Exposing the secretive network of Al-Fuqra, its various fronts including Muslims of America (MOA), its founder Sheikh Mubarik Ali Gilani, and its ties to terrorism.
Earlier in the week, we posted about the Muslims of the Americas parade in downtown Binghamton, NY celebrating Muhammad's birthday. The group has now posted video of the parade on the Islamberg YouTube page and they are embedded here below.
As we noted before, the only people that showed up for this event were MOA members, a handful of non-Muslim observers, and the police escort. As you'll see in the videos, the parade participants are carrying a number of banners. Most of these are banners for various other front groups MOA has formed to improve their image. They include International Quranic Open University, Inc.; Muslim Veterans of America; Muslim Scouts of America; Hand to Hands Social Service Agency, Inc.; and The Islamic Post, which is the group's newspaper. A contact of ours familiar with the group points out that most of the group's elders are there. These men are the older leaders that generally call the shots on the various compounds.
Also, note particularly in the videos how many women and children are marching. If you watch carefully, you see very few smiles on the faces of these people. They are marching and singing half-heartedly, but there is no doubt many of them are being forced to do this. We have heard a number of stories of women wanting to leave the group, some of them living in forced or polygamous marriages, tired of living in poverty and squalor amongst criminals with no real education or opportunities for their children, yet they are not allowed to leave. It is quite sad.
The defense has begun to present its case this week on behalf of Ramadan Abdullah, a member of Muslims of the Americas with skilled weapons training, now on trial for killing a Deputy Sheriff. His father, Mahdi Abdullah, took the stand on behalf of his son, among others. Ramadan Abdullah faces the death penalty if convicted, but the defense is pleading insanity.
Well, the MOA went ahead with their parade in Binghamton on Saturday as promised. The local paper reports (emphasis added):
BINGHAMTON - About 400 people marched through downtown Binghamton Saturday to celebrate the prophet Muhammad's birthday and show their Islamic faith to the community.
They were met by some curious stares from scattered onlookers and two protesters, one of whom was hustled away by Binghamton police after using a portable loud speaker to yell comments at the marchers.
The march was part of a series of activities organized by International Quranic Open University and Muslims of the Americas, a controversial Islamic community headquartered in Hancock.
[...]
"We show it's better to go by information you see than rumors," saidHussein Adams*, deputy director of the International Quranic Open University.
Saturday's event was only the first step, Hasib Qadri said, adding the communities intend to become more visible locally through social programs and community events. "We've decided it's not beneficial for us to stay by ourselves," he said.
*Note: Hussein Adams is a significant member of the JF/MOA/IQOU organization. He holds the rank of Khalifa and is the number two man at the headquarters compound in NY, hence his nickname within the group - "K2". The number one guy is Khalifa Husain Abdallah. Adams' father, Barry Adams aka Tyrone Cole, was one of the Jamaat ul-Fuqra operatives convicted in Canada years ago for plotting a horrific and thankfully unsuccessful terror attack on an Indian theater and Hindu temple. He was released from prison last year and is believed to be in the Caribbean, most likely Trinidad.
The organization has been on a PR blitz for a while after suffering quite a bit of negative publicity. They are attempting to remake their image as one of a charity organization, though there is much that lies beneath this facade.
Here's a slideshow of photos sent in by someone on the ground...
We also received this report (edited for brevity and clarity):
The event was referred to as being first "annual" and a "parade and festival". It was pretty much just the participants from Islamberg with almost no non-Islamic spectators. I counted about maybe 6 average joes watching from the sidewalk...plus a couple local police on each of 3 blocks directing traffic...and 2 local media people...one was from the local Press and Sun-Bulletin newspaper and the other from the local Fox tv station. After the parade, during the speeches, I noticed absolutely no non-Islamic onlookers.
