Iman Feisal Abdul Raufs Content of Character

The NJ Record, the NYPost and Pamela Geller’s AtlasShrugs have been instrumental in revealing controversial issues about the religious leader, Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf, whose groups, the Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) are behind the proposed ‘Ground Zero Mosque.’ During the past month, investigative reporting has unearthed a great deal of information that is shedding light on this provocative Ground Zero Mosque proposal and its advocates, especially Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf.

Americans have been learning about the Iman’s possible IRS deception where he listed his wife’s one-bedroom apartment as a church that he claims has 500 worshippers there to pray in order to get the extremely valuable church tax-exempt status. Added to this credibility gap are his questionable business associations: Rauf’s partner in the development of the Mosque, Shaarif El-Gamal, who has quite a long rap sheet; his financier, Hisham Elzanaty, who was a large donator to Hamas and defrauder of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Medicare; his partner in AMSA, 9/11 Truther Iman Faiz Khan; his ties to waterfront developer Fred Daibes, who sued the Iman for mortgage fraud in 2008, which was settled this past June; and Rauf’s association with the Free Gaza Movement, just to name a few.  But, these are examples that are about the Iman’s choice of associates and theircharacter, along with the Iman’s grand dreams of becoming the spokesperson for the Americanization of Islam.

However, the latest reports by The Record on Iman Rauf go beyond his ‘character by association’ and his overdeveloped ego. (Link: www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/103027309_Cleric_misses_his_chance_to_come_clean_on_repairs.html) They truly go to the heart, or should I say, heartlessness, of the Iman. It speaks volumes of his character and reflects the true nature of the man who claims to be a builder of bridges, the moderate Muslim who is a man of peace. This could be the behavior that Americans will look upon as unforgivable, and the truth could end the Mosque debate.  

On September 14, a suit was filed in Jersey City’s State Superior Court against the sole officer of Sage Development LLC, Feisal Abdul Rauf. The suit first alleges that Sage Development had their corporate status revoked by the state in 2005 for its failure to file its annual financial report. The suit also claims that Sage Development has consistently ignored dozens of health and fire safety complaints against the two buildings, one building with 16 apartments the other with 32 apartments, which Rauf owns. Tenants have been suffering for so long that they had to go to City Hall to get things done. In spite of Union City fire officials issuing a dozen fire-code violations to the larger buildings, it remained so unsafe that a fire broke out on Feb. 8, 2008 and Iman Rauf has had it boarded up ever since.

The Record also exposed a scam where Rauf was able to get NJ politicians, like then Mayor Bob Menendez, to use “taxpayer dollars for rehabilitation of his infested, dilapidated buildings in Union City and Palisades Park. But still his victimized tenants live in squalor.” So where’s the money?

Iman Rauf did not appear in court. His lawyer Tomas Espinosa claimed that he and Daisy Khan have been under a lot of stress. The tenants of his buildings will really appreciate that they are under stress. These tenants want to know about the $5000 bill he still hasn’t paid so that PSE&G stops threatening to turn off the gas and electric. They want to know when the fire violations will be corrected and where are their working smoke alarms so that the city assigned police officers are able to stop round-the-clock guarding outside their building in case a fire breaks out and the residence need assistance to leave the building. And Union CIty officials are tired of Rauf’s despicable habits as a landlord that city lawyers filed papers asking a judge to appoint a special “custodial receiver” who would make repairs, collect rents and basically be accountable.

These are the voices that demonstrate a truth far greater than the ‘peaceful’ talk of Iman Raul.  Americans do not take too kindly to ‘slum landlords.’ This Iman might want to rethink this mega-ego plan of his before he has no character left to lead prayers, let alone to build a Mega-Mosque-Community-Center-Rabat.