Imam Behind Planned Islamic Center Back in NYC

(AP)  An imam who has become the public face of a proposed Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero has returned to the United States following a taxpayer-funded tour of the Middle East, his wife said Monday.

Daisy Khan said her husband, Feisal Abdul Rauf, planned to comment later this week on plans for a $100 million center that have led to an increasingly vitriolic national debate over religious freedom and the sensitivities of Sept. 11 families. She said they would have no further comments until then.

Khan, who has been a supporter of the project and leads a Muslim nonprofit organization with her husband, said Rauf returned Sunday from a 15-day trip to promote religious tolerance in the Gulf. The trip, paid for by the U.S. Department of State, began Aug. 19 in Bahrain and included visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

During Rauf's trip, he rarely spoke about the debate over the Muslim center's planned location, just blocks north of where Islamic extremists destroyed the World Trade Center and killed nearly 2,800 people on Sept. 11, 2001. Opponents say the mosque should be moved farther away, while supporters say religious freedom should be protected.

In Rauf's last scheduled public appearance in Dubai on Aug. 31, he said the debate is over more than "a piece of real estate." It had, he said, "expanded to Islam in America and what it means for America."

Rauf is one of the directors of the nonprofit organization that was recently formed to raise money for the divisive lower Manhattan project, known as Park51. Early plans for the center call for a 500-seat auditorium, a Sept. 11 memorial and prayer space.

More on the Islamic center controversy:

For U.S. Muslims, a 9/11 Anniversary Like No Other
Coalition: Don't Protest "Ground Zero" Islamic Center on 9/11
Imam Blames Politics for Uproar Over Mosque Plans
Mosque Developer on "Surreal" Debate
Poll: Most New Yorkers Want Islamic Center Moved

Rauf, 61, has been called the "spiritual leader" of the project by its representatives.

Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. David Paterson responded Monday to a series of questions from reporters about the planned Islamic center by calling for a moratorium on the debate as the country observes the Sept. 11 anniversary and Muslims and Jews celebrate important holidays - the end of Ramadan and the Jewish New Year.

"Perhaps we might think more in terms of supporting those families who are on both sides of this issue as all of us are and maybe all step back and try to devote a week of peace," Paterson said.

[olderguy57]

the Muslim woman try to teach Love and all the men know enough to do is beat their wives and stone them or whip them, BOY thats really tough Love I think those guys need a whip put to their backs and not the women

[antiglobal5]

rumor has it that a few patriots were able to burry a pig under or right next to the building (I have heard to different stories). If this is true it will be pretty funny when they break ground. From what I have been told the koran forbids any mosque to be built on "pig soiled" ground.
All of the arguing when all it took was a pig carcass.

[dadirt]

Has the state department run out of money? Why is he back so soon? Why was US taxpayer's money wasted on this trip and this guy?

[abbe91]

The same thing happened under Bush. Ask him ...

[stevex47]

All you republicans do know by now that this Imam is part owner of Fox news right?

And that this Imam is a friend of none other than George W's, and rupert murdoch !

Amazing. But then again, you knew George W and the bin ladens have been friends for over 50 years.

Typical nutjob hypocrisy.

[olderguy57]

Maybe the U.S.A.just needs to stop being Big Brother to all the World and let them take care of themselves,we can't even take care of our own but we always give millions and billions to everyone else.I sure as heck would like to get some hud money to fix my old house up a lil bit.I need some new window's and door's and a new roof

[olderguy57]

Anyone else on here want a free all expense paid trip by the Good OLE U.S of A.

[Charlotsdjh]

Frstf all It is not a MOSQuE and it is not ever near ground zero! People should go do some research before they start screaming out racist and discriminating slures. las time I checked people where allowed to have their own faith. i think the media are really working hard to spread hate against the muslim people bouth in and aoutside America. American muslims did not bow up the world trade center, there where America muslims who lost their life there also that day, and american muslims dying in Iraq. I know new york is owned and runned by jews, so if the media have balls try make a similar negative story about a synagoge ore a jewish center, You will loose your job!!! And you know it!!!

[thesevenveils]

Sieg Heil

[olderguy57]

Doesn't it seem odd that NYC was able to get rid of porn shops in Time Square but they can't get these Muslims to build their mosque else where.I guess they aren't as American as they claim to be or they would understand how their fellow American's feel about this.Real Loving people aren't they.

[larrryshrine]

by Brian5013MS September 7, 2010 3:37 AM EDT
Obama gave the Imam a $2,000,000 grant to promote muslim peace in the mid east and America. So we the taxpayers, paid the Imam to promote his mosque. FoxNews reported this 3 weeks ago.

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And their source was?

[brnfream]

Why are there so many mosques popping up all of sudden all over the country?

[notparicular]

After effect of 9-11 is increase of Muslim influence in America. They pushed hard on that day against us. We retaliated. But they seem relentless in their single minded Islamic agenda. We lost.