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August 9, 2010

Fareed Zakaria Returns ADL Award over Its Opposition to Ground Zero Mosque
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The controversy over plans to build a mosque and Islamic community
center near Ground Zero in New York continues to escalate. Over the
weekend, CNN show host and Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria
publicly rebuked the Anti-Defamation League for opposing the
construction of a religious institution run by moderate Muslims.

Fareed Zakaria: "I have to say, I was personally deeply saddened by the
ADL’s stand, because five years ago the organization honored me with its
Hubert Humphrey Award for First Amendment Freedoms. Given the position
that they have taken on a core issue of religious freedom in America, I
cannot in good conscience keep that award. So, this week, I am going to
return to the ADL the handsome medal and the generous honorarium that
came with it. I hope this might spur them to see that they have made a
mistake and to return to their historic, robust defense of freedom of
religion in America, something they have subscribed to for decades and
which I honor them for."



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