The federal government has moved to seize four mosques and a Manhattan skyscraper belonging to a muslim non-profit group.
The buildings are just outside Sacramento California, in New York City, Rockville Maryland and right here in Houston.
Among those buildings is the Islamic Education Center in Southwest Houston, on Voss near Westheimer.
The chairman of the board at the Al-Hadi school admits this building is leased by the Alavi Foundation - that's the group that has been long-suspected of being secretly controlled by the Iranian government, but the chairman, Fahem Kazimi said they only lease this building -- nothing more. "I wanted to make it very clear to people that Islamic Association Houston is a non-profit organization it's an independent organization not affiliated with any of these organizations," Kazimi said.
Kazimi would not answer any questions from reporters, but in a statement he said the Islamic Education Center Houston provides services to the community, provides a place for people to worship, has community clinic and a fulltime school. "We have a program where the children are able to finish their high school early and they can take college courses at the same time," said Farouk Abdulgakni.
Those who worship here say about 300 children, including Abdulgakni's three children, attend school here. "This is really upsetting to me," he said.
Prosecutors say the Alavi Foundation illegally funneled millions in rental income back to Iran's sate-owned bank. That bank is accused of providing support for Iran's nuclear program and it's illegal in the U.S. to do business with the bank.
However, Abdulgakni said all money from tuition here at the Al-Hadi school goes to pay teachers' salaries and building expenses. "a lot of times it's short at the end of the year - we have to donate money to keep the building a float," Abdulgakni said. "It's not fair that this is how we are being treated, that our building is going to be seized, that my children are going to have to look for a new school - my friends are going to have to look for new jobs," he said.
Those are things that may not happen for a while, even though federal prosecutors took steps to seize the mosque - there were no raids.
The mosques and offices will remain open while the case works it's way through court.
The buildings are just outside Sacramento California, in New York City, Rockville Maryland and right here in Houston.
Among those buildings is the Islamic Education Center in Southwest Houston, on Voss near Westheimer.
The chairman of the board at the Al-Hadi school admits this building is leased by the Alavi Foundation - that's the group that has been long-suspected of being secretly controlled by the Iranian government, but the chairman, Fahem Kazimi said they only lease this building -- nothing more. "I wanted to make it very clear to people that Islamic Association Houston is a non-profit organization it's an independent organization not affiliated with any of these organizations," Kazimi said.
Kazimi would not answer any questions from reporters, but in a statement he said the Islamic Education Center Houston provides services to the community, provides a place for people to worship, has community clinic and a fulltime school. "We have a program where the children are able to finish their high school early and they can take college courses at the same time," said Farouk Abdulgakni.
Those who worship here say about 300 children, including Abdulgakni's three children, attend school here. "This is really upsetting to me," he said.
Prosecutors say the Alavi Foundation illegally funneled millions in rental income back to Iran's sate-owned bank. That bank is accused of providing support for Iran's nuclear program and it's illegal in the U.S. to do business with the bank.
However, Abdulgakni said all money from tuition here at the Al-Hadi school goes to pay teachers' salaries and building expenses. "a lot of times it's short at the end of the year - we have to donate money to keep the building a float," Abdulgakni said. "It's not fair that this is how we are being treated, that our building is going to be seized, that my children are going to have to look for a new school - my friends are going to have to look for new jobs," he said.
Those are things that may not happen for a while, even though federal prosecutors took steps to seize the mosque - there were no raids.
The mosques and offices will remain open while the case works it's way through court.
