Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf refused to discuss his controversial Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero on the first day of his State Department junket.
Instead, he spoke in Bahrain about the threat religious radicals pose to both the West and the Muslim world.
"This issue of extremism is something that has been a national security issue," Rauf said. "This is why this particular trip has a great importance because all countries in the Muslim world - as well as the Western world - are facing this major security challenge."
His first speech on the tour came after a long week of calls from across the country to move Park51, the planned 13-story community center and mosque two blocks north of Ground Zero.
The imam will also visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the 15-day speaking tour designed to paint a picture of Muslim life in America.
The State Department has said this is Rauf's fourth trip on their behalf. They insist the $16,000 junket funded by the Bureau of International Information Programs was scheduled long before the Park51 controversy began.
Rauf also discussed his work on trying to "Americanize Islam," though he did not say what he hopes it would look like.
"The same principles and rituals were everywhere, but what happened in different regions was there were different interpretations," he said. "So we recognize that our heritage allows for re-expressing the internal principles of our religion in different cultural times and places."
Back in New York, Park51 officials hired lobbyist Tiffany Raspberry to negotiate with city and state officials after weeks of trying to manage its government relationships on its own.
"I'm hoping to help the developer negotiate the political landscape in New York City and New York State," Raspberry told the Daily News.
A new Twitter stream mocking Park51 emerged yesterday and took a harsh tone on the project.
The fake feed carries inflammatory messages like: "There IS a need for our project! We need to laugh at Americans! We need to dance on the graves of infidels!" and "Allahu Akbar! Islam will dominate! Down with Israel (little satan) & America (big satan!) Thank u for ur support!"
It's not clear who's operating the fake feed.
With News Wire Services
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