First of all, the plan is not to build a “Mosque,” the plan is to build an Islamic Center, which will include an area for Muslims to pray – which is important in their religion.  I really wish that other media outlets would stop reporting that the plan is to build a Mosque.

Back to my story….

The Imam behind the planned building of the Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York has recently been criticized for his statements he made in a 2006 interview with Barbara Walters and a 2010 interview on WABC Radio in New York. 

Apparently, he candidly discussed his beliefs with Walters during her 2006 special on heaven. “The fundamental thing is you must accept God. You have to believe there is a creator.  The Jews, Christians, whoever believes in God and does good will be saved,” he said during the interview.  When Rauf was asked whether the State Department was correct to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, he said on New York’s WABC Radio in June 2010: “I do not want to be placed nor will I accept a position where I am the target of one side or the other.”

Hamas is a terrorist organization.  End of story!  Of course, the U.S. State Department was correct to designate the organization as a terrorist one.  I do find it interesting that he didn’t want to take a firm position on whether it was correct to designate them as a terrorist organization.  It was a simple question.  Everyone else in the world considers them a terrorist organization. 

We shall see how this plays out.  Several media outlets have reported stories in which his comments suggest that he is a terrorist sympathizer.  If he is, then that’s one more reason to oppose the planned location of the Islamic Center.  JMO.

Click on the link below to read the article on ABCNEWS.com. 

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/ny-mosque-imams-words-closer-examination/story?id=11460873&page=2