Groups Protest Margate Mosque Accused Of Financing Taliban

June 7, 2011 10:50 PM

Sketches of Izhar Khan and and his father Hafiz Khan in federal court following their arrest on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to Pakistani Taliban. (CBS4)

Reporting Carey Codd

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S. Florida Terrorism Case

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MARGATE (CBS4) –Several South Florida community organizations protested outside of a Margate mosque Tuesday evening. The protesters want the mosque shut down after its’ imam was charged with conspiracy to finance the Taliban.

Izhar Khan, the imam of the Margate mosque, was arrested and charged in May, along with four other family members, including his father, Hafiz Khan, who is also an imam.

Several groups — including the Tea Party, a Boca Raton church and Americans Against Hate — called for the feds to close the mosque while investigators check the mosque’s finances.

“Show us the money,” said Reverend Mark Boykin of Church of All Nations. “Where is the money of this mosque coming from and where is it going?”

Nezar Hamze, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the feds have already searched the mosque’s financial records.

“The books are open to the government obviously,” Hamze said. “The FBI, the U.S. Attorney has already accessed those. If they had any doubt whatsoever about the activity going on in the mosque I’m sure they would be other indictments, and other charges but there’s not.”

Hamze added that the people at the mosque are neither trying to recruit terrorists or fund terrorism.

“Anti-Muslim bigots that’s all it is,” Hamze said. “The only thing people do come here to do — they come here and pray.”

There was at least one friendly discussion of Islam between the two sides. We also saw people on both sides wave American flags, talk about freedoms and clap after singing “America the Beautiful.”

But some of the protesters are convinced things aren’t right at the mosque.

“They are free to worship wherever they want; but if they’re worshiping under a leader who is funding the Taliban, I have concerns as a resident of the city,” said Margate resident Denise Wood.

“Given the mosque’s own extremism and given the mosque’s leaders support for Khan after Khan have provided tens of thousands of dollars to Taliban terrorists, we believe that this mosque, this Margate mosque, should not be able to operate any longer within the State of Florida,” said Joe Kaufman with Americans Against Hate.

Members of the mosque, including Mohammed Sulaman, said the atmosphere around the mosque has changed since Khan’s arrest.

“I think the community was a lot tighter,” Sulaman said. “This brother, Imam Izar is innocent until proven guilty. That’s the stand most of the community takes.”

The Sunni mosque is located at 3222 Holiday Springs Blvd., Margate.

Groups Protest Margate Mosque Accused Of Financing Taliban

Herb Sosa

There needs to be some verification process for mosques.

I can tell you that most mosques support their cause – not always aggresive violence against Europe and US, but often they are…

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B McLaughlin

When “peaceful” muslims begin acting responsibly, and speak out against terrorists and terrorism among their own people, the rest of can begin the process of establishing some level of trust with these people. What we have now is a whole family of muslim leaders accused of being terrorists, and receiving support and encouragement from Muslim leadership. The American people are understandably suspicious of this group of people, and that suspicion is based entirely on THEIR actions, or lack of action.
INFIDEL

Where can I sign a petition? The mossk has already proved to be a haven for terrorist-supported activities. Do we have to wait until there’s an actual shootout on the property. Study the koran! It tells its followers that you and I must die or convert to their dopey cult. How many innocent Americans have to die before communities start to recognize the threat? Get the mossk out of Margate and send it back to arabia.
ROCKY2

I SAID IT ONCE AND I, SAY IT AGAIN, NOT ONLY THIS MOSQUE OF MARGATE SHOULD BE CLOSED BUT ALL OF THEM , IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT AMERICANS THEY HATE THIS COUNTRY. THEY SOULD BE REGISTERED AS FOREIGN AGENTS.
Observerfromupnorth

Close them all, we need to move away for any type of Mosque in the country. We do not up hold the religion that founded this country why should we allow any other. If you are a immigrant then practice in your own home.
Mr. Driskill

Close it.

Deport all Muslims to Mecca, Saudia Arabia. They hate this non-Muslim country; they hate the non-Muslim world. They are at war with the entire world (minus their 20%).
Chico Husain

why would we want to close a house of god down, the individuals are in jail , should i say go and close all ths catholic churches down for their crimes of sexually abusing yound boys? where is the protesters when these crimes are happening to our young children , i say to all you haters out there , god is great.

erika

The difference is that the churches address it and parishoners speak out against the priests .Until the followers of the mosque are outraged there will be no trust . All the people want is to hear the followers say how terrible it is and that they are against the terrorism . They do not though

Duy

I’M SHOCKED AT THE COMMENTS. YEAH SURE, LET’S ALL BOOT OUT THE MUSLIMS BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THEM ARE BORN AMERICANS AND GREW UP WITH US.
LET’S BOOT ALL OF THEM TO THE COUNTRY OF THEIR ROOTS BECAUSE THE TALIBAN SO HAPPENS TO BE “MUSLIM”
GROW UP.
Ellen Lipinski

I am not seeing anything about a conviction of guilt here at this time. Why is everone being so insulting?
I am sure that this is causing the rest of the members maybe some shock and pain. That is how I would feel if I found out something like this about my church/ Mosque Leaders.
I am going with they moved here to join us to become americans things are tough enough right now without hurting the innocent.
TwanTru

a large percentage are violent

from a black american’s perspective, have you ever read about Malcom X and his thugs?

Duy

Your large percent is incorrect.
if you’re actually friends with the muslim community, you woul know.
And usng Malcom X to represent the African American cmmunity is terrible too. Letting one man represent a whole cmunity.

pschieber

We sang G-d Bless America last evening and the Muslims did not sing.
It would be nice if the press would start reporting correctly.
BTW, Islam is different than other religions because it is also a political system.
This Islamic system of Shariah goes against our Constitution.

William

And you’e saying that this goes to all Muslims in the US?!
You’re forgetting that in the Muslim religion, they don’t sing about God and him blessing a certain person place or thing. It goes for all. In their religion, God blessing only America is insultingto the whole world.

And true, Islam also has a political system, but the article is wrong to be completely misinformed. The religion is against violence. The Taliban is “Muslim.” Notice how I used quotation marks? Theyre not true Muslims.

Ed Fumpin

The protesters are bigoted crackpots, just like a lot of the commenters here.
Peace

Fact- Taliban does not mean Islam or muslim -it is a militia group of a a tribal people in Afghanistan ( supported by the US government at one time)

Fact- Mosques are erected and maintained by the congregation – their books will reveal that. They do not have interest bearing bank accounts.

Fact – If the Imam did not promote violence or generate Taliban philosphy; why should the congreagtion not stand by him until the truth is known. If he is guilty, they would be devaststed as Islam does not teach violence.

Fact – The congregation are Americans and are proud to be Americans-why were the protestors waving American Flags?

Margate mosque host a Saturday morning program – people should listen to the messages before making comments.