Islamic community center pro/con

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf presented a lecture for TED entitled "Lose your ego, find your compassion."  You can take a look at it HERE

Rauf is a regular Washington Post "On Faith" contributor.  Find his writing HERE .  He is the author of 3 books: "What's Right with Islam is What's Right with America," "Islam: A Search for Meaning" and "Quran for Children."  Details HERE .

Imam in ground zero mosque controversy participated with Obama and Bush administrations in efforts toward Middle East peace.

Cordoba Initiative, the organization behind the community center project founded by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf "Improving Muslim-West Relations"

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History of this project

Funding of the project

Quotes attributed to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

Part of the controversy on this topic surrounds a variety of quotes which have been attributed to the Imam at the center of the project.  Please add sourced quotes here and link to the source.  Please try to include the content of the quote and a large enough snip of the quote to put it into proper context.  Click "Edit" above to get it done.

• When asked on 60 Minutes in the days following 9/11 whether the United States deserved the attacks, Rauf answered: "I wouldn't say that the United States deserved what happened. But the United States' policies were an accessory to the crime that happened."  According to Rauf in statements made later, he was referring to the policies during the Soviet Union's war with Afghanistan that strengthened Bin Laden and the Taliban. When asked by Ed Bradley to elaborate on his statement, Rauf answered "Because we have been an accessory to a lot of innocent lives dying in the world. In fact, in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA." ¹
• Rauf wrote in the Washington Post: "American Muslims want to be both good Americans and good Muslims. They can be the best assets the US has in combating extremism." He says that the center will be "an affront to extremists everywhere." ²

Opposition to the Project

America's 9/11 Foundation has indicated that they oppose it based on the sentiments of 9/11 families involved in their organization.  Other opposition comes from conservative politicians like Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin. 

The Name "Cordoba Initiative" source of some conflict

Nick Leischen of America's 9/11 Foundation referred to the name of the project as a source of concern, based on a mosque built in Cordoba Spain on the site of a church to symbolize a Muslim victory over Christian Spaniards.  Newt Gingrich has also spoken about the name.

According to their website, the name "Cordoba Initiative" was chosen to replicate interfaith tolerance and pluralism they see as the hallmark of the time when the Cordoba Caliphate ruled much of Spain.

(Photo credit: Donald Douglas )