Tuesday, October 28, 2003
An investigative report on the front page of the Boston Herald today looks into the funding and some of the connections of the new $22 million mosque being built right here in the Hub. And guess what? Surprise, surprise, much of the funding is coming from Saudi Arabia, and some of the early backers include terror supporter Dr. Yusuf Abdullah al-Qaradawi, who is barred from entering the US, and indicted terror-supporter Abdurahman Muhammad Alamoudi. See here for info on Alamoudi. See here for info on Qaradawi.
Should we be concerned about where the money for the mosque is coming from? Yes. Extremists in Saudi Arabia aren't funding mosques world-wide to spread a liberal, tolerant form of Islam. They take advantage of the West's liberal, pluralist impulses to get their footholds in, and Bostonians should be concerned about a Trojan Horse in our midst, with funding from abroad. We certainly should stay open for the possibility of real, welcoming Muslims who practice a form of Islam compatible with Western values, unfortunately, that breed appears fairly scarce these days. They're not where the money is.
Radical Islam: Outspoken cleric, jailed activist tied to new Hub mosque
The Islamic Society of Boston, which has city approval to build a sprawling $22 million Islamic cultural center and mosque on Malcolm X Boulevard, has had a long association with Dr. Yusuf Abdullah al-Qaradawi, whose vocal support of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas prompted the State Department to bar him from entering the U.S. four years ago.
The local religious organization, now headquartered on Prospect Street in Cambridge, was founded by Abdurahman Muhammad Alamoudi - a high-profile Washington, D.C. activist who has publicly supported Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.
Alamoudi was arrested Sept. 28 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and charged with making illegal trips to Libya and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Libyan government in violation of U.S. law.
Last Thursday, Alamoudi was indicted for his dealings with Libya and portrayed by prosecutors as a key financier for militant Islamic groups and terrorist organizations.
In that case, the U.S. government alleges Alamoudi funneled more than $230,000 to two front organizations for terrorist Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, as well as more than $100,000 to groups funding Hamas.
A lawyer representing the Islamic Society of Boston said the local group is not militant or extremist, and is in no way connected to Islamic terrorism.
However, public records indicate Al-Qaradawi and Alamoudi have both held leadership positions with the Islamic Society of Boston...
...A project update in the Islamic Society of Boston's May 2000 newsletter reported that in the previous month alone, the group raised $2 million in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states.
One source familiar with the project who spoke on the condition he not be named said the leaders of the Islamic society have made it clear that virtually all the financing for the cultural center is coming from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Gulf states.
Many mosques and Islamic institutions in the U.S. are funded by wealthy individuals and foundations in Saudi Arabia. Those financiers are almost without exception followers of Wahhabism, a harsh Saudi-based fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, and they make sure the American mosques they bankroll adhere to the sect's anti-Western ideology...
The city is giving the land for a bargain-basement price, and by doing so has a responsibility to keep an eye on what's going on there.
In May, the BRA sold the 1.9-acre lot to the group for the bargain price of $175,000, but construction has yet to begin. The Islamic Society of Boston's own newsletter said the land is worth $2 million.
Farrah said the ambitious project has been in the works for a decade. Now, he said, the Islamic Society of Boston has all the necessary building permits from the city and the start of work on the site is imminent...
Respecting and encouraging our city's multi-ethnic character is important. Making sure the people we're encouraging do the same is even more so.
Update: Of course, LGF also has the story.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: New Boston Mosque has Wahabi Roots.
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A little extra security was on hand last night when Robert Spencer took the podium for his talk, "The Boston Mosque: Do Tolerance and Diversity Go Both Ways?" There were... Read More
Hmmmm. I guess that means the property will be taken off the City's tax rolls also due to it being a non-profit religious organization.
In response to Boston Herald articles dated 10/28/2003 & 10/29/2003
The articles published in the Boston Herald about the Islamic Society of Boston on the 28th and 29th of October are libelous. The Islamic Society of Boston hopes in this statement to rebut the defamatory and vilifying remarks included throughout these articles.
In the article written on 10/28 it is stated that the Islamic Society of Boston, “…has long-standing ties”… and “…has had a long association with…” Dr. Yousef Al-Qaradawi and Mr. Abdurahman Muhammad Alamoudi.
The Islamic Society of Boston does not maintain any significant or long-standing relationship with either individual.
Any administrative or official connection to either individual that was in existence more than a decade ago has since been dissolved, long before either individual was identified as controversial or as an alleged participant in illegal activities.
The Islamic Society of Boston is not accountable for the personal statements and actions of individuals who are not associated with the Society in any way.
