Posted on 08/16/2007 7:31:04 AM PDT by Lorianne
Since its opening in 1957, the Islamic Center of Washington has been the city’s most prominent mosque—a center of worship for thousands of area Muslims, including many members of the capital’s diplomatic corps. President Bush even made a speech at the mosque earlier this summer.
But now the Islamic Center has become immersed in a nasty court battle marked by charges of embezzlement, abuse of women and an alleged attempt to spread radical messages of hate.
The fireworks began earlier this year when federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against the recently ousted business manager of the mosque, Farzad Darui. A later five-count indictment charged that Durui, an Iranian native who formerly served as the mosque’s security chief, embezzled more than $430,000 in five years—in part by altering checks and diverting mosque funds to corporate entities he controlled.
This week, Darui returned fire. He claimed in papers filed in federal court in the District of Columbia that the charges against him had been manufactured by unnamed Saudi government officials as part of a scheme to oust him from his post. Their goal, Darui maintains, was to claim control over the mosque after Darui resisted Saudi efforts to have “radical” Wahhabi figures deliver messages of intolerance there.
“Because Darui barred Islamic radicals, from the [Islamic] Center, the Saudis, via the Center, have falsely accused him of embezzlement,” Darui’s filing claims. He seeks to have all charges against him dismissed. The filing was prepared by his lawyer, Washington attorney Victoria Toensing.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
When I was in seminary, our class, “Christians, Jews & Muslims” visited that mosque. I was very uncomfortable and this was 1991. All the men radiated hatred toward us females in the group. If looks could kill......... We were of course, banished to the “women’s” section” behind a separating wall from the main mosque. Not a comfortable religion for women. In contrast, our visit to a synagogue was delightful. The Rabbi was very welcoming and funny.
“charges of embezzlement, abuse of women and an alleged attempt to spread radical messages of hate.”
Standard fare coming from islamics who are nothing but a bunch of terrorists.
I very much respect Victoria Toensing. If she has taken his case, there may be something to his claims.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.