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Live blog: Imam behind NYC Islamic center speaks
Editor's note: The imam who plans to build an Islamic center and mosque a few blocks from New York's ground zero spoke to CNN's Soledad O'Brien on "Larry King Live" Wednesday night. The following is a running log of what Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf discussed.
[Updated, 10:04 p.m.] O'Brien's last question was whether Rauf could unequivocally say that the center would be built at the currently planned location, a few blocks from ground zero.
"We certainly hope to build a Cordoba House vision of a multifaith center that will build relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims," he said.
[Updated, 9:59 p.m.] Rauf was asked about the pastor in Florida who plans to burn Qurans this weekend, on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
"I would plead with him to seriously consider what he is doing. It is going to feed into the radicals in the Muslim world," Rauf said.
He noted that U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus has warned that the burning would endanger U.S. troops overseas.
"It's something which is not right to do on [those] grounds," Rauf said.
"We have freedom of speech, but with freedom comes responsibility. ... This is dangerous for our national security, but also it is the un-Christian thing to do," he added.
[Updated, 9:48 p.m.] When asked if the State Department was correct in saying Hamas is a terrorist organization, Rauf said: "I condemn everyone and anyone who commits acts of terrorism, and Hamas has committed acts of terrorism."
When asked what he thought about the 9/11 hijackers claiming they were doing what they did in the name of Islam, he said:
"That is a travesty. Just as the inquisitors in Spain were committing a travesty [against] the teachings of Jesus Christ. We do have people in our communities who [commit travesties] against Islam."
[Updated, 9:40 p.m.] O'Brien asked about his interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," shortly after the 9/11 attacks, in which he said the United States' policies "were an accessory to the crime."
O'Brien asked twice, but Rauf deflected the question.
"The work we have to do now is not about pointing fingers," he said, as part of his response.
[Updated, 9:32 p.m.] Rauf, the imam at the center of the controversial proposed Islamic community center and mosque in New York, said that "nothing is off the table" when asked whether he would consider moving the site.
"We are consulting ... various people about how to do this so that we negotiate the best and safest option."
[Updated, 9:28 p.m.] Rauf reiterated that the issue about what to do with the center going forward is important for national security.
"If we don't do this right, anger will explode in the Muslim world," Rauf said. "... If we don't handle this crisis correctly, it could become something very dangerous indeed."
He said moving the project to another location would strengthen Islamist radicals' ability to recruit followers and will increase violence against Americans.
He said again that if he knew ahead of time the controversy this would create, he wouldn't have made the plans to build the center at the currently planned site.
[Updated, 9:21 p.m.] Rauf said that if he knew how controversial the project would be, he "never would have done this - not have done something that would create more divisiveness."
However, he said he is convinced he shouldn't move the center now because "our national security now hinges on how we negotiate this, how we speak about it and what we do."
By that, he said, he means that if the controversy forces a move, "it means the radicals … will shape the discourse on both sides."
[Updated, 9:15 p.m.] Asked whether he was surprised by the controversy, Rauf said he was.
He pointed out that news of the plans to build the Islamic center and mosque was published in The New York Times in December, and "no one objected" at the time. He said the issue was politicized later.
[Updated, 9:13 p.m.] Asked why he wanted to build the center on the planned spot, Rauf noted he's already run a mosque about 10 blocks from ground zero for many years.
When asked about the feelings of families of 9/11 victims - such as those who might claim that their relative's remains have yet to be found at the site, Rauf said: "This is not that spot. This is not ground zero proper. No one's body is in that location."
"I'm very sensitive to those feelings," he said. "As an imam - as any religious person does - we have to minister to the pain and hurt ... in our communities. This is part of our intention."
He said he intends to put a 9/11 memorial in the center.
[Updated, 9:07 p.m.] O'Brien asked why Rauf was quiet during the recent uproar while he was overseas. He said wanted to wait until he got back to his home country, America.
"I didn’t think is was appropriate for me to speak about this while I was overseas," he said.
He said people in the Middle East "have been very concerned about this" issue.
"The concerns of people there are about both what this means in the United States, but what this means also for them, because the United States is the only global superpower today, and what happens here has an enormous impact over the rest of the world," he said.
[Original post, 8:54 p.m.] The imam who plans to build a community center and mosque within blocks of New York's ground zero will be interviewed live at 9 p.m. ET on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf will talk with CNN's Soledad O'Brien about his decision to move ahead with the plan. As the interview happens, this blog post will be updated with portions of what Rauf says.
Opponents of the plan say the center would be too close to the site of the 2001 terror attacks and is an affront to the memory of those who died in the al Qaeda strike. Backers cite, among other things, First Amendment rights and the need to express religious tolerance.
