Imam Feisal Rauf Accuses Forras and His Legal Counsel of 'Blind Bigotry' for Exercising Their Rights to Sue Against Ground Zero Mosque

Contact: Freedom Watch, 310-595-0800 

NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /Standard Newswire/ -- Monday, controversial Imam Feisal Rauf moved to dismiss the complaint Vincent Forras, a First Responder, had filed against him and his Ground Zero Mosque, and counter-sued Forras reportedly for $50,000 USD. Forras and counsel have not yet seen the defendant's pleadings, but according to the New York Post, Feisal used the opportunity to attack and smear Forras and his attorney. The Post reported in an article of October 11, 2010, entitled "Anti-mosque lawsuit slammed as bigotry," that Feisal and GZ Mosque "...are blasting a $350 million lawsuit filed by a 9/11 first responder as 'blind bigotry.'" The motion to dismiss seeks to have the complaint thrown out on First Amendment grounds.

Shortly after the deadly and traumatic events of 9/11, Feisal made a statement suggesting the attacks were caused by American actions toward his fellow Muslims. He has also publicly stated that more terrorist violence will result if building of the mosque is prevented. Fox News and other news outlets have reported that donors to his mosque were also funders of the Holy Land Foundation, a terrorist organization that was indicted and convicted of support for jihadists in the federal court in Dallas, Texas.

Apparently, Feisal believes the 9/11 attacks were "justified" in part by American actions, and that Forras has no right to use the American legal system for redress of grievances and suffering of all those who risked their lives in the attacks' aftermath. The defendants' motion to dismiss will surely fail, and now that Feisal and his Ground Zero Mosque have counter-sued, Forras et al are assured that the case will proceed to uncover more details about the mosque project's ties to terrorist interests.

In fact, Forras' suit is not an attack on Islam, but rather a simple nuisance and infliction of emotional distress case under common law. It merely seeks to stop the building of the Ground Zero Mosque, and seeks damages for the infliction of the emotional distress Feisal's "clever" but dastardly scheme brings to again terrorize the survivors, the victim's families, New York City and the nation.

While nearly 80% of the American people oppose the Ground Zero Mosque, even over 58% of Muslims worldwide also oppose it. It is universally seen as a clear act of aggression and provocation.  It is evident that the Ground Zero Mosque is intended to drive a wedge between Christians and Jews, and Muslims. It is a ploy to ignite and intensify hatred by Muslims against America and the West.

"Now, Feisal has upped the ante by defaming a heroic First Responder, Vinnie Forras, and his brother First  Responders in this suit, and me as 'blind bigots' -- in an obvious attempt to incite hatred and violence by radical Muslims against us. The motives for Feisal's attack against us are transparent, as they amount in practice to issuing a 'fatwah' to harm if not kill Vinnie and me.  This type of outrageous conduct cannot be permitted in a civilized society and it underscores why the Ground Zero Mosque is just a nefarious way to organize hostility and mete out psychological terrorism, since additional large-scale attacks on New York City have thus far failed over the last eight years," stated Forras' counsel Larry Klayman.

The class action complaint against Feisal and his Ground Zero Mosque are publicly available for review at  www.freedomwatchusa.org.  Participating in the suit for the plaintiffs is Declaration Alliance, a civic advocacy and social welfare organization. For more information contact 310.595.0800.