Park51 Developer: No Money from Iran or Hamas
The developer behind the Park51 project launched a fundraising effort today, and announced that they will not accept money from Iran, Hamas, or any “organizations that have un-American values.”
Sharif El-Gamal, the developer behind the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque,” told CBS News in an interview last night that the backers of the project will not take money from “organizations that have un-American values.”
“We will not take money from Iran. We will not take money from Hamas,” said El-Gamal of the funding for the project, a proposed Islamic cultural center two blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center called Park51.
“The money is going to be coming from people that want to get involved in the project,” he told CBS News’ Scott Pelley. “And I think it’s gonna come from people from all walks of life.”
UPDATE at 8/27/10 5:20:48 pm:
The Park51 community center may also be eligible for public financing.
(Reuters) - The Muslim center planned near the site of the World Trade Center attack could qualify for tax-free financing, a spokesman for City Comptroller John Liu said on Friday, and Liu is willing to consider approving the public subsidy. …
“If it turns out to be financially feasible and if they can demonstrate an ability to pay off the bonds and comply with the laws concerning tax-exempt financing, we’d certainly consider it,” Sieber told Reuters.
Frank says: