Turnout at Muslim Rally Lower Than Expected

A Muslim prayer rally on Capitol Hill Friday drew between 3,000 and 5,000 participants, a figure well below the 50,000 organizers hoped to attract.

At one point, organizers asked the protestors to show the Muslim group some respect, likening the Friday prayer service to Sunday worship services.

Organizers of the Islam on Capitol Hill rally said their goal was to unify Muslims and show the nation the spiritual side of Islam.

But several Christian leaders expressed concern that the prayer gathering was an attempt by Muslims to exert greater influence in the nation.

Other Christian leaders expressed concern that one of the lead organizers, Hassen Abdellah, was part of the legal team that represented one of the men convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins and Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver were among several conservatives who issued a letter before the Friday gathering calling on Abdellah and other organizers to denounce specific recent terrorist acts and plots.