The parade folks walked for several blocks and then over a bridge and a couple more blocks. And then they turned around and walked back to where they started. They sang a song while walking and there were many women and children marchers. There were several banners being held up for organizations: some kind of Islamic scouting group; there was one banner that had Islamberg written on it somewhere; and there was one for the "Hand to Hands" group; also, the first one was for the International Quranic Open University. There weren't any kind of political protesters. I expected the indymedia/progressive types to show up in solidarity since Binghamton has a big progressive presence, but I sure didn't notice anyone like that. I also didn't see [Executive Assistant to the Mayor] Tarik Abdelazim anywhere.
After the parade, they all went and sat down in front of the courthouse. They had a big stage set up for the speakers and a bunch of chairs in front on the right for the women and children and some chairs on the left under a tent for the main men. The "festival" was basically just the speakers plus a couple small tents which I assume featured items for sale underneath.
Now, on to the speakers: they started things off by singing the national anthem accompanied by some drumming. Then someone recited from the Koran and a second person did the same. Then, Matt Ryan, the Binghamton Mayor, spoke about unity between Islam and Christianity for a couple minutes. [After that] was Rev. Douglas Taylor of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Binghamton. He spoke for a while about unity as well.
An English professor at nearby Broome County Community College, Diane O'Heron, also spoke at the event. Candace de Russy at the PhiBetaCons blog on NRO wonders,
What motivates O'Heron and her fellow speakers to join in these suspect festivities? Will other academics or campus groups participate? If so, are they, and O'Heron, aware of the MOA's dubious pedigree? The answers to these questions are not yet apparent.
UPDATE: One of our contributors, a Muslim and former member of MOA, writes in to comment:
The Muslim onlookers were from the group. Muslims all over the world know that celebrating the birth of Muhammad is not part of our faith. We also know that in Islamic law there are laws against protesting against gov't and trying to establish a gov't within a gov't -- these people implement Islamic law on their properties all over the USA. For example, if one of the members gets in trouble they may recieve a flogging. For those who do not know this term, it's when you sit in a chair [and receive lashes] or in some cases, like Sekou from Islamberg, they tied him to a tree and whipped him until he just about passed out. How do I know? I myself was victim to a flogging, 10 lashes to be exact . They have broken many laws in the very faith they say they believe in. If they even knew how much negativity they cause by "reaching out" they would stop their nonsense.
Last Friday, following emotional testimony from the partner of the late Deputy Sheriff Erik Telen, the prosecution concluded its arguments against Ramadan Abdullah, on trial for Telen's murder. The defense will begin to present its case today. We will be monitoring further news surrounding this case.
Finally facing justice for his crime, Ramadan Abdur-Rauf Abdullah, now 26, went on trial this week in Fresno County, California for killing Deputy Sheriff Erik Telen in 2001. He is pleading insanity in his defense.
Abdullah is originally from Binghamton, NY and was a member of the Muslims of the Americas (MOA). Spread throughout the country, the MOA, made up of primarily African- Americans, are a cult-like offshoot sect of Sufi Muslims who follow Sheikh Mubarak Ali Gilani of Pakistan. The organization serves as a religious front for a radical militant group known as Jamaat ul-Fuqra, a secretive network also headed by Gilani. For all practical purposes, the groups are one and the same, though members' knowledge of and/or involvement in illicit activity varies.
We contacted a former follower of Sheikh Gilani with a very extensive knowledge of the group for comment on Abdullah's case. They remembered him from years ago and seemed to confirm the defense's assertion that he did have mental problems calling him "MAD". They continued with some additional background:
He terrorized the land [Islamberg in Hancock, NY]...Yes, he went insane...studying Sufiism. He could not be controlled on the compounds. Shaykh [Gilani] could not heal him with his healing powers, so [the men] were told to drop him off in the nearest township. Ramadan would chase us, jump us, tackle us...very dangerous. He said that he was Jesus, son of Mary, and...that he was the 7th Sultan [successor to Gilani].
