http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=190057By Michael Carl
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
NEW YORK - JULY 15: Workers continue construction on the World Trade Center site in July 15, 2010 New York City. Construction at the site is expected to be completed by 2013. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
A law firm that fights for the protection of constitutional and civil rights says the federal government's choice of the Muslim cleric proposing a mosque near Ground Zero in New York to represent the United States overseas is "unconscionable."
Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice says it's entirely inappropriate for the U.S. to allow Feisal Abdul Rauf to travel as an official government representative.
"He will not call Hamas a terrorist organization. He's representing now the interests of the United States abroad and he's not supporting the policy of the United States, which has listed Hamas as a terrorist organization," Sekulow said.
"He's on the board of directors of an organization whose co-founder has made some of the most virulently anti-Semitic statements. He doesn't condemn those either. The idea that this guy is now selected by the State Department to represent the interests of the United States is unconscionable," Sekulow said.
The New York Post is reporting that Arab media outlets say Rauf also will be fundraising for the Ground Zero mosque.
When asked about the reports, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said, "That would not be something he could do as part of our program."
But Sekulow said the State Department's inclusion of Rauf in its program reveals the U.S. is clearly becoming more pro-Arab in its foreign policy.
"The Obama administration said it wasn't going to get involved in the Ground Zero mosque, that the mosque is a local issue. Instead of making it a local issue, the administration has now made it an international issue," Sekulow said.
"The State Department actions are not unintentional. Unfortunately this is the policy the administration has created. This is part and parcel of the administration's policy," Sekulow said.
"They selected this guy; they've been put on notice that he should not be representing the United States. They've been asked questions about this. It is reported in the Arabic-speaking press that he's going to be raising money for his project. We're funding all of this. It's outrageous," Sekulow added.
Mosque promoters got the go-ahead to build last week after the New York City Landmarks and Preservation Commission refused to designate the property at 45-47 Park Place as a historic landmark.
It was the State Department that said Rauf is preparing to go on a multinational, Middle Eastern trip and that the taxpayers are going to pick up the tab. The trip is billed as an effort to foster greater understanding of Islam and the American Muslim community.
In a response to a reporter's question about the junket, Crowley said Rauf is highly regarded.
"He is a distinguished Muslim cleric. We do have a program whereby, through our Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau here at the State Department, we send people from Muslim communities here in this country around the world to help people overseas understand our society and the role of religion within our society. I think we are in the process of arranging for him to travel as part of this program," Crowley remarked.
Mosque supporters reportedly had said they owned all of the property on the block in question, but officials have said a parcel, 49-51 Park Place, is owned by Consolidated Edison.
In a Manhattan press conference today, Gov. David Paterson said he understands that many people are upset by the project and that the state would help Soho Properties find another piece of land.
Topic: Imam's globe-hopping on taxpayer dime 'unconscionable' (Read 2371 times)