In a surprise move on Friday, the United States federal government has seized control of four mosques and a Manhattan skyscraper belonging to a Muslim non-profit group. The seized properties are in New York City, Rockville, Maryland, Houston, Texas, and Sacramento, California. Included is the Islamic Education Center in Southwest Houston. Fahem Kazimi, the Chairman of the Al-Hadi School in Houston commented on the status of this building which is leased by the Alavi Foundation, pointing out that they only lease the building.
Kazimi describes the Islamic Association of Houston as an independent organization not affiliated with any secret organization. A staff member at the school, formally known as the Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning, Farouk Abdulgakni, said the Islamic Education Center Houston provides services to the community, provides a place for people to worship, has a community clinic, and a full time school. "We have a program where the children are able to finish their high school early and they can take college courses at the same time." Those who worship here say about 300 children, including Abdulgakni's three children, attend school here. "This is really upsetting to me," he said.
Abdulgakni went on to say, "A lot of times it's short at the end of the year - we have to donate money to keep the building afloat ... It's not fair that this is how we are being treated, that our building is going to be seized, that my children are going to have to look for a new school — my friends are going to have to look for new jobs."
Prosecutors say the Alavi Foundation illegally funneled millions in rental income back to Iran's state-owned bank which is accused of providing support for Iran's nuclear program. Abdulgakni however said all money from tuition at the Al-Hadi school goes to pay teachers' salaries and other operating expenses for the building.
The New York City building which was seized is a skyscraper, known as the Piaget building, which was erected in the 1970s on Fifth Avenue under the Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in 1979. The Los Angeles Times reports, referring to the statements of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, that the Alavi Foundation has effectively been a front for the government of Iran, that their affairs have been directed for "two decades" by Iranian officials, including United Nations' ambassadors, and that this is a violation of American law. The properties and bank accounts being sought by the government in a civil lawsuit are worth more than $500 million and represent one of the largest attempted seizures of assets allegedly linked to Iran. Tenants and occupants of the properties "remain free to use the properties," said Yusill Scribner, a spokeswoman for Bharara's office. "There are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants."
Article comments
1 - Ruvy
I'll give the scum at CAIR my dirty underwear to cry in. Poor, poor relations to murderous bastards - my ass bleeds.
2 - Ruvy
You sure know how to pick 'em, Johnny boy. Any nice words to say for sewer rats, while you're at it?
3 - Silas Kain
As far as seizing the mosques, once again the US government has done a poor job in reporting this. It's not about mosques, it's about the owner of the real estate to whom the mosques pays rent. Transactions within the United States which ultimately make their way into the hands of terrorist groups or governments which sponsor terror must be seized. It's a matter of national interest and security. To try and make this an issue about church vs. state or an infringement upon the practice of religion is just plain silly.
Insofar as the hype surrounding the prosecution of terrorists in a NY civil court, Republicans would do well to shut the hell up. These men are alleged terrorists. Technically, they are not military operatives of a foreign government. To try them in a military tribunal is giving terrorist organizations an elevated status. These organizations are run by thugs. And, in the United States, thugs are tried in our courts, period. Is there a danger of terrorist reprisals in NYC during the trials? You betcha. Does that mean we should be cowards and try them in secret off our shores? Absolutely not. The Obama Administration has made the proper call and Mitch McConnell and his band of merry Christian Crusaders can rot in hell.
...- my ass bleeds...
Been there, done that.
4 - Glenn Contrarian
This is one of the few actions I've seen the Obama administration take with which I strongly disagree.
Yeah, sure, the mosques may have been fronts for the Iranians. BUT there's more than one way to skin a cat, such as simply 'leaking intel' like "the following mosques are strongly suspected of doing such-and-such in support of terrorism", and using the Rabid Right's own oft-misplaced patriotism to do the administration's dirty work.
Instead, the Obama administration's shot itself in the foot, particularly with trying to get Iran to toe the line. Why? If the mosques were fronts for Iran, then they were obviously Shi'a...and Obama's middle name is "Hussein", which is a name hated by the Shi'a (look up their "72 martyrs") and among Muslims is almost exclusively given to Sunnis.
And for Silas -
To try and make this an issue about church vs. state or an infringement upon the practice of religion is just plain silly.
It might be silly, but look at the hay the conservatives made with the even sillier strawman they made out of ACORN. I think it was Clavos (mighta been Dave) who quite rightly pointed out that the crescendo of troubles facing ACORN the past two years were not about fact, but about perception.
5 - Silas Kain
I agree that this Administration has made many a misstep; however, I give this President an 'A' for his effort. Let the conservatives go after ACORN all they want because they're disintegrating before our very eyes. There is one thing that will propel them back into power and that is another attack on our soil. I think Barack Obama is keenly aware of how fragile this government is. The problem, my friends, is the majority of us are clueless to its' fragility nor do we seem to even care. So much for patriotism.
6 - A Geek Girl
They let us know their intentions back in January when they sent gunships to threaten US warships. They've been aggressive and dismissive towards the US.
I don't think we should allow any aggressor to use US resources for their own benefit. I think their assets should be seized and they should be shut down without apology. I think any business who supports or assists them should be treated likewise, whether it's a church or a laundromat.
This is not about religion or any of the other platitudes I hear when we act to protect ourselves. They need to be sent a strong message. They've crossed the line. We're going to re-establish it.
I don't care what the right says about it. If we don't do it then Obama is being weak, if we do, then he's being too aggressive. Whatever stand he takes will be met with criticism and polar opposite rhetoric.
Our enemies use our political divisiveness to hide within our borders. They use our dollars to build weapons against us. I hope we continue to seize their assets on US soil. I hope we continue to weed out the fronts they hide behind.
I don't think this will make any difference in their nuclear decisions. They've had their own agenda all along. They'll either come to the table or they won't. We need to be united and strong in our convictions to protect ourselves.
7 - Ruvy
Our enemies use our political divisiveness to hide within our borders. They use our dollars to build weapons against us. I hope we continue to seize their assets on US soil. I hope we continue to weed out the fronts they hide behind.
You're a wise lady, Geek Girl. If only the author of this article had your sense....
8 - Glenn Contrarian
GG -
Want to know the real reason why Iran wants nukes? It's not because of America. It's not because of our blunders in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's NOT because of Israel (regardless of what Ruvy would have you believe).
It IS because of a very unstable country right next door, AND this country is ruled by an unpopular dictator, AND this country is officially Sunni (who feel that Shi'a are apostates who are enemies of God (and yes, Shi'a Iran returns the sentiment))...
...AND this particular country is the ONLY nuclear-powered Sunni country on the planet. We're talking about Pakistan.
That, miss, is what's driving Iran to build nukes. All else - ALL ELSE - is just rhetoric and excuses.
9 - Ruvy
Want to know the real reason why Iran wants nukes?
As usual, you have it all wrong, Glenn. Persians want nukes because they feel they are the inheritors of the great empire of Darius and Cyrus. Any Persian government would want nukes. The Shah wanted nukes - for this precise reason.
What makes this particular regime dangerous to Israel is not that they want nukes, - it is that they have pledged to wipe us off the map. That makes any nukes they get an existential threat to us.
But a different regime, one with less hostile intentions in Persia, would still want nukes, and if they did, it would not be a problem for us. After all, we have had nukes for over 30 years. Having nukes is a prerequisite if you want to ever be more than a second-rate power on the planet.