Obama says yes to Ground Zero mosque

“I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is,indeed,hallowed ground,” Obama said in remarks prepared for the annual White House Iftaar.

But,he said: “This is America,and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country,and will not be treated differently by their government,is essential to who we are.”

Aides to Obama say privately that he has always felt strongly about the proposed community centre and mosque,but the White House did not want to weigh in until local authorities made a decision on the proposal,planned for two blocks from the site of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Last week,New York City removed the final construction hurdle for the project,and Mayor Michael R Bloomberg spoke forcefully in favour of it.

In New York,Rick A Lazio,a Republican candidate for governor and a former member of the House of Representatives,issued a statement responding to Obama’s remarks,saying that the president was still “not listening to New Yorkers”. “With over 100 mosques in New York City,this is not an issue of religion,but one of safety and security,” he said.

Sarah Palin,former Alaska Governor,has called the project “an unnecessary provocation” and urged “peace-seeking Muslims” to reject it.

The Anti-Defamation League,a Jewish organisation,has also opposed the centre.

In his remarks,Obama distinguished between the terrorists who plotted the 9/11 attacks and Islam. “Al-Qaeda’s cause is not Islam — it is a gross distortion of Islam,” he said,adding,“In fact,al-Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion,and that list includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.”