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Washington Post - July 2, 2004 Islamic Institute raided in Fairfax By Jerry Markon and Susan Schmidt Dozens of FBI, customs and Internal Revenue Service agents participated in the morning raid on the Fairfax County-based Institute for Islamic and Arabic Sciences, law enforcement sources said. The number of agents attracted the notice of neighbors and TV crews, who recorded the event. Federal officials would not comment on the raid or say whether it was part of a broader investigation of the institute, a "distance learning" center that teaches Arabic and Islamic studies and that until recently was sponsored by the Saudi Embassy. But the Saudi government revoked its sponsorship in December after examining allegations that the school promoted a form of Islam that is intolerant of other strains of the religion as well as Christianity and Judaism. The State Department later revoked diplomatic visas of 11 people affiliated with the institute. They were among several dozen Saudi personnel whose diplomatic credentials were revoked as part of an effort by both countries to curb extremist Islamic teachings in the United States. Institute officials did not return calls yesterday. But Arsalan Iftikhar, legal director for the District-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, said an institute staff member called CAIR attorneys while the raid was underway. "They said they had no idea what was going on,'' said Iftikhar, who went to the scene and talked with agents from the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "They said everyone in the building was interviewed but was allowed to leave. No one was arrested or detained.'' Ibrahim Hooper, a CAIR spokesman, said the local Muslim community is concerned that the raid is a "fishing expedition by the government.'' http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22243-2004Jul1.html nbc4.com – July 1, 2004 Northern Virginia Islamic School Searched Authorities searched an Islamic institute and mosque in northern Virginia Thursday. The FBI, immigration and customs officials and the Internal Revenue Service were involved in the search of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America. The all-day search resulted in computers, boxes and files being confiscated and carted away. An attorney who said he was from a Muslim civil rights group appeared on the scene to ensure that no rights were violated. "It's as though this is some sort of anti-Muslim dragnet," said Arsalan Istikhar, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). "But we do have faith in the American legal system and we do feel that justice will prevail." The building houses a school that teaches Arabic courses and strict Islamic studies. It has also trained dozens of chaplains for the U.S. military. (News4 Reporter Jeff) Napshin reported the raid was part of an ongoing investigation into the possible financing of terrorism. The institute is affiliated with the Saudi Arabian embassy. Authorities said no charges have been filed and no arrests made in connection with the raid. Associated Press – July 1, 2004 Feds raid Saudi-based institute in Fairfax Federal agents raided the Fairfax offices of a Saudi-based institute Wednesday. No arrests were made. A task force of federal agents, including the FBI, raided the offices of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences Wednesday. Earlier this year, 16 Saudi diplomats affiliated with the institute had their passports revoked. State Department officials said the diplomats were teaching at the institute rather than serving as diplomats. The institute, in the Merrifield section of Fairfax County, also served as a meeting point for a group of Islamic men who played paintball games in 2000 and 2001 as preparation for holy war, according to prosecutors. Nine of the 11 men charged in what prosecutors called a "Virginia jihad network" were convicted in federal court for their roles in the group. Lawyers for the Council on American-Islamic Relations observed the raid. The council's spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, said, "We're concerned that this may be perceived in the Muslim community as a fishing expedition." He pointed out that a variety of Muslim businesses and charities were raided more than two years ago as part of a broad investigation into alleged terrorist financing, but that no charges have been filed against those charities. |