The Islamic Society of Boston does not condone any action or speech that supports or encourages acts of terrorism on American soil or elsewhere in the world.
The article states that the Islamic Society of Boston was “…founded by Abdurahman Muhammad Alamoudi…”, an alleged supporter of terrorist organizations
Mr, Alamoudi was among many students of prestigious colleges and universities in the Boston area who felt the need to create a religious organization for the growing Muslim community in the 1980’s. Mr Alamoudi left Boston in 1984 and has had no contact with the Islamic Society of Boston since that time. In the 1990’s, Mr. Alamoudi was a visitor to the White House, and a good will ambassador for the US State Department, associations that are much more recent and significant than that with the Society during the same period.
Mr. Alamoudi certainly has no control or influence in the administration and policies of the Society.
The article states that “…public records indicate Al-Qaradawi and Alamoudi have both held leadership positions with the Islamic Society of Boston.”
Dr. Al-Qaradawi has never held a position of leadership with the Islamic Society of Boston
Dr. Al-Qaradawi was invited to become an honorary trustee of the Society because of popularity within the Muslim community. This invitation was extended long before he was considered a controversial figure and was refused per Dr. Al-Qaradawi’s apparent policy not to hold such positions.
For more information on Dr. Al-Qaradawi and his role in the Muslim community, please see the the Washington Post of February 14, 2003, entitled “Maverick Cleric is a Hit on Arab TV: Al-Jazeera Star Mixes Tough Talk with Calls for Tolerance” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A5496-2003Feb13)
The article states that, Dr. Al-Qaradawi was, “identified…as one of [the Society’s] four directors on its income tax return…”
The Islamic Society of Boston admits to an administrative oversight in listing Dr. Al-Qaradawi as a member of the Board on its tax returns. This was subsequently corrected after the organization hired more paid staff members and more detailed administration policies could be implemented.
The article states that, “most, if not all of the project’s financing has come from the Middle East.”
The Islamic Society of Boston has fundraised vigorously within the Muslim community in Boston and has received a significant amount of its financial support from the American Muslim community.
The article states that, “The mosque is being paid for with money from the Middle East and it’s connected to a larger agenda.”
The Society has implemented a “Know Your Donor” program that requires background checks to be conducted on all donors whether local or international who give in amounts exceeding $5000. The donors are cross checked against the Federal Government’s Terrorist watch list to ensure that no ties whether alleged or founded are held with terrorist organizations before accepting donations.
The Society has a policy of only accepting donations that come “with no strings attached”
The Islamic Society of Boston approaches donors who are eager to improve the understanding of Islam in the United States and who themselves do not condone an interpretation of Islam that is fundamentalist, oppressive, radical, anti-Western or anti-Semitic. The Society’s donors all see the project as a forum for cooperation and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States.
The Islamic Society of Boston rejects any interpretation of Islam that is considered fundamentalist, oppressive, radical, anti-Western or anti-Semitic. The Society is well known for its moderate, comprehensive, participative view and practice of Islam.
The Islamic Society of Boston’s agenda is clearly stated in the mission and vision included in its constitution. The Society does not subscribe to any “larger agenda” dictated by any outside entity.
In order to formulate the vision of the new Cultural Center project in Roxbury, the Society has worked closely with the City of Boston and the Roxbury Community College.
The Islamic Society of Boston has forged meaningful relationships with many individuals and institutions including Temple Israel, Temple Beth Shalom, Trinity Church, Cambridge Peace Commission, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, among others.
The Islamic Society of Boston throws open its doors to visitors of all faiths and backgrounds and welcomes all those who wish to learn about Islam and Muslims and to engage in discussion about issues affecting our community as a whole.
With regards to the second article dated 10/29/2003
Dr. Osama Kandil has not now or ever been under investigation for any alleged links made to any suspected terrorists, terrorist supporters or terrorist financiers.
American Products International Inc. which lists Dr. Kandil as its registered agent ceased to function seven years ago.The Muslim Arab Youth Association which lists Dr. Kandil as a member is not considered by the federal government or the general public to be a controversial organization in the least and in any case is now defunct.
Steven Emerson, cited by the article as the source for claims that MAYA was an extremest organization, is not considered a credible expert on Islam and is instead considered a xenophobe, racist, and hatemonger by all mainstream American Muslim organizations, and by many outside the Muslim community as well (see http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/03/05/emerson/ and http://www.cair-net.org/html/emerson.htm for some examples)
Persons at Ptech have never been charged with any crime by the government and the Society sees no wrongdoing in emotionally supporting the individuals who were affected by negative media coverage surrounding that company, and who lost their jobs as a result.
