ACLJ Calls on US State Dept. to End Sponsorship of Ground Zero Imam for Globe-Trotting Journey

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2010— The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents a New York City firefighter who survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks, today called on the U.S. State Department to immediately remove Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf from a taxpayer-funded trip to the Muslim world to promote what the government calls fostering a "greater understanding" of Islam.  The ACLJ says the publicly-funded trip is "absurd" in light of the fact that the Imam has, on at least one occasion, refused to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and, in the days following the tragic attacks of Sept. 11, said the United States was "an accessory" to the crimes of 9/11. 

"This shows a tremendous lack of judgment on behalf of the State Department and for the American taxpayers to be funding this global journey is not only wrong, but deeply offensive," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice.  "It seems with each passing day we learn more disturbing information about this project and the people behind it.  We demand that the State Department put a halt to the Imam's participation in this publicly-funded trip."

The ACLJ is planning to file an official letter of protest with the State Department - demanding that the government "cease and desist" in its plans to sponsor the Imam's globe-trotting journey. The ACLJ already has filed suit in New York challenging a vote by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which denied landmark status to the building where the mosque is planned.

The ACLJ's lawsuit filed last week charges that the Landmarks Preservation Commission violated the New York City Charter and the New York City Administrative Code.  The lawsuit is posted here.

On Monday, Aug. 9, new revelations that the developer of the mosque project does not even own both parcels of land needed for construction of the project surfaced - raising a host of new legal questions that will require the involvement of other public agencies, such as the Public Service Commission of New York State.  The new revelation also raises questions about whether the developer misled the public and New York officials in an attempt to get the mosque project approved.

The ACLJ represents Tim Brown, a firefighter and first responder, who survived the Twin Towers' collapse and lost nearly 100 friends.  The ACLJ also has heard from thousands of Americans who have signed on the Committee to Stop the Ground Zero Mosque.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.  The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.  Its online newsroom is available at DeMossNews.com/ACLJ.

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