US Gov't Backing Ground Zero Imam

Each day seems to reveal even more troubling developments about the Ground Zero mosque and the people behind it.

Today we learned that the U.S. State Department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf for a taxpayer-funded trip to the Muslim world to promote what the government calls fostering a "greater understanding" of Islam.  That's right.  This from an Imam who has, on at least one occasion, refused to declare Hamas a terrorist organization.  This from an Imam who in the days following the tragic attacks of September 11th said the United States was "an accessory" to the crimes of 9-11. 

You can read exactly what this Imam has said - in his own words - here.

This is absurd.  This shows a tremendous lack of judgment on behalf of the State Department and for the American taxpayers to be funding this global journey is not only wrong, but deeply offensive.  We demand that the State Department put a halt to the Imam's participation in this publicly-funded trip.

We're planning to file an official letter of protest with the State Department - demanding that the government "cease and desist" in its plans to sponsor the Imam's globe-trotting journey.

The ACLJ already has filed suit in New York challenging a vote by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which denied landmark status to the building where the mosque is planned.

The ACLJ's lawsuit filed last week charges that the Landmarks Preservation Commission violated the New York City Charter and the New York City Administrative Code.  Among the assertions made in the suit:  the Landmarks Commission failed to properly review the record on the issue of landmarks status and to consistently apply administrative precedent, it acted hastily in voting to deny landmark status, and it failed to acknowledge the significance of the site as a historic and hallowed landmark from the tragic attacks of 9-11.

The lawsuit is posted here.

And, then yesterday new revelations that the developer of the mosque project does not even own both parcels of land needed for construction of the project - raising a host of new legal questions that will require the involvement of other public agencies, such as the Public Service Commission of New York State.  The new revelation also raises questions about whether the developer misled the public and New York officials in an attempt to get the mosque project approved.

The ACLJ represents Tim Brown, a firefighter and first responder, who survived the Twin Towers collapse and lost nearly 100 friends. The ACLJ also has heard from thousands of Americans who have signed on the Committee to Stop the Ground Zero Mosque.

If you want to stand with the ACLJ and say NO to the State Department by adding your name here.