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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.
The evidence will be there when it's too late!!!! THERE IS NO MODERATE MUSLIM concept!!!! islam calls them religous hypcrites, who will burn in hell!!!!!! aside with those who follow them .....!!!!
I wonder why Feds don't track where $110M is coming from? if the do (or want to do), this project would die and this imama goes to jail for attempt terrorist training
Why does she keep asking the same questions over and over? She sure isn't listening to what he is saying.
because he's NOT ANSWERING THE Question???? Duh
Problem is their "prophet" Muhammad killed people to spread Islam, that is who Muslims look up to...
Jesus died on the cross for sins and never hurt a soul, which religion is peaceful???
What about religion freedom in Saudi Arabia ?
Also when he said : "our national security now hinges on how we negotiate this, how we speak about it and what we do." What he thinks he's the President now? how does he know that ?!!!
I'm impressed and pleased that CNN took on this interview with Imam Rauf. Its a great relief to me that his point of view is getting broadcast in a civil manner.
We donot need ANY ISALMIC CENTER I groud Zero.
Come on Soledad. Your stock value just tanked.
I agree, Eric!
AGREE!!!
Solidad, you stink at this. I'm getting increasingly angry at how unprofessional you are...
I agree. She was lousy and trying to drum up emotion.
@Fahim Lodhi
The Imam said that the Muslims that died in the World Trade Center were innocents of 9/11... True
BUT HE BLAMED THE ATTACKS ON AMERICA AND DID NOT SAY THE NON-MUSLIMS THAT DIED IN THE TRADE CENTER WERE INNOCENTS. Look it up yourself if you don't believe me. I have NO problem with the center being built there. I have a problem with THIS IMAM building it. Any other American Muslim that says that ALL people that died in the Trade Center attack were innocent is a friend of mine.
Li, you know that's not what he meant, and surely you know he feels that all who died on 9/11 were innocent. I don't believe YOU when you say that if any other Imam were doing this work you'd be okay with it. You'd find some other reason to have a problem with it. Be honest with yourself.
"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."
I thought Islam was a passive religion. That statement sounds like a threat to me.
if muslims stopped a church in some random state, lets say Georgia, from being built, then I'm sure there would be massive protest and attacks from Christians. same theory. get real.
Sounds like a reality check to me.
He is referring to the radical Muslims. Islam, as a religion in totality is one of peace.
Soledad is missing the point in this interview – please stop repeating the same questions and start listening. WE ALL NEED TO BE BETTER LISTENERS. Imad, thank you for standing by what you know is right.
Diane–thank you for your post. I have been listening and calling her out every few minutes. If he weren't such a man of peace, I could only see his frustration mounting and this interview turning ugly, as it would with most politicians or network correspondents.
How many times does he need to say, "As I stated before?"
Also, I am so discouraged by the media and their need to prove how technologically up to date they are. The question shown by an iReporter had already been covered more than three times. What has happened to credible, responsible journalism?!
This is all politics. Since May 2010 there were no news about this in the media and now this is one of the biggest news every where..If they don't do this project then you don't what will be the reaction in the muslim world where you have so many us citizen .. there are islamic caridcals waiting to turn it into a bad situation.
"[O]ur 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."
This oddly sounds like a veiled threat. Does our national security really depend on a building being built? If so, we really need to spend more on national security.
Did this man just threaten his fellow Americans with violence abroad if we continue to object to his twisted "vision" of peace-making?
Did you see he just say OSAMA Is made in the USA? that is JIHAD
Well, Maggie it is true Osama bin Laden was created by CIS to fight soviet troops in Afghanistan, but got out of control as soon as he realized that he can as well practice power and influence on people!
They are already exploding. Wake up and see the world as it is people. We have the advantage, let's use it!
The Headline on the CNN home page reads "Speaking now on "Larry King Live," the imam behind the proposed Islamic center in New York said moving the project would increase violence against Americans" – Does that sound like a threat to anyone else? If you don't let us build the mosque here you will get attacked, sounds like a not even thinly veiled threat to me. Try to build a Cathedral or Synagogue in Mecca, or even set foot in the city if you aren't a Muslim and then talk about tolerance and equality of religion.