In a move being touted as “a sharp blow against Iran,” the United States government is attempted to seize four Shi’ite mosques across the United States, calling it the largest ‘anti-terror’ seizure ever and claiming the non-profit which operates them is secretly a front for the Iranian government.
The four mosques are located across the United States, in New York City, Houston, Carmichael California, and Potomac, Maryland. The non-profit Alavi Foundation faces formal charges of violating 1995 sanctions signed by President Clinton.
The group is funded principally through rent collected at a New York City skyscraper it owns, which the government also intends to seize. They provide funds to a myriad of Shi’ite religious institutions in the US and Canada and support for Farsi language education programs in US schools. They also provide interest free loans for Iranian-Americans to attend college in the US.
The seizure of the mosques by the federal government will be a serious hardship for worshipers, of course, but the capture of the 35-year old foundation’s assets and its dissolution will be devastating for America’s tiny Shi’ite community, which amounts to only about one tenth of one percent of all Americans.
Though the seizure of churches by the federal government is not unprecedented, it is extremely rare and fraught with controversy. The seizure of private religious institutions on the premise that they are covertly controlled by an “enemy state” only makes this move all the more controversial and will likely prove troubling to many Americans, Shi’ite or otherwise.
This is unconstitutional. Looks like Obama made his choice. He chose the elohim.
I would love for this scenario to happen but instead of it being a mosque. I want it to be a SINagogue.
what the #*@&!!!
this is complete rubbish? Why dont the feds sieze bank of america for giving the 9/11 hijackers checking accounts then. doesnt the same premise apply?
That would make too much sense.
Democracy is so mysterious.
Will the US government ever provide evidence to back up its claims that the iranian government is involved in terrorism? Can then then provide proof that this foundation is involved with the givernment of Iran?
It seems to me that their really is a crusade against muslims here…
Gee, I wonder who is behind this move..?? I suppose that the Muslim countries can seize the churches in retaliation…. This appears to be an attempt to pour gasoline on the fire to lower the flames…… Haven't we visited this topic before in "Isn't the Catholic church an agent of Rome"..??
Hey, if kidnapping and torturing the Imans of various Mosques around Europe isn't bad enough, why not seize the mosques………Why not convert them into Temples for American [J] ewish people to worship their eye for an eye G-d..?? That would be an apt finishing touch…..gotta luvit..!! I'm with Baz, crusade..!!
to quote the great bill hicks
"We're like Jack Palance in the movie Shane, throwing the pistol at the sheep herder's feet.
Pick it up.
I don't wanna pick it up, mister. You'll shoot me."
if there is any party with restraint in this world it is iran they just stand there taking the abuse because they know the alternative. but one day the sheep herders will get together….
This makes me speechless, literally, because it's a direct violation of the First Amendment.
Get Israel out of US foreign and domestic policy NOW. And make peace with the world.
I am speechless. This kind of behaviour is exactly the kind that Americans criticize other countries, in the present and in the past, to have been conducting and that the US claim to oppose.
I honestly do not know what to say. If this news is correct, the US just robbed a religious minority all of their possessions, and violated their place of worship. Think about that for a moment. You just lost everything because you identify yourself with system of belief.
One should be outraged, but somehow this action taken by the US is no longer surprising. And the response from the US citizens is somewhat predictable. Again, one should be outraged, but it is just no longer surprising.
"US Moves to Seize Four Mosques, Claiming Secret Iranian Control." Possibly, but of course no one wants to admit that Christian churches in America are totally controlled by the U.S. government. It’s called the 501C3 tax exemption. That is how the U.S. government keeps political speech by church leaders muzzled. If your priest, pastor or preacher steps out of line and openly criticizes politicians and federal government policies, they will immediately be threatened with loss of their tax exemption in a New York City second.
That tax exemption would apply to any non-profit irregardless of religion or not. I agree though that it is because religious organizations have fallen for this trojan horse that they've been "bought off". This is of their own doing of course. Maybe that explains the rampant nationalism and pulpit thumping of religious zealots in support of the Empire and its Israeli handlers.
MoT, I am a Christian. It is with great sadness that I have noted over the years that the majority of Christians, and Christian churches in America, support immoral, unjust, brutal and aggressive wars of imperialism. They have betrayed the commandments of Christ Jesus whom they claim to obey, love and worship. I am ashamed of them. Christians, of all people, should be the first to speak up and condemn unjust wars of aggression. They have sold their souls for 50 pieces of silver and for the praise and acceptance of ungodly and evil men.
Henry, I couldn't agree with you more because you're spot on. I'm just like you and have been ashamed at how those who say they believe don't follow through with the necessary action. The message is simple enough for children but adults just don't get it. If a cushy retirement and not rocking this worldly boat are what defines this lot then thats reason to weep. Still, you have to follow your own conscience and if the herd decides it wants to follow a blind shepard over the cliff you have to give them the freedom to do so as hard as that may be to accept.
This is so outrageous it's even news in the UK, which has become Orwell's 1984 predicted police state:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article…
What a bunch of BS. Again, Israel, go away. Go dance the Horah on another country's grave.
A pathetic, transparent attempt to get the next phase of the PNAC Zionist crusade started.
Obviously they're doing this with the hope that someone in the affected Moslem community will be provoked enough to react violently (and if nobody does, I'm sure the Mossad can think of something), whereupon Iran will be blamed, and the bombing can begin.
Just like on 09/11/2001, "our" "government" needs some more American sheeple dead, and it needs the right people to blame for it.
I think it's time for me to get serious about moving out of this Zionist controlled hell hole.
Invade the world and invite the world. A very dangerous strategy. If your going to bring people to your country from all around the world you had better have a 'Switzerland-style' foreign policy. Otherwise you are playing with fire.
You should read comments posted on AOL for this news and you will know how doing this will enhance the position of Democtrats in the next election. Don't worry about Muslim countries seizing churches they are not going to antagonize their own population. Plus we can beat them over the head with a 'religious freedom act'.
Who is next? If you think the criminals in Washington are going to stop with seizing mosques, you need to pull your head out of the sand.
To MoT: I am a Christian. It is with great sadness that I have noted over the years that the majority of Christians, and Christian churches in America, support immoral, unjust, brutal and aggressive wars of imperialism. They have betrayed the commandments of Christ Jesus whom they claim to obey, love and worship. I am ashamed of them. Christians, of all people, should be the first to speak up and condemn unjust wars of aggression. They have sold their souls for 50 pieces of silver and for the praise and acceptance of ungodly and evil men.