The Man Behind the "Ground Zero" Mosque

(CBS)  Everyone -- the public, media and even the President -- has something to say about the controversial proposal to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero.

"It's very surreal," said Sharif el-Gamal, the man who came up with the idea for an Islamic center near Ground Zero. "It is a very surreal experience to be in the middle of this storm."

Sharif el-Gamal, a Manhattan real estate developer, sat down with 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley:

Pelley: Who are you?

El-Gamal: I'm an American, a New Yorker, born in Methodist Hospital Brooklyn, to a Polish Catholic mother and an Egyptian father.

Pelley: Let me make sure I have this straight. You are a Muslim who married a Christian girl. Your mother is Catholic. And you joined the Jewish Community Center on the West Side of Manhattan.

El-Gamal: I did. That's New York, though. That's New York.

Sharif El-Gamal: No Money from Iran, Hamas

Pelley: This facility that is being debated all around the world is universally known as the Ground Zero Mosque. What do you call it?

El-Gamal: It should be universally known as a hub of culture, a hub of coexistence, a hub of bringing people together.

The hub he is talking about - an abandoned Burlington Coat Factory store -- is two blocks from Ground Zero. You can't see the World Trade Center site from here. El-Gamal intends to put in a swimming pool, cooking school, meeting hall and an Islamic prayer room.

Pelley: Did it occur to you when you were putting this together that that was two blocks too close to a place that many, many people feel very strongly about?

El-Gamal: Not at all. It did not even cross my mind once.

Pelley: Why not?

El-Gamal: Because I did not hold myself or my faith accountable for that tragedy.

El-Gamal didn't spring this on the neighborhood. He says it took eight years to negotiate the purchase.

Pelley: You don't have your choice of putting this anywhere you want to. There aren't many spots.

El-Gamal: It's not like you can just walk up - and say, "I want that building or I want that building." This is one of the most competitive marketplaces in the world.

And over the last year he took the proposal to a community board four times. It was approved every time.

Pelley: The President himself has agreed that you have the right. Some people question the wisdom.

El-Gamal: It matched the needs of my community. It matched the needs of my Muslim brothers and sisters, my Christian brothers and sisters, my Jewish brothers and sisters who live and work in lower Manhattan.

Pelley: Do you intend to go ahead with the project? After all of this?

El-Gamal: 100 percent.

[kla1967]

geeze!!! this whole controversy is ridiculous!! I totally understand being upset what happened on 9/11 but, if you are going to be upset about this you should be equally upset with any catholic church within 2 block of a pre or elementary school. there is so much violence committed in the name of religion it's just crazy. I support your right to believe in whatever you want however I feel this world will be much better off when we finally trade in all the religious values for moral values

[lala4me01]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lnb6bYNU3g
you people are truly misguided if only you knew. you will find out the truth once you enter your graves and see what awaits you. then you will know.

"O you who believe! Let not your properties, nor your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. Whosoever does that, then they are the losers. So spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: ?My Lord! If only you would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (I.e. Zakat - Obligatory charity) of my wealth, and be among the righteous.? But Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do."

(Qur'an Al-Munafiqun 63:9-11)

[JayAdler1]

I worked at night as a Licensed Real Estate Broker for 20 years. I have an emotional and practical objection to the Ground Zero site as the foundation but as we used to say that and $1.50 will get you on the subway. I feel terrible that those of us that worked in the Trade Center and more significantly those that lost loved ones may have to suffer, everyone has a slew of reasons for their agenda. The builders if properly equipped with permits, a C of O and insurance documents and anything else required for construction cannot legally be estopped from building. Emotional arguments would not be admitted to court and I feel everyone's pain. Maybe something could be worked out, I hope so.

[DontSpinHere]

Two words: Al-Taqiyya and Kitman

[erasmus111]

I can't even believe that this is being allowed. What an insult to the people that died.

The ones that can stop this are YOU, the people.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjS0Novt3X4

[Bill_USAF]

Stop being an idiot. The center will go up and all will be fine and you will still be an idiot.

