Washington ( CNN ) -- The Army rescinded its invitation to evangelist Franklin Graham for the upcoming National Day of Prayer at the Pentagon over controversial remarks he made about Islam . `` True Islam can not be practiced in this country , '' he told CNN 's Campbell Brown last December . `` You ca n't beat your wife . You can not murder your children if you think they 've committed adultery or something like that , which they do practice in these other countries . '' Graham later tried to temper his remarks by saying that he had Muslim friends . However , the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham has a history of comments that bothered the Pentagon . Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 , for instance , Graham called Islam a `` very evil and wicked religion . '' Graham , who said a prayer at the inauguration of President George W. Bush , said he regretted the Army 's decision but stood by his comments . `` I do n't like the way they treat women , the way they treat minorities . I just find it horrific . But I love the people of Islam , '' he said , adding some of his work has been in Muslim nations . For instance , Samaritan 's Purse , the international charity that he heads , works with Iraqi refugees in Jordan . `` It 's a part of the world I love very much , '' Graham said . `` And I understand it . But I certainly disagree with their teaching . '' `` I want to express my strong support for the United States military and all our troops , '' he said . `` I 'm very proud of them and it 's just unfortunate that I wo n't be able to participate on May 6th . '' The Army , which oversees the National Day of Prayer ceremonies at the Pentagon , feared that if Graham spoke at the Pentagon , Islamic militants would publicize his comments , potentially fueling tensions in Muslim nations like Iraq and Afghanistan , where U.S. troops are deployed . Concerns about Graham were flagged by the watchdog group Military Religious Freedom Foundation , which also raised objections that the Pentagon prayer ceremony had become a fundamentalist Christian event . The group penned a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on behalf of Muslim military members and defense department employees . It said that Franklin 's remarks had sparked outrage . `` Mr. Graham has never retracted or apologized for these statements , '' the letter said . But Graham 's supporters disagreed with the Army 's decision . `` What are they afraid Franklin Graham is going to say ? '' said Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia . `` I think again we are getting to the point in the country where we are trying to exclude everybody from speaking if I disagree with what they are going to say . '' Graham 's invitation was not the only controversy swirling about the National Day of Prayer this year . Last week , a federal judge struck down as unconstitutional the 1952 law that established the day , saying it violated the ban on government-backed religion . On Thursday , the Justice Department informed a federal appeals court that the Obama administration will appeal that decision . CNN 's Barbara Starr contributed to this report .
Army pulls invitation for Franklin Graham over remarks on Islam . In 2001 , Graham called Islam `` very evil and wicked religion '' Graham was to speak at Pentagon for upcoming National Day of Prayer event .