US Republican lawmakers have issued a scathing letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director of the US National Security and Intelligence Agency, April Haynes, expressing grave concerns about the infiltration of the Iranian regime’s ‘terrorist ideology’ into at least four mosques and cultural centers within the United States.
According to the exclusive three-page letter obtained by Fox News, the cases raised against these mosques and centers located in Maryland, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia have been detailed extensively.
The ‘Islamic Education Center’ in Potomac, Maryland, is reported to receive funding from the Alavi Foundation, an organization controlled by the regime.
Notably, Abolfazl Nahidian, a prominent supporter of Khomeini in America, is affiliated with this center. The letter also highlights the unfortunate funding of the center from Maryland’s general budget, a matter that has been brought to light by Democrat member of Congress Brian Feldman.
Representative Doug Lamborn from Colorado played a leading role in drafting the letter, stressing that the Iranian regime’s efforts to infiltrate the United States through Shia mosques and cultural centers have persisted for years.
He expressed concern about these mosques propagating hatred towards anyone opposing the Iranian regime while praising Khomeini through their hymns and shrines.
Lamborn emphasized the need for the US government to address the threat posed by state-sponsored terrorism, both within the Middle East and domestically.
The letter further identifies another institution, the Center for Islamic Education in Houston, which is suspected of serving the Iranian regime’s interests.
Allegedly, this center has engaged children in performing propaganda songs glorifying Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the terrorist Quds Force responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and thousands of individuals from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and other regions.
Evidence cited in the letter suggests that both the Islamic centers in Potomac and Houston have direct connections to the Iranian regime.
Notably, Maulana Gholam Har Shabiri served as the imam of the Houston center for ten years, and his appointment to this position was directly made by the office of the leader of the regime.
Fox News reported that Representative Gus Bilirakis from Florida expressed concern over the Iranian regime’s efforts to exert its influence on religious and cultural institutions in the United States.
Bilirakis urged the US government to take this matter seriously and ensure that the Justice Department and intelligence community are actively countering this threat.
A third example of alleged Iranian influence in American religious life is ‘Dar al-Hekma al-Islami’ in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
Republican representatives highlighted this Shiite mosque’s ties to the Iranian regime, and its imam, Muhammad Ali Elahi, was reportedly Director of Political Ideology of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 1980s.
Moreover, Elahi’s meeting with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, along with his role in propagating extremist propaganda aligned with the views of the Iranian regime, raised further concerns.
The letter also shed light on the Manassas Mosque in Virginia, where recent footage revealed decorations with pictures of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in Syria, a statue of Khomeini, and the flag and slogans of the Islamic Republic.
An article written by Abolfazl Nahidian on the mosque’s website commemorating Qassem Soleimani also drew attention.
The congressmen called on the Department of Justice, the intelligence community, and other relevant departments and agencies to develop a strategy to counter the nefarious influence of the regime within the United States, especially when it operates through cultural and religious institutions.
The revelations of the Iranian regime’s infiltration into American mosques and cultural centers raise alarm bells about its ongoing efforts to spread its malign ideology and terrorism on a global scale.
The evidence presented in the letter by Republican lawmakers demonstrates the regime’s persistent attempts to exert its influence within the United States, promoting hatred, praising terrorists, and disseminating extremist propaganda.
Combating the Iranian regime’s malign behavior and curbing its dangerous influence is not only essential for the security and stability of the region but also crucial for safeguarding peace and prosperity on a global scale.
