New York – U.S. State Department Funding Ground Zero Imam’s Mideast Trip

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    New York – The imam behind a plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero is set to depart on a multi-country jaunt to the Middle East funded by the State Department — raising concerns that taxpayers may be helping him with the controversial project’s $100 million fund-raising goal.

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    Feisal Abdul Rauf is taking the publicly funded trip to foster “greater understanding” about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States, the State Department confirmed yesterday.

    “He is a distinguished Muslim cleric,” said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, when asked about the journey, reportedly to include stops in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar.

    “I think we are in the process of arranging for him to travel as part of this program, and it is to foster a greater understanding about the region around the world among Muslim-majority communities,” he added.

    Crowley said no fund-raising for the mosque and cultural center during the trip would be permitted. “That would not be something he could do as part of our program,” he said.

    Abdul Rauf said funds for the center will come from Muslims and members of his congregation.

    But a London-based Arabic-language newspaper that interviewed Abdul Rauf reported that he says he also will collect money from Muslim and Arab nations around the world — raising the possibility his goodwill mission could help him build contacts in oil-rich states.

    “Does the State Department have any idea they are sending a guy to the Middle East who is going to be fund-raising perhaps among the very same people he will be meeting with?” asked Debra Burlingame, a 9/11 family member.

    “We know he has a fund-raising association with Saudi Arabia,” Burlingame said, noting that the Saudis have contributed money to underwrite programs by the American Society for Muslim Advancement, a not-for-profit that Abdul Rauf runs with his wife and that is one of the sponsors of the Ground Zero mosque. “He’s going to the well, and how can they say they do or don’t know what he’s doing?”

    Meanwhile, state regulators said the sale of an adjacent Con Ed building needed to complete the Ground Zero mosque — as disclosed by The Post on Sunday — might be subject to review after all, even as Mayor Bloomberg insisted the project has “nothing to do with Con Ed.”

    Public Service Commission spokeswoman Anne Dalton said state law requires the agency to sign off on the “transfer or lease” of any property a utility owns within its franchise area.

    The question is whether Con Ed satisfied that requirement nearly four decades ago, when it granted a 99-year lease on the former substation site at 49-51 Park Place.


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    12 Comments
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    shame on bloomberg
    shame on bloomberg
    13 years ago

    Now we now why bloomberg is betraying NY’ers in such a hutzpahdige manner!
    Forever is he trying to cozy up with obama-the imposter!
    Remember when he said that the time square bomb was probably done by someone that was angry   obama care?
    Impeach bloomberg ASAP! He is a danger to NY!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    After all the crazy stories recently happening in the US.. I must say that I’m starting to believe that Pres Obama still has “Muslim feelings” in his heart from his young years..
    Sorry.. But it just come out in the open time & again..

    Chelmite
    Chelmite
    13 years ago

    “publicly funded trip to foster greater understanding about Islam and Muslim communities in the United!” Ha Ha. Its amazing how Seker can sound so nice and politically correct. It’s scary to think “who is minding” the state department store. Heaven help us!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This trip is a smart idea and funding form the State department is logical and a good use of NY taxpayer’s money if it might lead to better multi-cultural understanding. The Iman is very misunderstood and he has been unfarily maligned by the nutcases on the right who think all muslims are evil and all mosques should be banned.

    13 years ago

    In the current economy, with people out of work, in hopeless debt, we are funding this?!

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    13 years ago

    Why is the state dept cozying up to “murderers”? What will they keep in their 13 story mosque? Are we going to learn the hard way? Look what Germany did yesterday!! They closed the mosque!! They learned the hard way!! Are we?? When will our politicians going to take the blinders off?? I hope VIN posts this!!

    Barry521
    Barry521
    13 years ago

    Mazel Tov state dept. Can’t you find a better way to spend our money thanto send this imam overseas to collect money for this unwanted mosque in NYC?
    What the hell is wrong with our Country and its officials? Has everyone just gone off the deep end being PC?

    charliehall
    charliehall
    13 years ago

    The danger is if it becomes possible to use bogus land use rules to prevent unpopular groups from using their property. Jews have already been facing this when we have tried to expand shuls and yeshivot.

    The nativist bigots have adopted a policy of Divide and Conquer. The sad thing is that so many Jews have sided with the bigots.

    13 years ago

    re #4 : so how about if all those people who ARE WILLING to fund him do it out of THEIR OWN pockets instead of using money from people who DO NOT want to fund such a trip?

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    13 years ago

    How much $$$ are these mosques giving our politicians??? Maybe we should check who is donating??? I hope VIN posts this!!

    13 years ago

    what has ANY of that got to do with you and me funding this man’s excursions?

    Matzoslocal101
    Matzoslocal101
    13 years ago

    Notice that he said (in an earlier story, not htis article) the mosque will be built “to commemorate those who died in the WTC attack”. He didn’t say the “victims of the 9/11 attack, he was referring to the 19 mass murderer terrorist highjackers.