| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: WoT |
| Ariz. Muslim leaders face increased FBI scrutiny |
| 2008-11-18 |
| The FBI has sharpened its scrutiny of some Phoenix-area Muslim leaders because of their links to two controversial incidents and a federal probe into the financing of terrorist groups. No Arizonan has been accused of supporting terrorist groups or actions. However, a Mesa man was charged with lying to the FBI during the financing investigation. The events that triggered the stepped-up scrutiny were the federal probe into a Muslim charity accused of funneling money to the Palestinian group Hamas; a target-shooting episode in Phoenix this year involving a large group of Muslim men and boys firing hundreds of rounds from AK-47s and other guns; and the high-profile removal in 2006 of six Arizona-bound imams from a jetliner after passengers and crew complained of their behavior. Although some Islamic leaders say they understand the scrutiny, they also view it as another sign that innocent Muslims unjustly fall under suspicion because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Whoever did Sept. 11, go after them and see who they are. I'm not going to pay for them. I'm not going to be guilty," said Marwan Sadeddin, one of the Valley imams who sued US Airways after being removed from a jetliner in Minneapolis. Like the others, he was questioned by FBI agents after the incident, in addition to being questioned about the arrested Mesa man. The FBI is monitoring the family and community ties among Valley residents involved in the jetliner, shooting and charity probes, said John Lewis, who runs the FBI's Arizona office. "All of these things come on our scope," said Lewis, the agency's former head of counterterrorism operations. The FBI routinely watches communities and groups that show patterns of radicalism seen in terrorism cases in the U.S. and Europe; those include radical Islamic theology, anti-Western political rhetoric and fundraising tied to terrorist groups. Lewis declined to discuss any details of the agency's monitoring activities. The only Arizonan arrested by the FBI is Akram Musa Abdallah of Mesa. He was indicted by a grand jury in August on one count of lying to FBI agents. The government contended in court documents that Abdallah falsely told agents he had not raised money in the 1990s for the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity that President Bush shut down in 2001. Five founders of the Texas-based charity are on trial in Dallas on charges of steering $12 million to Hamas after the U.S. declared it a terrorist group. M. Zuhdi Jasser, a Phoenix physician and Muslim who founded an organization to counter radical Islamic teachings, said Abdallah's arrest, the target-shooting episode and what he says are the imams' extreme views bear vigilance. "You can't help wonder where this is going," he added. Shortly before noon on a sunny Sunday in March, two Toyota SUVs rolled to a stop along a dirt road in north Phoenix. About 20 young Muslim males climbed out, armed with assault rifles, a shotgun, a sniper rifle and handguns. The location near Happy Valley Road and 51st Avenue is a desert recreation site for off-road motorists, hikers and bikers, dozens of whom were enjoying the spring-like weather. For more than an hour, the shooters blasted away at a granite rock and empty cans in front of a hill. Officials estimate the fusillade totaled 500 to 1,000 rounds. Some shooters left before police arrived and detained 10 adults and five boys, including an 11-year-old. The young men and boys told officers the weapons belonged to their parents. They said they were not aware it was illegal to use firearms in the residential area. Six were arrested and charged with felony weapons violations in Maricopa County Superior Court. Among them were the 20- and 21-year-old sons of two imams at Phoenix-area mosques, as well as the 20-year-old son of Abdallah. More at link |
| Posted by:ed |
| #11 The Login Genie hit me again, I kinda like it. I guess we all been there. Seriously tho, FredMan inspects and approves each and every Login dJinn for completerness, quality and toothiness of spirit. |
| Posted by: .5mt 2008-11-18 23:01 |
| #10 "Whoever did Sept. 11..." Well, FYYFF. Keep it up, and you might pine for the good old days when we threw you off the plane before takeoff. |
| Posted by: Hyper 2008-11-18 19:40 |
| #9 innocent Muslims unjustly fall under suspicion Poor innocent Muslims; practioners of a religion determined to convert or kill non-believers. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2008-11-18 19:24 |
| #8 The Login Genie hit me again, I kinda like it. I'm trying to remember the name of the head of the nation of Islam, who went to Africa and the leaders wouldn't see him because "He was'nt Black enough". and I'm seeing Obambi treated the same. Got it "Louie Farakan"(sp) |
| Posted by: Whart the Galactic Hero8146 2008-11-18 19:11 |
| #7 What The One said when he was running and what he does when he gets in will be two different things. Sorta like Bush. I'll wait to see if he really drops security in the dumper before assuming he will. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-11-18 18:38 |
| #6 Well that's just good sense. |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2008-11-18 18:05 |
| #5 The FBI + DHS are also reportedly monitoring a major US-BASED MUSLIM MISSIONARY/PROSELYTZING GROUP wid alleged covert or quiet links [read, $$$, Recruits, Weapons] to many mainline Radical Islamist Militia-Terr Groups-Networks. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-11-18 17:34 |
| #4 Ariz. Muslim leaders face increased FBI scrutiny Soon to come to a screeching stop. This is what Barack Obama said following 9/11: "In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." Further, Obama sponsors Illinois Senate Bill 750 creating the "Halal Food Act," providing for inspections by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that all food labeled Halal is prepared according to Islamic law. In addition: "On January 31st, Obama told a French magazine in an interview that if he wins office, he will hold a summit with Muslim countries to better the United States' image in the world। "Â’Once I'm elected, I want to organize a summit in the Muslim world, with all the heads of state, to have an honest discussion about ways to bridge the gap that grows every day between Muslims and the WestÂ’" |
| Posted by: tipper 2008-11-18 11:16 |
| #3 don't worry guys obamama will tell them too leave you alone in a couple of months |
| Posted by: chris 2008-11-18 10:34 |
| #2 I hope so, and I hope and pray that 'you know who' tries to interfere with it. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-11-18 10:02 |
| #1 How might the FBI "scrutiny" of our friends at ACORN be coming along? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-18 07:32 |