International Institute of Islamic Thought
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Institute of Islamic Thought is a private, non-profit organization that describes itself as an institution concerned with issues of Islamic thought. It was started with funding from the Muslim Brotherhood[1].
IIIT is a front organization that funneled aid to terrorist groups.[2]
It's headquarters, located at 555 Grove St. in Herndon, Virginia, were raided by the FBI on March 20, 2002.[3]
The institute was founded in 1981 and has branches and offices around the world.[4]
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[edit] Ties to terrorist organizations
IIIT was used by convicted terrorist Sami al-Arian to raise money for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Islamic Conference of Palestine, and World and Islam Enterprise, all known terrorist organizations. In March of 2006, the State Department's head of counterterrorism, Ambassador Hank Crumpton, was the keynote speaker at a conference co-sponsored by IIIT and funded by the United States Department of Defense.[2] IIIT also has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and has raised money for al Qaeda and al-Haramain Islamic Foundation of Ashland, an Oregon-based terrorist organization that has funded Chechen terrorists.[5]
IIIT's co-founder and former president, Taha Jaber al-Alwani, an unindicted co-conspirator in Arian's trial, wrote a fatwa between December 1988 and November 1989 stating, "Jihad is the only way to liberate Palestine ... [N]o person or authority may settle the Jews on the land of Palestine or cede to them any part thereof." He is still on IIIT's board. Alwani once wrote that that Arian is "a part of us and an extension of [IIIT]." In a conversation wire tapped by Federal authorities, IIIT's research director, Lou'ay Safi, and Arian, Arian dismissed an executive order designating PIJ a terrorist organization, saying the executive order was the result of a "war staged by Zionists."[2]
According to the Washington Post, Sami al-Arian, a potentially key witness, has refused to testify in an investigation of this organization's financing of terror because he believes, "his life would be in danger if he testified."[6]
[edit] References
- ^ In Search Of Friends Among The Foes U.S. Hopes to Work With Diverse Group
- ^ a b c Agencies get black marks Washington Times
- ^ O'Neill Met With Muslim Activists Tied to Charities Raided by Treasury Wall Street Journal
- ^ About Us International Institute of Islamic Thought
- ^ University of Central Florida Slated To Become Cultural Jihad Hub Pipeline News
- ^ Witness Is Silent in Terror Probe:Ex-Professor Says Grand Jury Testimony Would Endanger Him
