Militant Islam Monitor > Weblog > Deputy Director of the Miami Port Khalid Salahuddin aka Imam of the Al Ansar mosque
Deputy Director of the Miami Port Khalid Salahuddin aka Imam of the Al Ansar mosque
July 4, 2004
John Ashcroft recently issued a heightened terror warning for South Florida.
With this in mind MIM wants to inform readers about the militant Islamist groups in South Florida and the organisations and individuals who are supposed to be serving the public interest who are joining with them.
Most alarming is the fact that Khalid Salahuddin, the Deputy Director of the Port of Miami and Imam of the Al Ansar mosque appears to be conducting business as usual.
Last week Salahuddin spoke at public forum "Alternatives to Extremism" which was organised by JAM. (Jews and Muslims and All).
Several of the organisers and participants in the event are tied to militant Islamists.
Note that the wording of the event billing does not condemn extremism and implies that extremism is legitimate, and that the public forum is an intellectual exercise intended to discuss whether or not their are any other options.
The fact that the Deputy Director of the Port of Miami is also acting as an Imam in one of the largest mosques in South Florida is worth noting.
That the Deputy Director of the Port of Miami ,who plays a key role in Port Security would speak at a "Town Hall Forum " sponsored by a group associated with Dar Ul Uloom and other Islamists in South Florida, begs the question as to where Homeland Security and the FBI think the terror threat is emanating from.
JAM is run in part by Malana Shafayat Mohammed who is the Imam of the Dar Ul Uloom mosque.
MIM pointed out Mohammed's ties to Bin Laden funded Ahmed Deedat and other supporters .
Maulana Shafayat Mohammed also funds some of JAM's activities.
As MIM readers will recall,Dar Ul Uloom was the mosque attended by Jose Padilla, Adnan Shukrijumah, Jokhan Shueyb and Iman Mandhi. Shueyb and Mandhai are now in jail on charges of "planning to wage Jihad with explosives".
Mandhai's first lawyer, Nashid Sabir,is listed as a director of the Dar Ul Uloom Islamic Center.
Sabir is also the registered agent for Khalid Salahuddin's mosque "Masjid Al Ansar"
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations presents itself as just another civil-rights group. "We are similar to a Muslim NAACP," says spokesman Ibrahim Hooper. Its public language - about promoting "interest and understanding among the general public with regards to Islam and Muslims in North America" - certainly boosts an image of moderation.
That reputation has permitted CAIR to prosper since its founding in 1994, garnering sizeable donations, invitations to the White House, respectful media citations and a serious hearing by corporations.
In reality, CAIR is something quite different. For starters, it's on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. One indication came in October 1998, when the group demanded the removal of a Los Angeles billboard describing Osama bin Laden as "the sworn enemy," finding this depiction "offensive to Muslims."
Note the conflict of interests inherent in having Deputy Director of the Port of Miami, Khalid Salahuddin, attending an Islamist event on the theme of "Balancing Civil Liberties and Security"
In addition to CAIR members, attendees at the event included representatives of some of the most extremist Saudi funded groups in the U.S. today. Zulfiqar Ali Shah of ICNA and MAS and now CEO of the Universal Heritage Foundation in Kissimmee.Adnan Hassoun ,who is now in jail awaiting trial on terrorism related charges and Jose Padilla the dirty bomber wannabe, met at the mosque of Shah's School of Islamic Studies in Broward.A founder of the school was Mohammed Javed Qureshi,who hired Padilla to work at the Taco Bell he managed and helped him and his wife convert to Islam.
In 2001 Shah's school was visited by Sheik Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, together with a representative from the Saudi embassy in Washington.
In 2002 The ISIB hosted the Grand Mufti of Al Aqsa, Ekrima Sabri who made the news last year when he was asked about suicide bombers and replied : "The younger the martyr the more respect I have for him".
FL EVENT FOCUSES ON BALANCING CIVIL LIBERTIES AND SECURITY
WHAT: Florida Islamic organizations host a one day summit titled, "A United and Secure Florida For All" WHERE: Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84 - Davie, FL 33317 WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2002, from 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shaw (by Video) - ICNA Cherly Little - Executive Director - Florida Immigration and Advocacy Center Howard Simon - Executive Director - ACLU Dr. Mohammed Qazi - AMA Imam Khalid Salahuddin - Al-Ansar Masjid Dr. Khalid Hamza - Professor Dr. Parvez Ahmed - Professor Imam Hassan Sabri - Islamic Center of S.FL Imam Muhammad Musri - Islamic Society of Central Florida Br. Ahmed Bedier - Islamic Society of Pinellas County Br. Sayed Hemayed - MAS Imam Rafiq Mehdi - Masjid Al-Iman Dr. Doured Daghistani Akhtar Hussain, Esq Br. Altaf Ali - CAIR-FL
Guest - Dr. Jack Michel, CEO of Larkin Hospital
Sponsored by CAIR-FL, Major Organizations and Masjids in Florida For more information call CAIR-FL, 954-916-5661 or 954-298-8214 URL: www.cair-florida.org, E-Mail [email protected]
At last year's CAIR banquet Miami Herald journalist Robert Steinbeck was given an award by CAIR executive director Altaf Ali. Steinback was also a speaker at the "Town Hall Meeting" together with Khalid Salahuddin.