But, he's not the first to go crazy. A few have, trying to practise the shaykh's form of Sufiism. He was sick for a year or so in Islamberg. He was sent to the California compound [Baladullah] from New York due to the inability to treat him through the shaykh's method. So, that resulted in him injuring others outside of the community. Well, MURDER isn't exactly an injury. Ramadan was only in California for less than two months. Then [there was] the Gateway scam...then the shaykh shut the village down. The shaykh didn't want Ramadan's name in association with him so much that he allowed 30 odd families w/little funds to go without housing. Even before the Gateway scam, California was already in the process of moving to other states because we were told we couldn't reside in the State of California.
So, according to our source, the boy did have some issues, but this certainly does not excuse what he has done. We mentioned that police noted during the shootout that Abdullah, because of the way he defended himself, seemed to them to have had some sort of training. To this, our source offered a very interesting anecdote:
No matter what, he still had enough of JF teachings in him so at some point he was sane. As a younger teenager he used to teach the younger boys...the basic training all members have. I do know he had excellent rifle training because I would hear his name in reference to that matter.
In fact, the prosecutor said in court of Abdullah's accuracy, "This was a very well-aimed and well-timed shot that was fatal to Deputy Erik Telen hitting him directly in the head." Telen died instantly. ===============================================
=============================================== More Background on MOA in California:
The MOA has created quite a high-profile notoriety in Calfornia. The Gateway scam, alluded to above, was a widely-publicized case in which the MOA defrauded the State of California and stole millions of taxpayer dollars through a system of charter schools. Much of the money is believed to have been spirited away to Pakistan. One of the ringleaders of this scam, Khadijah Ghafur, was convicted last year and sent to prison. MOA claims she is a political prisoner.
In an attempt to assert their presence and deflect negative perceptions about the group, the Muslims of the Americas (MOA), the main front group for Jamaat ul-Fuqra, are planning a parade in Binghamton, NY this coming Saturday. Make no mistake, this is a pure propaganda effort.
Here's the word from the local paper, the Press & Sun-Bulletin:
Sunday March 30, 2008 Muslims to hold celebration in city Downtown event to mark prophet's birthday
By William Moyer Press & Sun-Bulletin
BINGHAMTON -- The Muslims of the Americas group intends to celebrate the prophet Muhammad's birthday in downtown Binghamton.
The community traditionally observed Milad-un-Nabi (celebration of the Holy Prophet) with a parade, singing and other activities at its privately owned property in Hancock, where 35 to 40 Muslim families live.
This year, though, the group wants to expand the celebration to include a parade and other activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in downtown Binghamton.
We contacted a former member of this group for their reaction and here is what they had to say:
First off, in Islam we don't celebrate no one's birthday. Even Muhammad himself said do not do this. Second, that last statement [in the article, about the group's property being a clean, rural environment] is a lie - those lands are filthy with trash and people. No matter what they do or what they say, they created a dark cloud that will never go away until they leave the group.
Peaceful counter-demonstrations are encouraged. If anyone in this area can make it out to the event and send back a report, that would be great. We would also be interested in seeing any pictures or video if you can manage it. Please contact us at alfuqraexposed@gmail.com.
UPDATE: Another former member writes:
This group goes out of their way to hide their deep secrets by announcing to the local communities, "Look what we are doing, notice us." The reality is they know their past, they know others know their past and they are doing everything in their power to avoid the truth of their group, but the truth always will be revealed no matter how hard they try to hide it.
UPDATE: Another source connected to the group says: I don't know why the community is celebrating Maulid again. It was already celebrated in South Carolina on the 20th of March.
The Virginia-based CBN News ran a feature story yesterday on Muslims of America on The 700 Club. They paid a visit to the group's compound in Red House, VA and even interviewed a former member. Erick Stakelbeck and Daveed Gardenstein-Ross, both respected counterterrorism experts, contributed to this piece.
Full disclosure: We were contacted recently by the reporter and cooperated with him on this story.
Click the link above to read the story and watch the video.
Islamberg was again a topic on "the most powerful name in news" today on Your World with Neil Cavuto. The guest was Dr. Paul Williams, who has been to the compound and shot some video while he was there. It's an interesting interview.