[ebgeer]

As much as you sound like an idiot...i really do hate to say this...you are an idiot. If you did your research..the "people" that died in the world trade center were not just christian individuals as you are. There were muslims in the building as well-hard working Americans that were muslim..not just bigoted christians..but rather individuals of all races, nationalities, cultures and religions...there is no reason that this mosque should be denied a rightful spot next to Ground Zero...there are hateful extremist christians as well as muslims..as well as any religion...so come of your high horse and respect people as people..not as just a generalization...Only christian bigots would deny the construction of this community facility.

[newerdeal]

Yet through all that has happened in the last several years I have not noticed a sherrif's car parked in front of our local Mosque until the New York thing.

Now there is one every time I pass by.

At it is a 1000 miles away ?

[TK421BR549]

After years of searching I've found zero verses in the Bible New Testamint instructing Christians to commit atrocities against those outside their religion. However, the Koran is full of them:
"I will cast terror into the heart of those who disbelieve (Islam). Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" - Koran, -al-Anfal (spoils of war) 8:12
"Slay the idolaters (non-Muslims) wherever you find them, and take them captives, and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush" - Koran, at-Taubah 9:5
"...make war on the leaders of unbelief (in Islam)...Make war on them: Allah will punish them by your hands and bring them to disgrace..." -Koran, at-Tawba 9:12-14
"To those who disbelieve (Islam)...fight with them until...religion should be only for Allah" - Koran, al-Anfal (spoils of war) 8:38&39
"Fight those who do not believe in Allah?out of those who have been given the Book (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizya tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection." - Koran, Al-Tawba 9:29
"Muhammad is Allah's apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers (in Islam)." -Koran, al-Fath (victory, conquest) 48:29
"Exhort the believers (in Islam) to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because the disbelievers are a folk without intelligence." -Koran, Al-Anfal (spoils of war) 8:65
"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah (non-Muslims)" - Koran, al-Anfal (spoils of war) 8:60
"Oh you who believe (in Islam)! Fight those of the infidels (non-Muslims) that are near you and let them find in you hardness" -Koran, at-Tawba 9:123
"When you meet the unbelievers (in Islam) in jihad, chop off their heads..." - Koran, Muhammad 47:4
Makes sense considering that among the many religions Islam is the one never resting from slaughter (see www.thereligionofpeace.com)

[slappy-jones]

After years of searching I've found zero verses in the Bible New Testamint instructing Christians to commit atrocities against those outside their religion.

==========

Really? Have you read Matthew 5:17-18, where Jesus says to follow the Old Testament law "to the letter"?

[Stand_Up_America]

ONE QUESTION: DOES THIS DEVELOPER BELIEVE IN SHARIA LAW?

SECOND QUESTION: IS THIS DEVELOPER A "FOLLOWER OF MUHAMMAD?"

[Bill_USAF]

Answer 1: Sharia law is not permitted in our country...We have ONE legal system as constitutionally written.

Answer 2: After the center is built, go ask him and get your answer straight from the source. Why ask people who do not know him?

[steve_turner]

i want to start a religion called "draw a picture of mohammed." i want to rent a building beside a mosque and get some feedback from them on our art. and i sure hope obama drops by for communion, i sure would hate to see the kids let down.

[larrryshrine]

I see that you are a misinformed "islamaphobe."

[JoefromNC]

Gosh, it's gorgeous when you bigots self identify.

[Cyber998]

And yet most of the people in this country think another, practically identical religion, originally written by the same people, is the answer to all the unknown questions we have about the universe.

Islam will lead to the destruction of America, but Christianity, 99% identical in its teachings (most of which are vague and often contradictory in both doctrines), is supposedly the true path of man's salvation on earth? It's like people are devoid of basic logic.

All these aggressive and irrational superstitions should be looked at as just that, aggressive and irrational superstitions. People need to reject falsehoods.

[Cyber998]

agnesdeo: I don't understand. First you ask a question, then answer it yourself. I don't see in what way my comments were erroneous.

[JoefromNC]

Your comments weren't erroneous. That is how someone without logic expresses them self.