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Cordoba House Controversy at Ground Zero

Imam seeks support for building of cultural center

The man at the middle of the Ground Zero Islamic Center came
to Duke Thursday with a message: Making politics out of the controversy
benefits nobody.

"I would not have wanted the scenario to unfold this way but
it has aroused some very serious questions about how Americans deal with
religion, particularly Islam," said Feisal Abdul Rauf.

"I expected a certain amount of anti-Islam sentiment, which
I have come to expect since I moved to this country, but I did not expect a
religious center to become such a political football, especially in a country
that has an almost religious belief in the separation of church and state."

 The
Egyptian-born Imam behind the “Ground-Zero” religious center in lower
Manhattan, spoke to around 200 students, staff and community members in Duke
Chapel on Thursday afternoon. Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells, Christy Lohr Sapp,
associate dean of religious studies, and Duke Muslim Chaplain Abdullah Antepli joined
the imam for an hour-long interfaith conversation. The talk was sponsored by
the Duke University Faith Council.

Rauf has been on tour to promote his book, "What’s Right
with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West," and spoke Wednesday at the
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

He said it is still undecided where the center will be
built, but he continues to pursue funding for the YMCA-like center.