Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Islam in America

Details

  • Description

    Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf on support of Ground Zero mosque

  • Duration 8:30
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest News

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

I'll be joined in just a moment by a man who is often refer to as the ground jury mom right here in our studio.

But first let's review the controversy for our viewers now the Cordoba initiative founder and chairman -- -- Faisal Abdul right you've.

Became a household name back in 2010 when he was the lead supporter of the that a proposed mosque at ground zero.

Now the Islamic center which has been renamed park 51 is just steps away from where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

-- park 51 developers are still fund raising to help complete the fifteen floor senator but the doors are open to the community is their plan.

And even though a mom right youth is no longer associated with the project he still stands by at any now joins me in studio to explain why he has a brand new book -- called -- the mountain beyond ground zero.

-- new vision of Islam in America sound stores now imam Faisal Abdul.

Right if I didn't think he ever come of this program frankly as I read that you know I've been very critical of -- Well I know that while I'm here to sixth in the record okay look I haven't I'm glad you watch.

I I've read -- a recent interview that you said and you said Americans have on the question of Americans treating.

Muslims.

You went on to praise and -- -- -- look I go out of them the way Americans are treated the Muslim community is amazing.

Indeed indeed -- is what I say whenever I right travels the Muslim world and speak which have done on many many occasions.

I'll combine our enemy is not Islam Islam was on the -- of America and Americans about the enemy of Islam.

I'll compile what could -- real enemy is is extremism and radicalism this is a common enemy the battle functional is not between.

The Muslims and Americans to new battlefront is between.

The moderates of all faith traditions against the extremists of all say -- -- -- to.

Reverend to a problem with you that -- -- -- could you possibly.

Have gone on sixty minutes after the slaughter.

Of 3000 Americans and say the United States and their policies -- an accessory.

To what happened I've got to take.

And I am gonna show the type you have better control.

I wouldn't say that the United States deserved what happened.

But the United States policies were an accessory.

To the crime that happened okay you say that we're gonna accessories and yes how.

Because we have been accessory.

To a lot of kind of innocent lives.

Dying in the world in fact it's been the most direct sense.

For something that I've done.

Is made in the USA.

Osama bin Laden duke -- blaming us with that statement.

You're blaming America for the 13000 dead Americans want there was an insensitive thing to say.

I regret saying that and you know we need we need to.

I ask forgiveness and to be good to be forgiven if you never seller before I let I have to say I never heard his I have I have said that when -- -- -- -- -- height of the crisis on on CNN.

I did say that was an insensitive thing to say and I'm sorry -- having said that I appreciate that.

But look at Baghdad again the thing that has caused this is -- common enemy which is extremism.

And we have to combat extremism.

And we can combat it -- chapter in my book.

The facts of the matter is that sixty people sixty Muslims died in 9/11 I've been and -- -- of -- small mosque a dozen blocks from ground zero.

For almost thirty years since back -- 83.

This neighborhood Sean is my neighborhood that community is my community.

And I've always felt as part of that community.

I've that you that you did you dispute talking -- and this is where I'm -- about the conflict with you you talking your book about bringing everybody together I think.

I don't I separate radical islamists.

I separate Hamas and Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda.

I separate that from from people that want to pursue their faith I'm a Christian they're Muslim.

There are peaceful Muslims here's the problem though.

You have you have been given multiple opportunities to condemn Hamas you've never done it.

I have no you in a radio interview -- Aaron Klein on my flagship station and you wouldn't do it.

After that I did after that yes the white changing them because all of a sudden now you're changing well look.

Again any any.

Any organization or any individual that targets civilians.

And kills them for political agenda he's -- -- Let's -- a -- terrorist organization yes it is a -- -- Hezbollah's terrorist organization that yes and the Muslim Brotherhood is terrorist organization to the extent that any of -- and look at Rudy Villanueva and my -- and even within moments that Sean that's important within the Muslim -- in -- I'm from my parents -- from -- need to think he did today there are different wings of the with some -- Muslim Brotherhood is now -- to development their First -- was yes -- -- Israel their enemy.

But -- a different strands within the Muslim Brotherhood.

There's a young a young group -- with the brother coming up to get.

Today that's a very different opinion is -- -- how they have engaged within any community just like within republics of Democrats there right doings Sarah.

There -- middle of the roads there up there about people who are more liberal vetoes any group and we have to -- those who lives in power.

Because because we have to create the change -- -- the change by engaging with people.

How are present and I want to say how do you possible this is important how do you possibly engage with the let's say Hamas.

But as you know you -- I look at the United States very differently this is what frustrated me about your comments that you now apologizing for in sixty minutes.

The -- America.

Liberated -- Kuwait we lost American lives we helped in Kosovo we helped and Indonesia we helped in Iraq we helped in Afghanistan.

You know America blood sweat.

Tears to financial burden we offer financial assistance to Egypt for all of there.

Years that they were -- peace with Israel we have facilitated peace.

And we don't get credit and you say -- Osama bin Laden made in the USA that angers me.

I'm sorry I'm good deal and I'm sorry I said it and I have lost I and I said I'm sorry.

But again we have to solve the problem extremism.

And that good stories to say they're important sources say about how Americans and Muslims have and will and have -- -- -- successfully let -- tell you story Sean.

And the height of the crisis two years ago.

When the Florida -- -- threatened to burn the Koran was a very volatile situation.

Who was the one who came up and stepped in my friend Jim Wallace seven Jim Wallace was and in Zelikow.

Christiane.

Who was a friend and close friend said to me I we will -- because you're evangelicals he's part of our community so -- to -- -- comic left.

Help help I'm just a subsidiary but it was hot but -- -- that's a good stories came out of it.

Muslims in India and Kashmir heard about this is -- -- this is what American Christians have done they went and volunteered and to clean a neighborhood church so my point is that.

The extremists Phillippe Java -- we have to we have to get them we have to find a way Sean you and I I have to finally way.

To get those of us who -- moderates who want peace loving to work together to bill.

All those -- what does -- say what and we can do that but do you talk about the Muslim Brotherhood didn't and I want you to save for acknowledged that there extremists.

They said while there's Arab Spring was going on quote prepare for war with Israel.

That's what they were saying secondly we saw the violence and to hear square I knew what was gonna happen you can ask our mutual friend Michael doubts about that he was wrong I was right.

But more importantly their First Act of parliament.

To say that Israel is their enemy cutting off their energy supplies to Israel saying that the peace treaty to Camp David accords are dead gone and buried.

And now they're gonna have an extremist that wants to apply sure real law.

And I don't think it I would argue that it will be in extreme version in in Egypt that's gonna be that's the rise of radical islamists well.

The good news is that for the first time in 5000 year -- Egyptians today I'm voting for -- president.

And and the and the boat and I -- in the radicals and -- -- brotherhood.

Candidate is apparently not in the lead.

Follow follow -- very important reasons which will be analyzed it.

It is in the lead is even more extreme but that that that they'd have -- the point isn't -- this is a democracy and we know that building democracy Sean isn't -- But the fact is that there are that there are many important.

Trends happening right now on the Arab and Muslim world.

And should react is basically all the -- about protecting and -- six objectives we got to take a break we're gonna come back and we will can.

Load More