By Yepoka Yeebo
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Newsweek International editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria returned a $10,000 award from the Anti-Defamation League after the Jewish group revealed its opposition to the Ground Zero mosque.
"Five years ago, the ADL honored me with its Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize," Zakaria wrote in this week's Newsweek.
"I was thrilled to get the award from an organization that I had long admired. But I cannot in good conscience keep it anymore."
Zakaria, speaking during his CNN show 'Fareed Zakaria GPS,' said relinquishing the award was an attempt to get the ADL to take another look at its decision to oppose the mosque.
"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."
In an open letter to Zakaria, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman expressed surprise.
"I am not only saddened but stunned and somewhat speechless by your decision to return the ADL Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize, you accepted in 2005," Foxman wrote.
"We did not oppose the right for an Islamic Center or a mosque to be built. What we did was to make an appeal based solely on the issues of location and sensitivity," added Foxman.
