Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in his own words

One of the frustrating things for me in this unrelenting media controversy about the proposed Muslim Community Center in lower Manhattan is the way even many mainstream  journalists continue to characterize Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf as someone with a subversive agenda who is not to be trusted.

As one of Intersections’ earliest supporters, Imam Rauf has been a persistent advocate for multifaith cooperation and a vocal critic of terrorist violence. He has worked and worshipped in the TriBeCa community for more than a quarter century.

Attached are two clips, one video and one audio, where the Imam talks about his vision for reconciliation and peace. The video clip is his “charge to the congregation of the Collegiate Church” at my installation as Founding Director of Intersections on February 24, 2008. There is, of course, no mention of the current project, but the Imam’s philosophy is clear.

The second clip is an audio tape of an interview Imam Rauf had with Intersections’ Communication Director Joseph Ward on July 16 of this year as the current controversy raged.

“Since speaking with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf a few weeks ago about the Muslim community center to be built in lower Manhattan, it has been painful to watch the national dialogue around this issue deteriorate into misinformation, hysteria and fear towards Islam,” said Ward, “The rhetoric from individuals like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and others who share their views continues to distort the real issue at hand. All Muslims are not terrorists, and the actions of terrorists are certainly not Islamic. This point must be realized if the conversation is ever to elevate beyond these harmful sound bites. It is my sincere hope that by releasing this transcript of our recent conversation, those who honestly seek understanding about the Islamic Center, and the good leaders behind it, will find it.”

Because the Imam has been overseas and not readily available to tell his story in the media, I hope these statements of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in his own words will help set the record straight. You decide.
   
A DVD of the entire installation service is available here.

A printed transcript of the video is available here.

A printed transcript of the audio recording is available here.