Deal and Barnes Oppose 'Ground Zero Mosque'

By Shomial Ahmad

Atlanta, GA – Plans to build an Islamic Cultural Center and mosque near ground zero continue to dominate national news. Today, both of Georgia's major party gubernatorial candidates came out against the location of the mosque. WABE's Shomial Ahmad reports.

Republican candidate Nathan Deal told the Marietta Daily Journal that as governor, he doesn't want to tell New Yorkers what to do with plans to build a mosque. But in an interview with WABE today, he went further and said he's personally against the mosque's location.

"Well as an individual and as an American, I am very much opposed to a mosque being located in that area. I think it's an affront to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the 9/11 tragedy."

Deal went on to say that the center's location offends him as an American. He says a mosque around ground zero will negatively remind people of 9/11.

Democratic candidate Roy Barnes also opposes the mosque's location, saying "it is painful and divisive to build a mosque there."