NYC imam's goodwill tour comes amid mosque furor

[Douglas Carpenter]

By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll, Ap Religion Writer –


NEW YORK – The furor over the planned mosque and Islamic center near ground zero has put Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in a curious position: At the same time he is being vilified in the U.S. for spearheading the project, he is traveling the Mideast on a State Department mission as a symbol of American religious freedom.

snip:

This is Rauf's fourth U.S.-sponsored trip to the region, according to the State Department. He traveled twice to the Mideast in 2007 during the administration of President George W. Bush and once earlier this year. As part of his latest trip, Rauf will also visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan to talk about Muslim life in America.

snip:

At his first event Friday in the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain, Rauf refused to discuss the uproar over plans for the community center two blocks from the World Trade Center site. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley has said Rauf understands that he cannot solicit funds for the project on his 15-day tour.

snip:

"This issue of extremism is something that has been a national security issue — not only for the United States but also for many countries and nations in the Muslim world," Rauf said. "This is why this particular trip has a great importance."

snip:

Several American Muslim leaders who have traveled overseas for the State Department said they are often asked about discrimination against Muslims in the U.S. They said they acknowledge that prejudice does exist, but they also emphasize that many leaders of other religions, including Jews and evangelical Christians, defend the right of Muslims to practice their faith.

"There are times when the forces of religious division rear their head, but my point when people ask me about that is that religious freedom wins out," said Eboo Patel, an American Muslim who was asked to participate in the speakers program during the Bush administration.

link to full article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_on_re_us/nyc_mosque_imam

[applegrove]

1. I hope his comments and news of his trip go viral. Knock a little sense into the Republican Tea

Partiers heads.

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. I would hope so, but that is not the story that is being pushed