American Muslims,…are fearful of a backlash after lastweek’s Fort Hood shooting rampage, blamed on a Muslim American soldier.(We say good. — Ed.)
Federal prosecutors Thursday took steps toseize four U.S. mosques and a Fifth Avenue skyscraper owned by anonprofit Muslim organization long suspected of being secretlycontrolled by the Iranian government.
Inwhat could prove to be one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures inU.S. history, prosecutors filed a civil complaint in federal courtseeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in assets of the AlaviFoundation and an alleged front company.
Theassets include Islamic centers in New York City, Maryland, Californiaand Houston, more than 100 acres in Virginia, and a 36-story officetower in New York.
Confiscating the properties would be a sharpblow against Iran, which has been accused by the U.S. government ofbankrolling terrorism and seeking a nuclear bomb.
A telephone call and e-mail to Iran’s U.N. mission seeking comment were not immediately answered.
Religious backlash possible
Itis extremely rare for U.S. law enforcement authorities to seize a houseof worship, a step fraught with questions about the First Amendmentright to freedom of religion.
Theaction against the Shiite Muslim mosques is sure to inflame relationsbetween the U.S. government and American Muslims, many of whom arefearful of a backlash after last week’s Fort Hood shooting rampage,blamed on a Muslim American soldier.