[UPDATE] Gibson ran a segment on the JFK plot and the Fed's hopes to connect Adnan Shukrijumah, a "most wanted" suspect, to it. He then interviewed former CIA operative Mike Baker, a Fox News contributor, and asked him about the "homegrown" issue saying, "What about Islamberg?" Baker then discussed Jamaat ul-Fuqra and the fact that the [front] organization is tax-exempt and claims to be non-violent, but in fact, Gilani has established some dozen compounds (mentioning Colorodo and Holy Islamville in SC) around the U.S. and is indeed connected to a violent history. As an aside, he said that Holy Islamville's name came from an exclaimation from Robin to Adam West on the old Batman TV show..."Holy Islamville, Batman!" Haha. If I can get the video later, I'll put it up.
Media attention is indeed increasing on the shadowy network of Jamaat ul-Fuqra and its public front Muslims of the Americas.
A couple of reporters from The New York Post have a story out today after they paid a visit to the group's headquarters compound in the Catskills known as Islamberg near Hancock, NY.
As I type this, the Muslims of America story from Red House, VA reported by Fox News last Friday is featured on the front page at FoxNews.com about a third of the way down. The spotlight on this group is shining a little brighter at the moment. This is good news!
I was just informed by Baron Bodissey at the Gates of Vienna blog that FoxNews is reporting from Red House, Virginia today on the compound that belongs to Muslims of the Americas, the front organization of Jamaat ul-Fuqra, a place with which readers of this blog should be familiar. Also, the FNC schedule indicates that this will be a feature story on Special Report with Brit Hume tonight. Tune in to see some big-time light shed on this group. Hopefully, this will just be the beginning.
I just read the transcript he has posted and apparently the mayor of the Red House compound says they have no connection to Jamaat ul-Fuqra and they don't even know who that is. THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE! Stay tuned for more to come...
Late last week, someone posted a comment on three separate threads here on the site that caught my attention...
I AM NEW TO THIS BLOG THING BUT I CANNOT KEEP QUIET ABOUT THIS..I HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING INFO ABOUT THIS "HOLY ISLAMVILLE" THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED.. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY LIVE "HOLY" LIVES AND DETEST VIOLENCE..DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A REGISTERED 3RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEX OFFENDER WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF 2 COUNTS, LIVING IN THEIR COMPOUND!!!IF YOU LOOK ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS WEBSITE AND DO A SEARCH BY YORK CITY OR YOU CAN USE HIS NAME "NATHAN SCOTT KENNEDY"AND CAN GET ALL HIS INFO AND PICTURE..(PRETTY SCARY LOOKING)I SURE HOPE SOMEONE IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THESE PEOPLE.IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THEY CAN BE ALLOWED TO FUNCTION AS A SOCIETY WITHOUT HEAVY SURVELLIANCE...
I followed up on the tip and sure enough, a man named Nathan Scott Kennedy does reside at an address within the Muslim village known as Holy Islamville near York, SC - a compound that is linked to the terrorist group Al Fuqra (aka Jamaat ul-Fuqra) and its front group Muslims of the Americas.
From the tone of the comment, I'm not sure if this came from just some individual doing research or what. However, the way it is worded along with the phrase, "I cannot keep quiet about this" indicates to me that it might have come from someone who is close to the group and is unhappy with the environment. This would certainly be a good sign. It's no wonder that someone would become disillusioned in the group - most live in miserable conditions in run-down trailers while the elite of the group live quite well; they are forced to live among criminals and now, apparently, sex offenders who may pose a threat to the women and children on the land. It's good that this sort of thing is made known. Maybe Child Services should pay a little visit. Who knows who else is lurking around there? To whomever left the comment, thank you, and if you are indeed involved with this group, I hope you find peace away from them and that others will follow.
That said, here is the link to Nathan Scott Kennedy's profile in the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry. A copy of the record is embedded below. What makes this a little more interesting is that he's white, because there are very few white members among 'the Fuqra'. He was originally convicted in Michigan in 1993 on two counts of criminal sexual conduct-third degree. The female victim was 37, he as about 20. He looks like a real model citizen.
