SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Members of a mosque are fighting to keep their place of worship as the federal government probes a link between the Islamic Center of Springfield and a benefactor accused of financing terrorism around the world. The center is owned by the Saudi-based Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, which U.S. authorities accuse of diverting donations to support a web of terrorist activities. The Saudi government dissolved the foundation this summer. But center supporters claim the Saudi charity was simply a one-time donor whose name ended up on its property title. "There isn't any evidence that the center was used to solicit funds or to contribute funds to terrorism," said Ahmed Ibrahim, an associate history professor at Southwest Missouri State University. "Many people are angry and upset that they are seen as contributing to terrorism."
| Got any evidence it's not? Got any evidence your mosque isn't controlled by an inimical foreign power? |
Last month, the Bush administration designated Al-Haramain as a group suspected of supporting terrorism through its Springfield mosque and its main location in Ashland, Ore., saying the charity "shows direct links between the U.S. branch and Osama bin Laden." Assets of the two properties have been frozen since February. The federal probe suggests the Islamic Center was a front that enabled the laundering of money to terrorists overseas. The foundation has denied that its U.S. branch funded terrorism.
An attorney representing members of the mosque had asked Al-Haramain before it was dissolved to acknowledge its one-time donation was a gift and to correct the alleged title error. "It's not going to be an easy situation," said Merrill Talpers, the attorney for mosque members. "We've got to get them to renounce any interest they have."
| Somehow I doubt they'll be willing to give up control... |
The Islamic Center's opening was a boon for Muslims here, who for years set up makeshift mosques at locations ranging from the basement of a doctor's office to various spots on the Southern Missouri State University campus. "We do feel kind of on the spot, but we don't have anything to hide. We believe the law will absolve us," said Dr. M. Hasan Choudhury, a Springfield physician. "It's tough to be Muslim these days."
| At least nobody's cutting your head off... |
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