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Imam Warns Mosque Debate Politicized
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1 September 2010 |
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The imam behind a plan to build an Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York said Tuesday the debate over the project has become politicized with upcoming U.S. congressional elections, while praising American ideals and telling a largely Muslim audience he had found his faith in America.
"The story has expanded far beyond a piece of real estate," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told a lecture hall in Dubai as part of a two-week visit to the Gulf region sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. "The scope of discourse has expanded rapidly in a season that is also politicized—we have midterm elections upon us—therefore we have to be careful," Mr. Abdul Rauf said, avoiding more direct answers to questions on the controversy the project has invoked in the U.S.
Mr. Abdul Rauf said he would address the issue when he returned to the U.S. this week, telling the audience of his larger interfaith Cordoba Initiative: "I can assure that whatever we do will increase harmony and peace and well-being, both within our city, our community, our nation and the world."
In the United Arab Emirates this week after visits to Qatar and Bahrain, Mr. Abdul Rauf has kept largely silent about his project to build an Islamic community center, including a mosque, at 51 Park Place. The site is two blocks from where Muslim extremists attacked the World Trade Center nine years ago.
He met with government and religious officials in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but gave interviews only to local media. His lecture Tuesday on religious tolerance and Muslim life in America, organized by the Harvard Kennedy School-affiliated Dubai School of Government, was the only public event.
"I'm curious to hear both sides of the story, but this is an opportunity to hear it from the man himself while he's here," said Sulaiman Moolla, a British Muslim, before the lecture started.
"Like many of my fellow Muslims, we found our faith in America," Mr. Abdul Rauf told the audience of about 150, quoting from the American Declaration of Independence in his speech and drawing parallels to Islamic teachings.
"If you look at the American declaration of independence, it actually speaks to these very issues in ways most Americans are not aware of," he said, adding the U.S. Constitution—like many religions—outlined "inalienable rights" as divine rights that can neither be granted nor taken away by "any man made agency or government."
Mr. Abdul Rauf praised America and said it had helped many Muslims choose, rather than practise passively, their faith.
"Growing up in Egypt or Malaysia—in societies where most people are Muslims—you practice your faith because it's the social norm. But when I went to America, I didn't have to practice my faith—it was more of a choice," he said. "This is part of why I'm happy to be American."
Born in Kuwait to Egyptian parents, Mr. Abdul Rauf founded the Cordoba Initiative in 2004, an organization which seeks to improve relations between Islam and the West. He serves as imam, or community leader, at a mosque 12 blocks from Ground Zero.
Mr. Abdul Rauf has promoted Park51—initially planned to be called Cordoba House—as a Young Men's Christian Association-type community center including a mosque that would bring together Muslims and non-Muslims.
"The fact that the mosque has the right to exist, that's not up for debate," said Mishaal Gergawi, an Emirati columnist for a local paper sitting in the audience. "Will it promote interfaith dialogue—I'm not entirely clear on that."
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Source: beta.thehindu.com |
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