Washington, August 11: The Obama administration drew fire from conservative lawmakers for sending to the Middle East the imam who backs controversial plans for a mosque next to the site of the September 11 attacks in New York.
“Imam Feisal (Abdul Rauf) will be travelling to Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) on a US government-sponsored trip to the Middle East,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
“He will discuss Muslim life in America and religious tolerance,” Crowley added.
Imam Feisal is behind plans for an Islamic centre that includes a mosque, sports facilities, theatre and restaurant that would be open to all visitors to demonstrate that Muslims are part of their New York community, planners say.
–PTI