The leader of the group dedicated to building a mosque and Islamic center blocks away from ground zero has criticized a Republican congressional candidate for using the issue for political gain, according to the
New York Post.
Sharif El-Gamal, the head of Park51 — the mosque and community center project proposed several blocks from the World Trade Center site — has lambasted Bob Turner for a campaign ad that attacks his Democratic opponent, David Weprin, for supporting the right to build the center.
The two are vying for the seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner over questionable electronic correspondence with women other than his wife.
“The right wing has failed at this already,” said El-Gamal in comments made Tuesday. “This is a man who wants to become a leader in that district? That’s pathetic.”
Although Weprin has defended the right of El-Gamal to build the mosque, he has said he prefers it be located farther away from ground zero.
Turner defended his use of the ad saying he would oppose any attempt at using federal tax dollars “going to the development of the mosque and called on Weprin to do the same,” the Post says.
“Not one penny of taxpayer money should be spent building that mosque,” said Turner.
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