Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR)
Boca Raton, FL
Ibrahim Dremali co-founded the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR) in 1998 and served as imam for the next 7 years at the center.[1] The ICBR co-sponsored an October 2000 rally during which Hezbollah flags were present and participants chanted, "with jihad we'll claim our land, Zionist blood will wet the sand."[2] According to an Islam Online account, during the rally Dremali "urged the crowd not to be sad for those who were martyred and not to be afraid to die for what they believe in." [3] Following this, the crowd joined in a mock funeral procession chanting, "Haya 'ala al-jihad (live for the jihad)." [4]
Dremali has also testified on behalf of Adham Amin Hassoun, who once visited the ICBR,[5] at an August 1, 2002 bail hearing during which Dremali spoke about Hassoun's "peaceful and generous," character.[6] Adham Amin Hassoun was indicted in 2004 for "being an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa, [who] did knowingly possess a firearm in and affecting interstate commerce," in violation of U.S. law.[7] A superseding indictment in March of 2004 included additional counts, that Hassoun "did knowingly and willfully make a materially false, fraudulent, and fictitious statement and representation to a Special Agent of DHS and to a Special Agent of the FBI." In particular, Hassoun said that he did not encourage a co-defendant Mohamed Youssef to travel to a foreign country when Hassoun knew he did "encourage Youssef to travel to Somalia and Ethiopia and provided funds for Youssef to travel to Kosovo for the purpose of fighting in a jihad."[8] Additional counts detailed ways in which Hassoun lied under oath, in particular about his knowledge of Mohamed Youssef and about conversations about "the experience of fighting in a jihad conflict" and conversations about "killing a woman in Lebanon." [9] A second superseding indictment in September of 2004 alleged that Hassoun conspired to help "a conspiracy to murder, kidnap, and maim persons in a foreign country," in order to "advance violent jihad," including "murder, kidnapping, and maiming," to establish "Islamic states under Sharia."[10]
In a civil action a judge found that Hassoun was part of a plot that included assassination and material support to terrorists and that he was a member of al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya (IG), a designated terrorist organization. Hassoun also recruited Mohammed Youssef to be a "jihad fighter."[11]
In August of 2007 Hassoun was found guilty, along with defendants Jose Padilla and Kifah Jayyousi, of conspiring to murder, main and kidnap persons overseas, conspiring to provide material support to such a conspiracy, and providing material support to the conspiracy.[12] In January 2008 he was sentenced to life in prison.[13]
See: US v. Jose Padilla, et al.
[1] "Biography of Dr. Ibrahim Abdelrahman Dremali," http://web.archive.org/web/20070103061029/www.dremali.com/ibrahim-abdelrahman-dremali-biography/index.php (accessed June 9, 2010).
[2] Um Ahmad, "South Florida Protest Calls for Jihad," Islam Online, October 18, 2000, http://web.archive.org/web/20020620000550/http://www.islam-online.net/iol-english/dowalia/news-2000-Oct-18/topnews4.asp (accessed May 18, 2009).
[3] Um Ahmad, "South Florida Protest Calls for Jihad," Islam Online, October 18, 2000, http://web.archive.org/web/20020620000550/http://www.islam-online.net/iol-english/dowalia/news-2000-Oct-18/topnews4.asp (accessed May 18, 2009).
[4] Um Ahmad, "South Florida Protest Calls for Jihad," Islam Online, October 18, 2000, http://web.archive.org/web/20020620000550/http://www.islam-online.net/iol-english/dowalia/news-2000-Oct-18/topnews4.asp (accessed May 18, 2009).
[5] Aaron, Shea, "Critics Questioning Boca Mosque's Past Ties," Boca Raton News, April 27, 2003.
[6] Adham Amin Hassoun v. John Ashcroft, "Petition for Habeas Corpus and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," No. 02-23576, Civ-Moore (S.D. Fla. November 18, 2002).
[7]USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Indictment," (S.D. Fla. January 8, 2004).
[8] USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Superseding Indictment," (S.D. Fla. March 4, 2004).
[9] USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Superseding Indictment," (S.D. Fla. March 4, 2004).
[10] USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Second Superseding Indictment," (S.D. Fla. September 17, 2004).
[11] Adham Amin Hassoun v. John Ashcroft," Petition for Habeas Corpus and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," No. 02-23576, Civ-Moore (S.D. Fla. November 18, 2002).
[12] USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Verdict," (S.D. Fla. August 16, 2007).
[13] USA v. Adham Amin Hassoun, 04-CR-60001, "Judgment and Sentence," (S.D. Fla. January 22, 2008).
