http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/11/200911122358468531.html
Friday, November 13, 2009
03:45 Mecca time, 00:45 GMT
US moves against Iran Muslim group
US federal prosecutors have moved to seize four mosques and a New York
tower block owned by a nonprofit Muslim organisation with alleged financial
ties to Iran.
The prosecutors on Thursday filed a civil complaint in a US federal court
seeking the forfeiture of more than $500m in assets of the Alavi Foundation and
an alleged front company.
Prosecutors say the foundation has been helping to illegally send money
back to the Iranian government.
The assets include Islamic centres in New York City, Maryland, California
and Houston, more than 100 acres of land in Virginia, and an office tower in
New York.
Iran's mission at the United Nations has not yet responded to news of the
prosecutors' complaint.
The move could lead to a deterioration in relations between the US
government and American Muslims.
Members of the US Muslim community have already expressed concerns of a
backlash after a deadly gun attack at the Fort Hood army base in Texas, which
has been blamed on a Muslim soldier.
Funding channel
The mosques and the office building will stay open while the forfeiture
case goes through court.
Prosecutors allege that the Alavi Foundation illegally funneled millions
in rental income back to Iran's state-owned Bank Melli, through a front company
known as Assa Corporation.
Bank Melli has been accused by the US Treasury of providing support for
Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington says is aimed at building an atomic
weapon.
Iran has denied those claims and insists that its nuclear programme is
aimed at generating electricity.
US government officials have long alleged that the Alava Foundation was
part of the Iranian government.
Rental revenue
A 97-page complaint alleges that several senior Iranian officials are
involved in the foundation, including the country's deputy prime minister and
ambassadors to the UN.
"For two decades, the Alavi Foundation's affairs have been directed by
various Iranian officials, including Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations,
in violation of a series of American laws," Preet Bharara, a US attorney, said
in a statement.
The New York office block, known as the Piaget building, was built in the
1970s, while the shah of Iran was in power.
Law and investment firms are among the companies using the building,
which was valued at $570m to $650m in 2007.
The most recent US tax records show the Alavi Foundation earned $4.5m
from rental of the building's offices in 2007.
If the office tower is forfeited, the foundation would find it hard to
maintain support for the Islamic centres, which house schools and mosques.
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