The wife of the imam in charge of the proposed Ground Zero mosque yesterday compared the treatment of Muslims in America to the discrimination against Jews.
“This is like a metastasized anti-Semitism. That’s what we feel right now,” Daisy Khan, wife of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, told ABC’s “This Week.”
“It’s not even Islamophobia, it’s beyond Islamophobia — it’s hate of Muslims. And we are deeply concerned,” she said.
Even so, she boasted of the support she and her husband have received.
“The community board has overwhelmingly supported this. So have all the politicians — [Manhattan Borough President] Scott Stringer, Mayor Bloomberg,” she said. “And we have to be cognizant that we also have a constitutional right.
“We have the Muslim community around the nation that we have to be concerned about, and we have to worry about the extremists as well, because they are seizing this moment.”
In spite of the public outcry from those who say it’s in poor taste to build a 13-story mosque and Islamic community center two blocks from the World Trade Center, Khan insisted the project would move forward.
“Of course, it has to go ahead,” she said. “There’s so much at stake.”
Although some, including Gov. Paterson, have suggested finding a less divisive location, Khan said that, at least for now, that is not an option.
“Right now, it’s not, until we consult with all our stakeholders,” she said, appearing on the network with Jewish Community Center Rabbi Joy Levitt, who has been an adviser to the mosque effort.
“We have to be very careful and deliberate when we make any major decision like this.”
Dubbed Park51, the project is first and foremost a community center, she said.
“It’s basically become a place where ideas can be exchanged, but tolerance, mutual respect can also be extended,” she added.