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I have been waiting a long time for a rational Muslim to voice the opinions of this silent group of people. We seem to hear only from the extremists. I hope other peace-loving Muslim Americans will come out and help us understand their religion and their beliefs. They deserve to be heard and it is unfair of us, as Americans, founded on the basis of freedom of religion to persecute these previously oppressed peoples. It is unfair to judge any individual on the basis of their religion. I hope instead that we accept people on the basis of their character, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Excluding this group of legal Americans from their opinions and insight will surely haunt us in the future. We certainly have a lot to learn from them in order to protect our combined interests and lifestyles. My husband and I travel internationally on a regular basis. I would hate to think that everyone hates us personally because they think they hate Americans. On the contrary, we find that we are able to turn opinions around once we engage in conversation in our host countries. And Soledad, stop it with the hostility toward the Imam. I tire of CNN's placement of reporters who clearly dislike the subject of their interviews. Do your job and leave your opinion out of it.
The Imam has no right to speak of Jesus! How dare him!
DID HE JUST SAY NOT BUILDING THIS ....IS DANGEROUS TO OUR NATONAL SECURITY????? IS THAT
NOT A THREAT???
That is how I am interpreting it.
"If we don't do this right, anger will explode in the Muslim world," Rauf said. "... If we don't handle this crisis correctly, it could become something very dangerous indeed."
He said moving the project to another location would strengthen Islamist radicals' ability to recruit followers and will increase violence against Americans
This is all I have to hear. He might as well said if we don't get the center built, we will step up violence against America. I am more opposed to this project than ever. Thanks Imam! You showed your true colors.
I THINK HE JUST SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FOOT...TO BAD IT WASN'T HIS HEAD...
Why do we have to practice pacifism with bad actors? Every muslim state in middle east confiscate any religious material unrelated to Islam. When this is the situation in the countries we call "partner" why should we welcome a mosque, which is obviously funded by these "partner" countries, to be constructed 2 blocks from ground zero. And to top it off this man comes on TV and lets out a threat that America will be hurt if the mosque is moved away from this location. What is that??? Are we going to stand by and take it??
it is not at GROUND ZERO!!!! have you ever been to downtown manhattan? there is china town, within feet of little italy, within yards of the bowery. 2 blocks in lower manhattan is ten miles in your town.
Imam Rauf has done a good job of maintaining his composure and speaking for peace in the face of a biased, disappointing interviewer.
I think she was trying to get his emotions a little more to the surface..it worked. When she did, he made a very emotional response.
The Imam is right in every aspect. I am glad he is finally saying what needed to be said. This is a FREE country. Freedom of religion was THE reason this great country was discovered, settled and evolves. I have many friends that don't agree but ONLY because they don't know all the facts: The mosque will NOT be at ground zero PROPER, this country honors and respects freedom of religion, the bridge to understanding and acceptance can only be achieved through knowledge. The mosque can be a great tool in achieving the insights and knowledge needed To Move Forward. We have been buried under the 'attack' far too long. Getting out of Iraq was step....this can be step two.
This is the worst interviewing I have seen on CNN in a while.
This is not an interview. Soledad O'Brien obviously is pushing her own opinion on the issue instead of asking questions. Shame on CNN. That is one reason for this country not being able to have an intelligent conversation about anything.
If burning the Koran feeds the "radicals" doesn't building an Islamic cultural center so close to Ground Zero also? It is practicing the same "freedoms" right?
burning koran or any book is destruction.....center he wants to built is for peace....we should be working with him to turn this into a peace center for all religions, not just muslims...what a great idea. The Florida issue is an embarassment – what a fruit cake and is pure anger and display of ignorance..
Soledad was the worse interviewer i have ever seen. She is so 1 sided. She said this was sacred grounds with strip clubs....... My god Soledad you are absolutely wrong..........CNN get plssssssss dont have her do any more interviews....... This all reminds me of the racial tensions in the 60's when MLK said no to all and he ended up winning...... stop the madness soledad you sound mad as hell and wont budge on your personal feelings.
She does suck as an interviewer. I don't think she wants the Mosque in her nieghborhood - nothing to do with the issue. She's thinking her nieghborhood with go down. She needs to get a life.
She is not a good interviewer. I don't think she wants the Mosque in her nieghborhood - nothing to do with the issue. She's thinking her nieghborhood will go down. She needs to get a life.
I am sick of this. Muslims has the right to build a mosque anywhere. Timothy McVeigh blew up a building. This was an act of terrorism. Should someone say don’t build a Christian church across the street.
Are we forgetting that Muslims consist of White Americans, Black Americans, Asians Americans ..etc... We are all sad about what happen on 9-11 (a few friends perished on 9/11) but I am upset with the terrorist only.
I agree with earlier statement, slaughter and bury some pigs on the sight they want to build, Don't really understand what the big deal is in america anymore, every nationalality in this country gets there way except real americans
You mean the Native Americans? Who/what is a "real American"? Everyone here is or once was an immigrant. Most Muslims in America are American citizens.
please ask about the woman that will be stoned in iran cause this is a shre3a law that will be forced in USA