Ground Zero Mosque Imam (Feisal Abdul Rauf): Obama Took Speech From Me Rauf claims his book forms heart of Cairo address to Muslim world
JERUSALEM Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the controversial Islamic leader behind the proposed Ground Zero mosque, has claimed President Obama's historic address to Muslim world was "all taken" from Rauf's book.
"If you examine this chapter you will find that the (Obama) speech in Cairo was all taken from this section," Rauf stated in a February recording, which was first posted by Islam critic Walid Shoebat.
Rauf mistakenly referred to Obama as "Bush" but was clearly speaking about Obama's address to the Islamic world from Cairo, Egypt June 4, 2009.
Speaking in a combination of Arabic and English, Rauf was describing chapter six of his 2004 book, "What's Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West."
That chapter, entitled "Toward a New Cordoba," presents the strategies of Rauf's organization, the Cordoba Initiative, for "healing" the relationship between the Islamic World and the West.
The same book was translated into Arabic under a different title, "The Call From the WTC Rubble: Islamic Dawah From the Heart of America PostSept. 11." Dawah refers to the preaching of Islam.
In the February recording, Rauf said the book "taken" by Obama mapped out a "blueprint" outlining how the West and Islam can reconcile.
"What has to be done by the U.S. government. What has to be done by the Jewish community. What has to be done by the Christian community. What has to be done by the media," stated Rauf.
Obama's speech in Cairo was a lengthy address in which the president broached multiple issues. Obama pointed to "violent extremism in all of its forms." He vowed "America is not and never will be at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security.
Hear Rauf's comments: HERE
"Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism it is an important part of promoting peace," Obama declared.
The president did not once use the word "terrorism" during the speech.
Two weeks ago, Obama ignited political controversy by commenting on the rights of American Muslims to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.
WND, meanwhile, has reported on the close ties of several Obama administration officials to Rauf.
The ties include a religion adviser to Obama who wrote a book with Rauf, with the two documented together discussing America as "the ideal place for a renewal of Islam."
Also, a scholar and charity head appointed to Obama's White House Fellowships Commission is tied to Rauf, bringing the imam's organization into a proposed Ground Zero museum to ensure the future museum will represent the voices of American Muslims.