The Islamic Society of Boston is indeed concerned about the racist and xenophobic tone of the articles and the implications it spells for the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States. The allegations are for the most part unsubstantiated or exaggerated. The Society strongly feels that the Herald, in its articles is contributing towards a potential increase in hate crimes and a decrease in tolerance.
-Jhon Iblih
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The
Merciful
February 01, 2007
To All Laborers and Believers of the Nation
of Islam and Supporters,
We the members of the Islamic peace
movement in the eastern state of Nigeria,we
have been working day and night to make
sure that Nigeria is officially declared as a
musilim country,we are working so hard to
make sure that this may 2007 handing over
date to the new government must be a
muslim.
We have secured a massive ground whereby
we have started work on the ground to make
sure that we build the biggest Holy Mosque
in the eastern region of Nigeria.
Our estimate target is about $25 Million,
we use this opportunity to thank our
brothers from Saudi Arabia,Iran,and Pakistan
who have meaningful contribution to the
success of this project.
Best wishes to all for our success. I pray
that Allah (God) will touch your heart to give
for his work.
All payment should be made to this account
below,and the payment slip should be sent
to this email for confirmation.
your contact details are required for us to get intouch with you at the end of the project.
CHINA TRUST COMMERCIAL BANK.
YAN-JI BRANCH
298.SEC.4.JHONGSIAOE.
RD,TAIPEI .TAIWAN
SWIFT CODE CTCBTWTP
A/C NO: 241141000032
A/C NAME:SILVER HAMMER CORPORATION
I Am Your Brother and Servant.
Alhaji Ahmed Kareem
islamicpeacemovement@myway.com
You should read this on the moderate muslim brotherhood. http://www.nixoncenter.org/publications/LeikenBrookeMB.pdf
reported in "Foreign Affairs" by repected scholars
you should also read what themayor of london says on qaradawi
http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=4744
Asalamu Alaykum,
Dear brothers/sisters in islam,
LETTER OF REQUEST
The foundation Kalimatullahi Hiyal Ulya islamic trust foundation is a non governmental and non political organisation.It is an organisation that base their believe on kalimat shaadat(there is only one God),calling people to the way of Allah(DAWAH),and finally prayer. This foundation is recognised and registered under the Nigeria Corporate Affiars Commission(CAC)with the REG NO:CAC/NO27588.
Therefore,we appeal to you to asist this foundation in the following needs that is listed below:
1. Dawah instrument.
2. Religious materials.
3. Funds to complete our mosque projects.
4. Your support both financially and morally.
Asalamu Alaykum,
Dear brothers/sisters in islam,
LETTER OF REQUEST
The foundation Kalimatullahi Hiyal Ulya islamic trust foundation is a non governmental and non political organisation.It is an organisation that base their believe on kalimat shaadat(there is only one God),calling people to the way of Allah(DAWAH),and finally prayer. This foundation is recognised and registered under the Nigeria Corporate Affiars Commission(CAC)with the REG NO:CAC/NO27588.
Therefore,we appeal to you to asist this foundation in the following needs that is listed below:
1. Dawah instrument.
2. Religious materials.
3. Funds to complete our mosque projects.
4. Your support both financially and morally.
our foundation e-mail address is khitfoundation@gmail.com
bismillahi01@yahoo.co.uk
Please do not hestitate to contact us for your support thanks.
Mr. Akeem Ibrahim, we are very happy to aid in your plans.
Will your organization accept $1,000,000 in Monopoly Money?
Please first send us $100,000 in US dollars so we can arrange the legal transfer of $1,000,000.
Mr. Ibrahim, as you know, lawyers are very expensive. One must be very careful.
why everyone is against wahabis??? i am a wahabi and i am against terror.
Wahabi,
Are you against al qada?
Are you against osama bin laden?
Are you against hijacking of planes by Muslims on 9/11/01?
Are you FOR the building of churches in Saudi Arabia as Saudi Arabia builds mosques in the US and Europe?
Are you FOR permitting Infidels to enter Mecca/Makka?
Are you for the retaliatory destruction of Mecca/Makka if the US or India or Israel suffer a nuke attack?
i have many wahabi friends they are cool people.
Is Dr. hasan wahabi?
I hope they are "cool", as in room temperature.
well i am a businessman and come across many wahabi,s found them truthful in doing business else i cannot say.
interesting post but containing some points to whom i disagree.
just the propganda.