of "Ground Zero Mosque" Critics
N.Y. Gov. David Paterson Plans to Meet With "Ground Zero Mosque" Backers
Pat Buchanan Says Gingrich "Political Opportunist," Went "Too Far"
Mosque Opponents Leaving Ground Zero Shops Alone
Reid: Ground Zero Mosque Should be Somewhere Else
GOP to Hammer Obama, Dems on Ground Zero Mosque
Obama Defends Ground Zero Mosque


Add a Comment See all 35 Comments
by realone101 September 27, 2010 3:55 AM EDT
THIS IS AMERICA ND we do not ACCEPT Shari rule, nor will we allow you to try to islamify America.
Reply to this comment
by nazida88 September 27, 2010 9:34 AM EDT
haha ur such a joke.. ur statements clearly shows how ignorant you are and how scared and paranoid you are...lolol, i doubt any muslim EVER asked u to convert to islam, and frankly we dont need ignorants converting to islam... and ''islam'' is so not trying to take over america... we're only practicing our own beliefs.. and whoever wants to know of this religion are welcomed, and whoever wants to convert to islam are welcomed...at the end of the day its the individual's decision again... dont forget its a free country.. no one can force anyone to do anything... also dont forget.. watever happend during 9/11 ALOT of muslims died who worked in the building aswell... so my condolences go to every victim's family of 9/11..

"How is it that we are allowing a group of muslims to build anything after it was muslims who attacked us at that very spot?"

haha are u kidding me? i live in new york and there is NO WAY that muslim community center is being build ON THE ''VERY SPOT'' where the twin towers stood... so plz quit ur emotional bull, and get on with facts for a change... its not gonna do u any harm to talk with actual facts....

"Honestly, no Islamist is going to make me convert to anything. I am a Christian and will die before I change my beliefs..."

amen brother whatever floats ur boat...! :)

and might i also correct you, there is no such thing as ''islamist''
the religion itself = islam
ppl following islam = muslims

so please before speaking of a certain topic, get atleast SOME type of knowledge about it before u just ramble off of ur mouth with NO TYPE of prior knowledge of islam.... cuz u being an american.. ur not only representing christians... ur representing all of united states of america.... and people like you make the rest of america look dumb with ur unintelligent statements...
by realone101 September 27, 2010 3:50 AM EDT
Islam is not a religion of peice, it is a religion promoting the killing of all infadels if they do not convert to islam.... AND YOU ALL WANT THIS ON GROUND ZERO?1/1!?!?!?!?
Reply to this comment
by realone101 September 27, 2010 3:45 AM EDT
I laugh that you think God would say
"His light, even if the disbelievers get annoyed."
Reply to this comment
by pittpanterfan1 August 21, 2010 11:52 AM EDT
Memo to New Yorkers:

This would not happen in Pittsburgh. Remeber the Charlie Daniels song:
You just go lay your hands on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan and I think your gonna finally understand.

Please stand up for yourselves and stop being p*ssies!
Reply to this comment
by nazida88 August 19, 2010 5:01 PM EDT
if the imam decideds to move this, it'll be a slap to 2 billion muslim's face.. we dont want THAT KIND of attention now do we?...good...
Reply to this comment
by 1notrub11 August 19, 2010 9:15 PM EDT
Another question: who made this particular imam responsible to decide on behalf of the 2 billion muslims whose "face would be slapped"? Perhaps he should have gotten clearance from them before expecting to act on their behalf without repercussion? And what kind of attention are you referring to? Attention from those Islamists who do or do not support extremists?
by armyoftwelve August 19, 2010 10:50 PM EDT
If building this project burns every bridge with the community at large it won't be worth it.
See all 4 Replies
by nazida88 August 19, 2010 4:51 PM EDT
Amen! i hope the imam doesn't let us down. we'v suffered enought hate crime created by others since 9/11. we dont suppor the al qaeda. but telling us we can't build a simple cultural center on the place that was privately bought is just going over board.
Reply to this comment
by 1notrub11 August 19, 2010 9:31 PM EDT
Well, I will try once more.

Since you do not support the extremists, according to your statement, why is it that we see very few of the many people who practice Islam, publicly denounce the behavior of those extremists? You say you do not support extremism but no where in your statement do you denounce them or point out that they do not represent you. Just that you do not support them. That's nice, but not very convincing.
by 1notrub11 August 19, 2010 9:31 PM EDT
So I am curious, since you do not support Islamic extremists and those same extremists seem to be tainting your public image (and not just in the US), why is it that few seem to speak out publicly against their behavior? You should be insisting on equal press time to express your views as contrary to the behavior of the extremists. Or is that not what you believe?
See all 4 Replies
by pragmatist1 August 19, 2010 3:19 PM EDT
These individuals are only interested in building a structure that will be viewed by Muslims all over as a victory of what this religion's extremists did to us. The fact that the cleric of this project excuses the actions of those funded by the Saudi government for what they did, by presumably accusing the U.S. for the attacks, should be sufficient reason why our taxpayer dollars should not be funding this cleric's trip to the Middle East to presumably mend fences with this area on tolerance and acceptance. Want tolerance and acceptance, then send some Jews and Christians to the land where religions other than Islam are persecuted, annihilated and destroyed. Ah yes, Islam, the religion of peace. Look what its peaceful proclivities did to our nation on September 11th and throughout the world. We must never forget and we will never forget.
Reply to this comment
by realone101 September 27, 2010 3:35 AM EDT
I am writing this to all Muslims who think they are going to take over America..... Go back to the hole you crawled out of.
by tsigili August 19, 2010 11:10 AM EDT
If they won't move.......then I challenge all of the people in the US to boycott this developer and put them totally out of business in this country.
Reply to this comment
by realone101 September 27, 2010 3:41 AM EDT
I boycott any religion that allows men to abuse thier wives or mothers, cut off people heads, judge others, stone others, etc. Seriously?!?!?!?!? DO you all really think that God would allow one of his creation to be tortured, or stoned to death?
by ConstantineXIII August 19, 2010 10:24 AM EDT
This is just further proof the mosque developers are frauds. If they truly cared about bringing Christians, Jews, and Muslims together, they wouldn't be stubbornly insisting on building at this location. The stubborness and obstinacy of the mosque developers in refusing to budge even one inch in terms of relocating the project belies their real intentions(which are to build a supremacist victory mosque to symbolize Islam's victory on 9/11 and Islam's supremacy over the U.S. Constitution and economic system). Amazingly, even despite all the mounting evidence of the mosque builder's real intentions, Obama, Gillibrand, and Bloomberg continue to endorse the mosque building. None of these three politicians deserves to remain in office given their stances on the issue.
Reply to this comment
by tomorrow11 August 19, 2010 8:57 AM EDT
That is like a slap in the Face, what is wrong with them building it two blocks away, if you must build a Mosque.
Reply to this comment
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