Jewish Rights Group Disagrees With Ground Zero Mosque

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- The Islamic center and mosque planned for ground zero has been a controversial issue for months – and its protestors have gotten a powerful and unexpected ally.

The nation's leading Jewish civil rights group is injecting itself into the heart of the debate, but probably not in the way you may think.

The Anti-Defamation league is dedicated to religious tolerance and civil equality, but its leaders say the plans to build the mosque are simply wrong.

The Anti-Defamation League is dedicated to religious tolerance and civil equality.

But -- its leaders say -- plans to build the mosque -- are simply wrong.

"Ultimately, this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right," the group said in a statement. "In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right."

The ADL said it rejects opposition to the center based on bigotry - but many Muslims say that's exactly what the organization is doing.

"It's very disturbing," said Staten Island resident Susan Shafik. "I mean, they're an anti-defamation league and I feel like the Muslim religion has been defamed because of the terrorist acts."

Retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches lost his son Jimmie in the 9/11 attacks.

"I think this is all about location, location, location," he said. "It's not about religious freedom, it's not about anything else. It's all about location…be sensitive to the families."

Charles Wolf lost his wife, Katherine. He has a bit of a different take on the situation.

"What we're doing here is, we're becoming religiously intolerant," he said. "I want to practice my religion. I'm an Episcopalian. It's hypocritical of me to tell someone else they can't practice their religion."

The Director of the Islamic Center says the mosque -- and its location -- are designed to bridge the gap to better relations with the West. They stand firm that they have no connection to the terrorists who brought pain to so many.

The center still has a major hurdle before it gets clearance to build the mosque. The city's Landmark Preservation Commission will vote Tuesday.