Feds to seize US mosques, skyscraper controlled by Iran

In what could prove to be one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures in U.S. history, prosecutors filed a civil complaint in federal court against the Alavi Foundation, seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in assets.

The assets include 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.

Confiscating the properties would be a sharp blow against Iran, which has been accused by the U.S. government of bankrolling terrorism and trying to build a nuclear bomb.  (AP New York)

The Alavi Foundation is the successor organization of the Pahlavi Foundation, a non-profit organization originally operated by the Shaw of Iran.   The Alavi Foundation is part owner of a 36-story New York office tower, is a front for the government of Iran, the US government alleges.  The FBI believes money has been used by Iran for it's nuclear program.

The building is owned by 650 Fifth Avenue Company, a partnership between the Alavi Foundation and Assa Corp., the Justice Department said in a news release.  The amended complaint alleges that the Alavi Foundation provided services to the Iranian government and transferred money from 650 Fifth Avenue Company to Bank Melli, which is owned and controlled by the government of Iran. 

The amended complaint seeks forfeiture of all assets of the Alavi Foundation and Assa Corp., including bank accounts owned by 650 Fifth Avenue Company, the Alavi Foundation and Assa Corp.; and properties owned by the foundation in New York, Maryland, Virginia, Texas and California.

It alleges that the properties were "involved in and [were] the proceeds of money laundering offenses," and that the owners violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, executive orders and U.S. Department of Treasury regulations. (CNN)  (Image:  The Islamic Education Center is seen in Potomac, Md. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. The center rents this building from the Alavi Foundation, which owns the building but does not run the center. Federal prosecutors filed a complaint Thursday seeking to seize the assets of the foundation. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin, AP / November 12, 2009) 

A little history from Rachel Ehrenfeld on Clinton's Iranian Connection:

On Dec. 19, 2008, at 2 p.m., the New York-based Alavi Foundation, which supports Iranian causes, contributed between $25,000 and $50,000 to the William J. Clinton Foundation. This can be best described as the ultimate chutzpah, for on the very same day, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York indicted the president of the Alavi Foundation, Farshid Jahedi, "on a charge of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying documents required to be produced under a grand jury subpoena concerning the Alavi Foundation's relationship with Bank Melli Iran and the ownership of a Manhattan office building."

This should be interesting.

Comments

[PALADIN]

Sammy Morrison, It has'nt clouded my judgement at all. He's a shitty president. Ask anybody , other than a democrat and you'll get the same answer. He's in the process of destroying the best country in the world. What am i talking to you for? Your drunk on Obama kool aid. :)

[Always On Watch]

Well, it's high time the feds moved in on the mosques like this.

In fact, if my guess is correct, many, many mosques and Islamic centers here in the United States have two sets of books, the real set showing funding of terrorism.

[MK]

If the case is true, i sure hope they strip them of everything they have.

[Samuel Morrison]

I don't understand why are you all bashing Obama for doing something you like? Something that you approve of?

PALADIN, read what you wrote. Your not making any sense.

All of the rhetoric has clouded your judgement. You all have become exactly what you hated during the Bush years, brainwashed haters of the President...

[Debbie]

Tech: You are probably right, but they are always upset about something, what else is new?

Paladin: This was started before Obama, I don't think he has any say in it thanks goodness.

Cassie: A lot of things should have stopped Fort Hood from ever happening. Personally I think all Mosques should be under surveliance. If they have nothing to hide then why not?

All of you, if you have not already, need to check out Muslims Against Sharia blog and their home page:

http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/

The Right Look: (No problem, as I stated at your place I have been swayed by an email now and then. Take nothing for granted. And you are correct about Snopes)

[Cassie]

A mosque in Jersey City, NJ was closed down for a while when it was shown to be the headquarters of the first terror attack on the WTC. If the government would only be a little more vigorous in persuing these obvious targets maybe Ft Hood wouldn't have happened.

[The Right Look]

I still say profile all this mosque, Iran, Iraq, Saudi and Arab crap going on in this country. Or any country for that matter!

To Tech: Who cares if the fed seizes a church? If that church is spawning and financing terrorism seize them. It might be one time fed-zilla gets a round of applause!

Do it and DO IT NOW!

-j-

PS. Debbie, I made a change based on your comment over at my blog. Thanks!

[PALADIN]

Are you kiddin??? Barry the Kenyan would never have the stones to do anything like seizing the property of terrorists. Hell i think his new name should be Mr Dithers. Seeing hows he's dealing with the Afghanistan war the way he is. The word amongst canucks on the street, is that we need to get our lads home if the will of this president is to run and abandon Afghanistan. Whats the purpose of keeping our lads there? He is the most disgraceful president since Carter or Nixon. Meanwhile we have 132 dead young men and women for what , i ask? Only so this s, of a, b could retreat from Afghanistan. Pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tech]

That's going to go down really badly with the muslim population. Can you imagine the feds seizing a church?

[Debbie]

I'm really surprised this is going forward, but it was started long before Obama was president.

I would be willing to bet that if a real investigation of all mosques would prove very interesting. Probably a good number of them are sponsored by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and others with questionable intentions.

[william lowery]

Well I guess Barry and the Boyz will get that quashed also,Thats gonna be a big job!