This is the trailer for the new movie about Daniel Pearl, based on the book by his wife Mariane. I'll be interested to see it, especially to see if they say much about Sheikh Gilani and Daniel's investigation of him. He's mentioned in the trailer. The movie's initial (limited) release in the US is scheduled for June 22.
Former head of counterterrorism in India, B. Raman, writes prolifically these days about jihadi organizations, their inner workings, and the threats they pose to civilization. He is particularly well-versed in the organizations that have been bred in Pakistan. Jamaat ul-Fuqra is one of the organizations with which he is quite familiar and has written many times about.
In one of his latest pieces, "The Jundullah", he describes the growing trend of freelance jihadis who are operating independently and also discusses the threat many western countries now fear from "homegrown terrorism". He begins his article thus (emphasis mine):
This is my second article analysing the British fertiliser bomb case in which the judgement was delivered by a British court on April 30,2007. In my earlier article, I had referred to the extensive roots taken by the Pakistanised version of Al Qaeda in the UK and the danger of this spreading to the US and Canada.
From this, one should not jump to the conclusion that the US is not yet facing threats from home-grown jihadis of Pakistani origin in its territory. It has been since the 1980s. The very active US and Canada-based cadres of the Jamaat-ul-Fuqra (JUF), a Pakistani jihadi organisation with headquarters in Lahore, were the first generation of home-grown jihadis in the US and Canada. They used to indulge in fire-bomb attacks on Hindu and Jewish places of worship in different parts of these two countries in the 1980s. They had also alarmingly penetrated the security forces of some States in the Caribbean. At that time, there was no Al Qaeda or the International Islamic Front (IIF) and yet, the intelligence agencies of these two countries were greatly concerned over the threat posed by this organisation to their internal security. The intelligence officers of the US and Canada, with whom I used to interact, used to describe the JUF as the most secretive and security-conscious jihadi organisation of Pakistan. Daniel Pearl, the US journalist, paid with his life in the beginning of 2002 for trying to make enquiries into the suspected links of Richard Reid, the so-called shoe bomber, with this organisation.
Troubling stuff, to be sure. The Fuqra cell that was broken up in Colorado some years ago was a prime example of this. They operated in strict secrecy. Access to information was tightly controlled, outside contact was forbidden, even with members of other compounds, and orders were handed down directly from the shaykh in Pakistan. Of course, having studied this group for some time now, I realized the "homegrown" threat that they pose. What struck me was Raman's statement that they had a reputation in the intelligence community as "the most secretive and security-conscious jihadi organization of Pakistan". No doubt, their leaders' ties to the ISI contributed to such trained discipline. This sort of statement reiterates to me that they are an organization to be watched and taken seriously.
My last post in early April discussed the case of one Khalid Khawaja, an ex-ISI officer in Pakistan who is now being held in prison for connections to a radical neo-Taliban cabal in Islamabad. He has been held by the government since January and was set for release last week in a concession to the radical parties threatening disruption if he was not let go. And, once again, upon his very release, he was arrested again on different charges. So, we shall see how this plays out.
Now, for readers of this blog who may or may not be familiar with Mr. Khawaja, a few highlights from his resume...Former Pakistani Air Force; former ISI; close associate of Osama bin Laden - has described him as "like an angel" - even named his son Osama bin Khawaja; has called George W. Bush a "terrorist"; known trainer of jihadis, poses as humanitarian human rights activist; close associate of Sheikh Mubarak Ali Gilani, head of Al Fuqra, a covert militant group operating in Pakistan and also in the US under the cover of a group called Muslims of the Americas; quoted as saying, if Gilani is pushed to the point, he would declare jihad on America that would "blow like a volcano"; was last contact for Daniel Pearl before he was abducted and murdered; associate of neo-Taliban radicals linked to radical mosque & madrassa in Islamabad.
Below are the two latest articles from the Daily Times of Pakistan which further discuss the details of Khawaja's current legal troubles.
