Feds seek seizure of Potomac mosque
A mosque in Potomac is one of four targeted by federal prosecutors Thursday in what could prove to be one of the largest counterterrorism seizures in U.S. history, the Associated Press is reporting.
Prosecutors took steps Thursday to seize the four mosques and a Fifth Avenue skyscraper owned by the nonprofit Alavi Foundation, long suspected of being secretly controlled by the Iranian government.
In all, prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in assets, including bank accounts, Islamic centers consisting of schools and mosques in New York City, Maryland, California and Houston, more than 100 acres in Virginia, and a 36-story glass office tower in New York.
John D. Winter, the Alavi Foundation's lawyer, told the AP that it intends to litigate the case and prevail. He said the foundation has been cooperating with the government's investigation for the better part of a year.
A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations expressed concern. Spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said the move comes at a particularly bad time, as American Muslims are fearful of a backlash resulting from the recent shooting spree at Fort Hood in Texas.
“Whatever the details of the government’s case against the owners of the mosques, as a civil rights organization we are concerned that the seizure of American houses of worship could have a chilling effect on the religious freedom of citizens of all faiths and may send a negative message to Muslims worldwide,” he said.
The mosques and the skyscraper will remain open while the forfeiture case works its way through court in what could be a long process, the AP reports. What will happen to them if the government ultimately prevails is unclear. But the government typically sells properties it has seized through forfeiture, and the proceeds are sometimes distributed to crime victims.
"No action has been taken against any tenants or occupants of those properties," U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Yusill Scribner said. "The tenants and occupants remain free to use the properties as they have before today's filing. There are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants."
Prosecutors said the Alavi Foundation managed the office tower on behalf of the Iranian government and, working with a front company known as Assa Corp., illegally funneled millions in rental income to Iran's state-owned Bank Melli. Bank Melli has been accused by a U.S. Treasury official of providing support for Iran's nuclear program, and it is illegal in the United States to do business with the bank.
The U.S. has long suspected the foundation was an arm of the Iranian government; a 97-page complaint details involvement in foundation business by several top Iranian officials, including the deputy prime minister and ambassadors to the United Nations.
"For two decades, the Alavi Foundation's affairs have been directed by various Iranian officials, including Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations, in violation of a series of American laws," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.
Comments
Even though Iran jails people who are newpaper reporters from the U.S. and calls them spies, we have to be careful here. Just because these mosques have been used as terrorist activity centers to support the killing of innocent Americans doesnt mean that we should confiscate them. After all, we dont want to upset the diversity in our population or interfere with the religious freedom of our citizens. And why would our president want to send more troops to Afghanistan to fight Muslims if he is one? If our boys are dying at a higher rate, they will just have to die. After all, it is for a good cause, the Muslim one.
Posted by: Clay | November 13, 2009 8:28 AM
I wonder what $500 million in assets will be able to buy a failed ZOG when the dollar crashes in a few months ...? ...
Posted by: Jacob de Rothschild | November 13, 2009 10:29 AM
Maybe if we wouldnt keep borrowing money to finance programs like National Health we wouldnt be in so much trouble. Anyway if the dollar crashes we wont be able to buy any products from China and they will be in trouble because they will lose their customer base. So I would imagine they would just keep lending us the money, at least to keep Walmart open. Besides, isnt there a lot of gold in Ft Knox? I sure hope the president doesnt let that one be run by the Muslims.
Posted by: Clay | November 13, 2009 11:19 AM
"Just because these mosques have been used as terrorist activity centers to support the killing of innocent Americans doesnt mean that we should confiscate them"
-Clay
I Sensed a sarcastic tone through the end of your post . But i cant quite pic out whether you were actually serious about this part. There is no Proof these centers have done anything wrong. Confiscating them will turn many against the government Muslims or non muslims alike
Posted by: Mohamud | November 13, 2009 2:54 PM
I was being sarcastic. We should confiscate them. Perhaps if they can be shown to not be supporting terrorism then they should be allowed to practice their religion as anyone else is. That doesnt mean that they shouldnt be investigated. What would Iran do to us? Didnt they seize our embassy? But we didnt seize theirs. I dont see the U.S. as being the instigator in these activities. It is the result of Muslim extremists. As far as people not trusting the government goes, it wont hurt what most Americans feel at all about the government, just Muslims. The average American is tired of this Muslim shooting people in D.C. and that one at Ft. Hood, etc. It will probably make them trust their government more. At least they may feel safer.
Posted by: Clay | November 13, 2009 4:32 PM
Clay - Shouldn't they be investigated before being seized? You post as though the burden of proof is on them. It isn’t under the constitution the burden of proof is on the prosecution. The government could always freeze assets to avoid any transfers being made overseas.
Posted by: ravensfan | November 16, 2009 3:44 PM
Sure sounds like this foundation has already been investigated to me.
Posted by: Clay | November 16, 2009 6:51 PM