Al Farouq Mosque
Brooklyn, NY

In March 2003, Mohammed Ali Hasan Al-Moayad was arrested and charged with conspiring to provide material support to Al Qaeda and Hamas through Moayad's worldwide fund-raising operation. According to the complaint, an FBI undercover operation developed information that Al-Moayad personally handed Usama Bin Laden $20 million from his terrorist fund-raising network.[1]

In November 2001, the FBI's International Terrorism squad began working with a confidential informant who had known Al-Moayad for over 6 years. Al-Moayad boasted to the informant that "jihad" was his field. He bragged about his involvement in providing money, recruits and supplies to Al Qaeda, Hamas and other terrorist groups, and said he received money for jihad from collections at the Al Farouq mosque in Brooklyn. Imam Abderahman Mohamed of Al Farouq mosque said that the mosque was not aware that any donations were being sent to terrorists groups. However, he did add, "It would be hard for a mosque like us to control a large organization once the money leaves us."[2] Al- Moayad also claimed to be Usama Bin Laden's spiritual advisor.[3]

Jurors convicted Al-Moayad of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas and Al Qaeda.[4] However, Al-Moayad won a new trial in an appeal in October 2008.[5] In August of 2009 Al-Moayad pleaded guilty to providing support to a foreign terrorist organization.[6]

[1] USA v. Al-Moayad, M-03-0016, "Indictment and Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant," (E.D.N.Y. January 5, 2003).

[2] Andy Newman, "Brooklyn Mosque Becomes Terror Icon, but Federal Case Is Unclear," The New York Times, March 9, 2003, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/09/nyregion/brooklyn-mosque-becomes-terror-icon-but-federal-case-is-unclear.html (accessed May 27, 2010).

[3] USA v. Al-Moayad, M-03-0016, "Indictment and Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant," (E.D.N.Y. January 5, 2003).

[4] USA v. Al-Moayad, 03-CR-1322, "Verdict," (E.D.N.Y. March 10, 2004).

[5] USA v. Al-Moayad , 05-41 86-CR (L), 05-4838-cr (CON) (2d Cir., October 2, 2008).

[6] USA v. Al-Moayad, 03-CR-1322-01, "Judgment in a Criminal Case," (E.D.N.Y. August 7, 2009).