Four Mosques the the US are being taken over by the US Government. The one in Houston was on the news as the US has learned that the property is owned by the Iranian government and the rent (millions of dollars) has been funneled back to Iran to fund the nuclear weapons program. The other three Mosques were reported to be in New York, Maryland, and California.

This story seems to be breaking. Anyone know about the other locations? or more details? opinions?


Edit. I found some more information.

Begin Quote:
Muslims decry move to seize Houston mosque
Houston spiritual center among U.S. buildings federal prosecutors link to Iran
By MOISES MENDOZA, MARY FLOOD and LINDSAY WISE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Nov. 13, 2009, 10:02AM

Faheem Kazimi, chairman of the board of directors of the Islamic Education Center in Houston, defended the mosque the feds are trying to seize.

The U.S. government on Thursday moved to seize more than $500 million in assets from a New York-based foundation accused of being a front for the Iranian government, including a building that houses the Islamic Education Center of Houston.

The news provoked confusion and anger among Houston's Shia Muslims, many of whom worship at the center's mosque or send their children to an Islamic school that occupies the same large white building at 2313 S. Voss.

...

The 97-page civil forfeiture lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan alleges that the Alavi Foundation, which files federal taxes as a charitable foundation, is illegally funneling money to the government of Iran.

The U.S. government has accused Iran of financing terrorist organizations and trying to build nuclear weapons. There are no allegations of wrongdoing against those who work and worship at the Houston mosque.

"No action has been taken against any tenants or occupants of those properties," said Yusill Scribner, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. "There are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants."

...

Citing U.S. policy under several presidents and the International Emergency Economic Power Act, the civil suit alleges that the foundation's property, which includes the Islamic Education Center, is forfeitable as proceeds of violations of laws including money laundering.

The indictment alleges how the Alavi Foundation has been providing services to Iran and the government-owned Bank Melli. The suit also alleges how shell corporations were used to dodge taxes and how a foundation official was arrested for allegedly destroying documents being sought in a grand jury investigation.

The U.S. Treasury has accused Bank Melli of providing support for Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

...

End Quote:

The Mosque in Maryland is in Rockville. A northern suburb of DC.

Well I feel for the Muslims. I am no Muslim for I think it is no better then a Christian. They both try to make you feel guilty for not joining their belief system, yet the Muslims who truly are just trying to live a life in peace are always going to be looked upon like terrorists and seen as awkward and wrong when they have their mosques built, especially here in America.

Now if the members of these particular mosques are truly funding money to help finance nuclear bombs in Iran then they should get a punishment. Although Iran has indicated many times it is not creating bombs but using the plants to create electricty for its people. The problem is the US doesn't believe them.

Now if this is just another way that the government is trying to freeze assets from going to Iran for business or family members that has nothing to do with the (supposingly) Nuclear Missile creations then that is wrong from this government.

All I can say is it is a bad time to be a Muslim in the United States. You will always be watched like vultures on every move you do. What ashame that this country that is supposingly representing freedom for all is truly not the case. There is more prejudice, racism, hatred, superstition, and violence in this country then most countries can even start with.

I just hope that those that are accussed are truly going to get a fair trial and not be condemned for crimes that can't be proven.

Very well said

The news report says no action is being taken against the members of the mosque. The mosque apparently rents from an Iranian terrorist front which includes at least one bank. It would appear that the assets of this organization have been tracked for some time. They were caught destroying documents related to money laundering.

I don't think religion has anything to do with this.

If this is true then justice has to be served. I hope those responsible for trying to hurt innocent lives will get punished or those planning to.

G.W Bush and his supporters with their policies hurt millions of lives and got away with their crimes..... .

I agree

This investigation was done under Obama's watch and G W has nothing to do with this thread at all. I sounds like you are just changing the subject because you don't like the subject.

A terrorist by any name is a terrorist and yes your G.W. Bush is a big TERRORIST .
.

Once again, this thread is not about G W Bush. This thread is about hundreds of millions of dollars of Iranian owned rental property in the US being used to finance terrorist activities with the rental income produced by the property.

This is a reminder to please stay on topic.

Kim

As I said, this isn't about religion, other that it happens to be religious rental property. What appears to be happening here is that 500 million dollars of Iranian owned property has been set up in different fake non profit properties to generate income, according to the US government. The fake non profits then collect money in the pretense of doing some kind of charity work but the actual cash is just used by Iran to fund terrorist operations and purchase parts and equipment for the nuclear weapon program and long range missile program. The point of this thread is the funding source appears to be from Americans, Muslims or not, who think they are giving to charity. The rental of the property by the Mosques was going directly into the terrorist's funds by way of Iran.

This is a big story. Would you continue to go and contribute to an organization (any organization) whose rental payments funded millions of dollars to terrorism?

EVERYTHING is Bbush's fault

2012? yup. Bush



I was just reading about this story in the paper a while ago. They said the investigation has been ongoing for like 10 years while they tracked the money and paper trail

they also seized a 36 story office building owned by Alavi that brought in a few million dollars a year just in rent

The source of the rent payments is American money so Americans are funding the terrorism against Americans.

For me this is not new news. America has been funding the Taliban also if you do a research. Many will have open jaws after reading my last sentence, but look into it and you will see something is not right. They also had a special on this on 60 minutes as reporters looked at the real cause of this war. Alot of private companies (weapon contractors) are making big profits for their own needs caring less if it sacrifices American lives. The terrorist groups ensure weapon sales.

It is a big mess and all those involved should face justice including Americans that participated in ruining the peace amongst simple people.

Concerning Iran. I have nothing against Iran getting Nucleur capability to ensure their people to have electricity. Who are Americans to tell Iran what they should have? Iran isn't a country to mess with since it has Russia and China backing it up. If they are TRULY trying to get nucleur missile capability then we can then do something about it, yet Iran has complied with every law thrown on them. They are not trying to create missiles.

If America attacks Iran then they will just do the same mistake they did when they attacked Iraq.

Perhaps the United States government is just freezing assets from going to Iran to prevent the government of Iran to have the money. The US governments reason would be that they don't want Iran to have any funding incase it will go to terrorist activities.

If the courts can prove that this money is being actually funded for terrorist activities then there should be justice served. I don't support any terrorist activities from any country or person and punishment should occur. Afterall, we are talking about innocent lives being sacrificed. Common sense tells me that it is all wrong and should be stopped.

This requires closer investigation before we just start pointing fingers at anyone.

It would appear the US has investigated this situation very closely. The news report said the FBI stepped in as the group was attempting to burn records. The published suit (which I have not read) is supposed to go into great detail. I will find it and post it to this thread.

Not sure if you realize this or not, but Bush is gone.

Wonder how long investigations went on before the busted to mosques.

Anything siezed by the Gov. generally goes up for public auction. Wouldn't that be neat to own a muslim mosque?

I'd turn it into a skating rink.

Quiet said above that it had been going on for ten years. I just saw the news reports like the one below.

http://www.kens5.com/home/Houston-mosque-seized-in-one-of-biggest-counterterrorism-moves-in-US-history-69962222.html

The newscasters say this is the biggest counter terrorism bust in history.