Mosques Raided in Philly

[Annie]

Perhaps some are wakening up:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/print_05272004_terror_mosqueraid.html

Raid at Mosque

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA-May 27, 2004 — The Big Story on Action News is the Joint Terrorism Task Force conducting a raid in Philadelphia. Federal agents raided a mosque and two homes.

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Members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force descended on a house and mosque this morning and arrested the Imam in front of his wife and children.

Meriem Moumen says she and her husband were dropping their daughter off at school when they were surrounded by Philadelphia police, FBI and other federal agents.

They detained Mohamed Ghorub, the Imam of the Ansaar Allaah mosque in Bridesburg. Moumen says about 20 agents searched their home and the mosque in this former warehouse next door. She says her husband had no connection to any kind of terror related activity.

Mohamed Ghorub came to this country four years ago from Egypt. He applied for an extension of his six-month visitor's visa and was denied. Ghorub filed an appeal.

He was arrested a year ago, and released on bond which has now been revoked. The FBI says Immigration was the lead agency on today's raid.

Immigration says the raid was initiated by the FBI. In the past, the FBI has used immigration issues to detain and question people indefinitely. Moumen says they asked her where they were hiding the guns and where do they get their money. She says they have nothing to hide.

Agents also searched the Northeast Philadelphia home of Jabbi Katut, a member of the mosque, but he was not detained. He says he wasn't told what they were looking for.




Last Updated: May 27, 2004

 

[DKSuddeth]

besides the immigration issue, is there any tie to terrorism at all related to this arrest?

 

[Annie]

I believe that's why they are 'investigating.' I sure hope we catch on quicker than the French and Brits did.

 

[dmp]

yay for pro-active counter-terrorism

 

[DKSuddeth]

yay. didn't they think the same thing about that american islam lawyer they suspected of having something to do with the spain bombing?

 

[HGROKIT]

He was arrested a year ago, and released on bond which has now been revoked. The FBI says Immigration was the lead agency on today's raid.

I hate when they do this. What was her arrested for. When someone is here on visa and they break the law, aren't they subject at that time for deportation?

Geez!

 

[freeandfun1]

the headline overplays what really occured. he was arrested on an immigration violation charge. good for the immigration deptartment for finally being pro-active!

 

[Annie]

Originally posted by DKSuddeth
yay. didn't they think the same thing about that american islam lawyer they suspected of having something to do with the spain bombing?

No it was not the same. I forget the details, but won't be hard to find the link, there was a total screw-up with the fingerprints. That they arrested him on material warrant was wrong. They apologized, but I'm sure he'll file charges and get an award.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...C/20040526/WORLD26-3/TPInternational/Americas

 

[Annie]

Meanwhile, in my backyard:

5/27/2004: Orland Park Mosque Opponents Shut Down

Radical Islamic front group CAIR is doing a full court press to push through the construction of a huge mosque in the Orland Park suburb of Chicago—and anyone who protests is being labeled a “racist” and a “bigot:” Mosque foes’ fear is clear. (Hat tip: fiery celt.)

The concerns of some about the mosque, planned for 16530 104th Ave., is a prime example of the hardships faced by American Muslims since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, religious experts and observers said.

They said many Americans still know little or nothing about Islam. Though there are no official statistics, the Council for American-Islamic Relations says backlashes against new or enlarged mosques are becoming increasingly common.

“Sometimes people don’t even realize the concerns they have are fueled by prejudices,” said Rabiha Ahmed, spokeswoman for the council. “But you can’t (defeat a mosque plan) if you’re openly racist. So, they come up with issues like noise and traffic and parking to hide their real issues.”

“Sometimes people look at what they think will be perceived as their best argument, even if that may not be their real argument,” Orland Park Trustee Patricia Gira said.

Aminah McCloud, director of DePaul University’s Islamic World Studies program, said a lack of knowledge about the Muslim community makes it harder to break through people’s prejudices.

“Churches and synagogues don’t have to do a PR campaign to build their houses of worship,” she said. “(But) to judge by the media coverage, you would think there’s a Muslim terrorist around every corner.”

Meanwhile, around the corner in nearby Bridgeview, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0402080265feb08,1,7430569.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed
the mosque openly supports and raises money for Hamas and Islamic Jihad: Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque.

Fiery Celt reports that at the Orland Village Hall last night, opponents of the mosque were shouted down by CAIR members, prohibited from asking where the mosque’s funding was coming from (can you say “Saudi Arabia?” I knew you could), and then ejected from the meeting.

"#112 fiery celt 5/27/2004 10:56AM PST


We No Longer Have Freedoms to Question the Decisions of our Government in the United States!

Orland Park (SW Suburb of Chicago) had a committee meeting last night regarding the The zoning and building of a Mosque.

This Mosque will be the biggest Mosque in the midwestern US

Last night at the meeting---Orland residents were not allowed to ask where the funds were coming from for the building of the gargantuan structure (22,000-square-foot Orland Park Prayer Center )
Any residents that brought up the fact of Wahhabism or Terrorism was shouted down by representatives of CAIR!

Anyone who tried to bring up the fact that the >nearby Bridgeview Mosque openly supported Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad---Were shouted down and called racists!!!!!

Any residents that questioned the violence associated with Islam and terrorism was shouted down and called racist!


Opponents of the mosque, who made up about two-thirds of the crowd, repeatedly said they feared Islamic extremists would bring violence to the community.

Any answering shouts from the Orland Residents resulted in them being forcibly carried from the building!

Five men---all United States citizens,--- were forcibly ejected from the Chamber of their local government because they disagreed with the agenda of the commitee.

"Five men---all United States citizens,--- were forcibly ejected from the Chamber of their local government because they disagreed with the agenda of the commitee.
"
(It was five men despite the bias in this article)

OPPOSING VOICES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE HEARD!---- IN FACT THEY WERE FORCIBLY SILENCED

Are we in America any longer???? Is it time to circle the wagons???

Plans for the 22,000-square-foot Orland Park Prayer Center were approved by the plan commission May 11 despite protests of more than 150 people."



posted by Charles at 11:22 AM PST