Mosque Foundation of Chicago (Bridgeview Mosque)
Bridgeview, IL
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
Jamal Said, one of the current leaders at the mosque, was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) Hamas financing trial in Texas, which ended with sweeping guilty verdicts on 108 counts in late 2008.[1] Past president, secretary and board member of the Mosque Foundation,[2] Rafeeq Jaber, was the president of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) and the founder of the Chicago chapter of the IAP. Internal IAP memos and other pieces of evidence released during the HLF case in Dallas indicated that the IAP served as a Hamas support arm.[3]
One of the mosque's current Imam's, Kifah Mustapha[4], was also listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the HLF trial as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee. [5] A 1991 internal memo to the Palestine Committee members reveals that the members of this committee intended to further the Muslim Brotherhood's goals "on the American front." [6]
In a deposition for Boim vs. Quranic Literacy Institute, Kifah Mustapha explained that he was a "registered agent for HLF in Illinois" from the mid 1990s until 2001 when HLF's assets were frozen. [7] During this time Mustapha acknowleged raising money for HLF.
During the deposition Mustapha also described himself as a former member of a "volunteer committee" for the IAP beginning in the early 1990s. [8] During his time with the IAP Mustapha said he "distributed flyers" and helped prepare for "festivals or conventions." Additionally Mustapha said that he had personally contributed money to HLF and "maybe" IAP.[9]
See: US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development
[1] USA vs. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development et al, 3:04-CR-240-G , "List of Unindicted Co-Conspirators and/or Joint Venturers: Attachment A,"(N.D. TX, 2007).; Connie Martin, "Sh. Jamal Said Leads Prayer for Slain Humanitarians," Mosque Foundation, June 9, 2010, http://www.mosquefoundation.org/Articles/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/584/Sh-Jamal-Said-Leads-Prayer-for-Slain-Humanitarians.aspx (accessed June 14, 2010).
[2]Mosque Foundation Annual Reports list Rafiq Jaber as Secretary from 1991-1998; Diana Delogu, "Churches contend with Growing Pains; Tight Wedding Schedules and Parking Problems are Some of the Costs of Success," Chicago Tribune, June 15, 2997.
[3] See for example, US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development et al, 3:04-CR-240-G, Government Exhibit Elbarasse Search 1 (N.D. Tx. September 25, 2008). For more examples see: US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development
[4] "Message from the Imam," Mosque Foundation, http://www.mosquefoundation.org/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/540/message-from-the-imam.aspx (accessed April 26, 2010).
[5] USA vs. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development et al, 3:04-CR-240-G,"List of Unindicted Co-Conspirators and/or Joint Venturers: Attachment A,"(N.D. TX, 2007).
[6] US v. Holy Land Foundation, 3:04-CR-240-G "Government Exhibit Elbarasse Search 7," (TX ND 9/2/2008).
[7] Stanley Boim vs. Quranic Literacy Institute, 00-C-2905, "Deposition of Kifah Mustapha," (N.D. Ill. March 2, 2004).
[8] Stanley Boim vs. Quranic Literacy Institute, 00-C-2905, "Deposition of Kifah Mustapha," (N.D. Ill. March 2, 2004).
[9] Stanley Boim vs. Quranic Literacy Institute, 00-C-2905, "Deposition of Kifah Mustapha," (N.D. Ill. March 2, 2004).
