Pelosi raises questions on funding opponents of proposed Islamic center near ground zero

Pelosi raises questions on mosque funding

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she supports questioning who is funding the opposition to a proposed Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

The California Democrat on Wednesday said Muslim leaders have the right to build a proposed Islamic center, including a mosque, two blocks from the World Trade Center site and that the decision should be made by local leaders. But she says there should be transparency on who is paying for the $100 million project, as well as who is funding the fervent opposition to the plan.

Pelosi’s office released the statement after she told San Francisco radio station KCBS that opponents are trying to politicize the project. She said in the interview with the station: “How is this being ginned up?”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she wants to look into who is funding the opposition to a proposed Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

The California Democrat on Wednesday said Muslim leaders have the right to build a proposed Islamic center, including a mosque, two blocks from the World Trade Center site and that the decision should be made by local leaders. But she says she wants to know who is paying for the $100 million project and who is funding the fervent opposition to the plan.

Pelosi’s office released the statement after she told San Francisco radio station KCBS that opponents are trying to politicize the project. She told the station she wants to know, “How is this being ginned up?”