From The Associated Press: The imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks is being sent by the State Department on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East, officials said Tuesday, in a move that drew criticism from conservative lawmakers. The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar,...
View full sizeA protester opposes the proposed mosque at 45-47 Park Place during a meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission Aug. 3.From The Associated Press:
The imam behind controversial plans for a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks is being sent by the State Department on a religious outreach trip to the Middle East, officials said Tuesday, in a move that drew criticism from conservative lawmakers.
The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in America and promote religious tolerance, spokesman P.J. Crowley said. He said the imam had been on two similar trips and that plans for the upcoming tour predated the mosque controversy.
» Read the full story: U.S. government sending Ground Zero mosque imam to Mideast [The Associated Press]
» Mosque developer rejects Paterson proposal [NY1]
» For mosque sponsors, early missteps fueled storm [The New York Times]
» Editorial: Build the Mosque: House of worship near Ground Zero shows nation's strength [The Post-Standard]
In other state news:
» Former GOP Assemblyman George Ortloff sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for trying to arrange the rape of two pre-teen girls at a Colonie motel [Albany Times-Union]
» State seizes truckload of Seneca cigarettes [The Buffalo News]