Ground Zero mosque to allow inspection of funds

NEW YORK - The leader behind the proposed mosque near the site of the World Trade Center has said US officials would be allowed to monitor from where funds for the mosque were coming, to reduce fears that terror outfits would contribute to the project.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said he would ask officials to approve the sources of funding for the $100 million project near Ground Zero, the New York Post reported Monday.

Rauf said the mosque and Islamic centre will have a board of directors that will include Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The statement from Rauf came as another proposed mosque in Brooklyn are of the city became embroiled in a controversy with protesters waving anti-Islamic signs at the site Sunday.

“We are not racist. We are not bigots. We are not Islamophobic. We are people concerned about our community. Anyone who supports Hamas is not allowed in our community,” said Gennady Kalman, president of a local association, as he led the rally.

The protesters carried signs saying, “Sidewalks are for walking, not praying”, and “I already own an alarm clock. Do not wake me with a call to prayer”.