New Imam Already Quits "Ground Zero" Mosque

Weeks after taking over as Imam at the controversial Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan, Sheik Abdallah Adhami has thrown in the taqiyah. Adhami said in a statement today, "It is important for me now to devote my time to the completion of my book which assists English readers in understanding and facilitating the language of the Quran. I wish the project leaders well." It's probably also important for the project’s developer to devote time to picking a new Imam who hasn't talked about homosexuality as a dysfunction caused by child abuse.

The developer, Sharif el-Gamal, surprised everyone last month by announcing that the project's long-time spiritual leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, would be replaced by Adhami. Imam Rauf then surprised everyone further by telling a Buffalo newspaper he'd be fine with building the mosque somewhere else if they could find a place. In response, el-Gamal issued another statement saying, "Imam Feisal has no authority or control over this project, over its board of directors or over Soho Properties, which controls the real estate. Park51, the Islamic community center in Lower Manhattan, is more than any one personality or imam." That's a good thing, because this guy's burning through Imams like Terry Jones set loose in a Koran warehouse!

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By John Del Signore in News on February 4, 2011 3:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Mordicai

Hopefully the next guy won't feed ammunition to trolls like Geller.

farleft

"Sheik Abdallah Adhami has thrown in the taqiyah."

John...I know you strive to deliver clever posts, but it's not cool when you deliberately incorporate an ethnic slur (ie, calling Arabs towelheads) into an unrelated idiom. Perhaps some ignorant white people think this type of humor is funny, but really, it's not.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Taqiyah/Taqiyya is also an islamic term meaning that it's ok for muslims to lie to infidels in order to advance islam.

http://www.islam-watch.org/War...

farleft

You know damn well that he was using the word "Taqiyah" as a replacement for "towel" in the idiom, "throwing in the TOWEL..." It had nothing to do with that other obscure meaning you're referring to.

dead_himmler

They realized it would be better to put the radical hate mongering clerics in AFTER it was built. They are very sneaky and need to be constantly watched.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Damn. And I just got my permit for my all bacon and sausage vending cart right outside the place.

ANGRYGOD11

Why bother? There is a bar next door.

xgeyiph772

This story is tired, the mosque will never be built. Move on.

ANGRYGOD11

Why not? There is a demand for another mosque in this area. The other one is very small and just a few blocks away while the area's Muslim population has grown.

Len_Drexler

the area's Muslim population has grown.

Apparently they are all masquerading as white yuppies carrying yoga mats and/or pushing baby strollers around Whole Food. Or maybe I don't know what you mean by "the area".

ANGRYGOD11

I meant the downtown Financial District.
I also meant Muslims who work in this area, not just residents.

xgeyiph772

Too much politics and craziness on both sides. Plenty of places to put a mosque in NYC. This one is a goner.

darkdrseuss

Though you say there are many other places to put a mosque, doesn't seem like Muslims can build one anywhere in the city , I.e. sheepshead bay and staten island conflicts...