Interfaith center at embattled NYC mosque?

By Allan Chernoff, CNN Senior Correspondent

New York (CNN) - The wife of the former imam for a controversial Islamic cultural center says she and her husband are considering creating an interfaith cultural center in that facility, a surprising announcement in light of the recent rift between the center's owners and the activist couple.

Daisy Khan discussed the idea at a More Magazine luncheon Tuesday, saying the interfaith center could be housed at the Park51 site - controversial because of its proximity to ground zero, where the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 - or at another location.

Khan is married to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who was replaced in January as Park51's spiritual leader. In the statement announcing that change, the group also wrote that "Imam Feisal and Daisy Khan will not be speaking on behalf of Park51, nor will they be raising funds for the project."

Khan, who never held any formal position with Park51, did not immediately respond to CNN requests for comment, and a Park51 spokesman had no comment on the matter. Khan is executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Park51, which has faced fierce opposition due to its plans and location, intends to offer cultural, social and recreational programs to serve the Lower Manhattan community in a new building two blocks north of ground zero. The location is currently being used for Islamic prayer services.

The Park51 group expects to announce its first major funding pledges in the coming months and will have new leaders join its board of directors, according to a person close to the project. Sharif El-Gamal, president of Park51, has been lining up support during meetings with potential donors, who are waiting for the organization to receive IRS tax-exempt non-profit status, which would allow contributions to be tax deductible.