New York: Former New York Mayor Rudy
Giuliani, who led New Yorkers during and in the aftermath of
the 9/11 attacks, has spoken out against the proposed mosque
near `Ground Zero` and described the move as "divisive".
Giuliani, who was the Mayor during the September 11
attacks, said the organisers` plans breeding hate rather than
healing wounds.
"This project is creating tremendous pain for people
who`ve already made the ultimate sacrifice. All you`re doing
is creating more division, more anger, more hatred," he told
NBC.
Developers want to build the USD 100 million community
center, including a mosque, at a building two blocks north of
Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center.
Giuliani`s remarks put him squarely at odds with the
current mayor Michael Bloomberg, who supports the move to
build the mosque.
He joins several prominent US leaders like Sarah Palin
and Newt Gingrich, who have spoken out against the mosque.
Giuliani said the organizers have "every right" to
build the center two blocks from the site of the fallen Twin
Towers.
"The question is, should they build it?" he said. "Are
they displaying the sensitivity they claim by building it?"
Kuwait-born Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the developer
of the 100 million dollar Muslim Community Centre called
Cordoba House, insists that it "a center for all New Yorkers"
and "its purpose is to interweave America`s Muslim population
into the mainstream society."
A poll by the Siena Research Institute finds that 63
percent of New Yorkers oppose the Islamic Centre and mosque.
A recently conducted CNN poll found that 68 percent
of Americans nationwide, both Republicans and Democrats, were
opposed to building a mosque near the Ground Zero site.
Last week, President Barack Obama came out in
support of religious freedom enshrined in the constitution and
said Muslims had the right to build the Islamic Centre.
"Muslims have the same right to practice their
religion as everyone else in this country, Obama said.
But, Obama clarified later that his remarks only
related to the rights of the American-Muslims but did not
address whether the mosque should be built on disputed site.
"I was not commenting and I will not comment on
the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there," he
said.
PTI
