Contact: Mike Tilley, 404-591-3057

ATLANTA, Aug. 10 /Standard Newswire/ -- Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading The Way, says the effort by political Islamic leaders to build a Mosque and Islamic Center just yards away from Ground Zero is not only insensitive, it is also part of Islam's overall goal to dominate the world.

"Most Westerners do not understand that Islam is not a religion in their true understanding of what the word means," stated Michael Youssef, PhD. "Islam is a political and social ideology that will never submit to a secular form of government. Islamists will wait until such time as they are able to transform societies into Sharia-dominated ones, giving citizens a Taliban-type government."

Polls suggest that a majority of Americans do not want the Mosque built at the Twin Tower's former site. However, Muslim leaders are using western language of "tolerance" and "freedom of religion" to gain approval for placing the mosque by the site of the infamous terrorist attack.

"Islamic and Arabic media outlets are triumphantly, if not blatantly, saying that Islam is a superior religion, therefore it can build a mosque anywhere in the world, and the infidels need to shut up and accept it," added Youssef. "When you realize that in Saudi Arabia, the most likely bank rollers of the $100 million project, forbids even Christian foreigners to worship in their own homes, you will soon realize the contempt they hold for the West in general and Christians in particular."

The administration in Washington naively believes if America is nice to the Islamists they will be nice to America. The assassination of Egypt's President Anwar Sadat nearly 30 years ago should instantly put an end to that fallacy.

"He tried to be nice to the Islamists and set them free from prison," stated Youssef. "But in 'thanksgiving' for what he did, they pulled the trigger and killed him on that fateful day of October 6, 1981."

Islam continues its march around the world. There were 50,000 Muslims in Western Europe in the early 1900s. By 2008, as many as 25 million were living there.

-Forty percent of Rotterdam's current population is Muslim.

-In Brussels, one in three citizens (33%) follow Islam.

-In Marseille, one in four people (25%) is Muslim.

-Twenty percent of inner London's population "claims allegiance to Islam."

"Socialists and leftists in the media play down Muslim ideology and present Islamists and Jihadists as peace lovers," commented Youssef. "This naivety and ignorance on the part of the Left is like Christmas in July for Muslim leaders. The Islamists and Jihadists are laughing in their sleeves at such stupidity, but they will soon laugh aloud if Muslims become the majority in these countries. Ironically, the Jihadists first victims will be the leftists, the socialists and the godless."

About Michael Youssef
Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef. His weekly television programs and daily radio programs are broadcast in 20 languages and available in more than 200 countries - airing 3,800 times per week. He recently launched MichaelYoussef.com, a new personal blog, that offers readers a unique perspective on cultural, political and religious issues and the consequences that result from decisions being made around the world (www.michaelyoussef.com).

Dr. Youssef was born in Egypt, lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States. In 1984, he fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. He holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia, and from Fuller in California. In 1984, he earned a Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University. He has authored more than 20 books, including the most recent - The Greatest Lie. He and his wife reside in Atlanta and have four grown children, three grandchildren.