CAIR-FL ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA BANQUET
THEME: Liberty and Justice for All DAY: Saturday, August 2, 2003. TIME: 4:30 to 9:30pm LOCATION: Hilton at Fort Lauderdale Airport 1870 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 954-920-3300
FEATURED SPEAKERS:
Paul Findley (Former US Congressman from Illinois) Omar Ahmed (Chairman and Founder of Council on American-Islamic Relations) Bill Baker (Director and Founder, Christians and Muslims for Peace) Robert Stienback (Editorial Columnist, Miami Herald) Michael Mayo (News-Columnist, Sun-Sentinel) Senator Eleanor Sobel (State Representative to the Florida Legislature) Jimmy Morales (Commissioner of Miami)
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS:
Howard Simon (Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union) Cheryl Little (Executive Director, Florida Immigration Advocacy Center)
Last year I asked the director of the Port Charles Towsley if he didn't think there was conflict of interests regarding Salahuddin's religious activities as Imam and his being essentially in charge of Port security. Towsley replied that; "Khalid was a good friend and we never discuss religion"
Khalid Salahuddin
Besides being the Deputy Directory of the Port of Miami he is the Imam of the Al Ansar mosque in Liberty City which is part NOI and Sunni.
Salahuddin himself went from NOI to Sunni Islam. The school connected to his mosque is named Clara Muhammed the mother of the founder of the Nation of Islam.
The registered agent for the Al Ansar mosque is Nashid Sabir who was the first lawyer for jailed Jihadi wannabe Imran Mandhi.
Sabir is also a director of Maulana Shafayat Mohammed's Dar Ul Uloom Islamic Center.
He is also listed as the registered agent of Masjid Al Faiyza which is connected to Zakkout and AMANA.
The Muslim World League speakers list includes a Meccacentric web listing with pictures which includes Khalid Salahuddin.
The Muslim World League was recently declared a terror entity by the United States government and is part of the Al Haramain foundation which funds suicide bombers and Al Qaeda.
The Muslim World League
"In March 2002, a Treasury Department task force raided the northern Virginia offices of the Muslim World League and the League's subsidiary, the International Islamic Relief Organization, among other organizations with strong Saudi ties. The task force was searching for evidence of fundraising (or fund-laundering) on behalf of al-Qaeda, Hamas, and/or Palestinian Islamic Jihad". http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/watch/policywatch/policywatch2002/673.htm
An inspirational and insightful khutbah that deals with the unseen help of Allah. Brother Khalid Salahuddin conveys the message of persistence, trust in Allah, faith in His plan, and eventual triumph for the true believers.
In doing this, he emotionally relates a personal struggle about his experience in making the transformation from the Nation of Islam to the pure teachings of al-Islam. A heart-warming talk for anyone in need of motivation and a revived sense of hope.
All of our efforts... we know that in time Allah is going to turn this thing around. We know that, because we believe in the unseen."
"The protections come right away! You may not see it, I may not see it, but alhumdulillah, it is there! And that should be our attitude."
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Khalid Salahuddin appeared at the Miami for Peace Town Hall Forum on' Alternatives to Extremism' under the guise of the Deputy Director of the Port of Miami.
In 2002 Imam Khalid Salahuddin spoke about Islam at the invitation of the Islamic Society of the University of Miami where he was billed as "a leader if the Muslim Community".
"The Islamic Society of UM [ISUM] will hold a panel discussion featuring UM students as well as Muslim leaders from the community in order to answer questions and dispel misconceptions about the religion tomorrow",
"...The panel will feature two local Muslim leaders to represent the Miami community: Dr. Abdul Samra of the Miami Gardens Masjid and Imam Khalid Salahuddin of Masjid Al-Ansar. A Masjid is a Muslim place of worship..."
Each panel member will be given three minutes to discuss a topic relating to Islam or their experience as an American Muslim. Following that, the floor will be open for a question and answer session.
JAM & All An Organization of Jews and Muslims, Christians & Others 12865 W. Dixie Highway North Miami, Florida 33161 NEWS RELEASE
DATELINE: Sunday, June 27, 2004, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
EVENT: Public Forum - "Alternatives to Extremism: Join the Conversation"
VENUE: Julian & Ellen Knight Alumni Hall, Nova Southeastern University, East Campus, 3100 SW 9th Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
DIRECTIONS: I-95 To State Road 84 (Marina Mile Road) EAST to SW 9th Avenue. Turn right (south) onto SW 9th Ave. Nova Campus is on east side. Follow signs to Knight Alumni Hall.
CONTACTS: Irma Sulaiman (561) 865-2931[email protected] Safiya Deen (954) 600-6848 [email protected] Kathy Leonard (561) 289-4621k.leonard1@ att.net
COST: Admission Free of Charge
Town Meeting on June 27th Explores Alternatives to Extremism for Jews, Muslims, Christians & Others
(click for flyer) (Click for News release) June 10, 2004, Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- "Alternatives to Extremism: Join the Conversation" is the topic for a Sunday afternoon family get-together on June 27, 2004, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m at Nova Southeastern University, East Campus. Sponsored by JAM & All, an organization of Jews and Muslims, Christians and Others, the afternoon will feature a panel of outstanding community leaders who will focus on audience participation and concrete ways of achieving peace and social harmony. The event will close with refreshments and a social hour.
One of a series of JAM Town Hall Meetings, the afternoon is designed to provide an opportunity for open dialogue and social interaction among people from diverse groups who care about peace in our community and in the world. The public is invited to attend this gathering. Admission is FREE.
"We are hoping that these Town Hall Meetings will bring people together to discuss and think about what we can do to promote social and cultural harmony. Our goal is to create bridges that will establish genuine interest and connections between communities," says Ms. Irma Sulaiman, Vice President of CERWIS (Committee to Enhance the Role of Women in Islam), who will serve as panel moderator. "John F. Kennedy said that 'mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind.' This is JAM's olive branch to all communities," she continued.
Members of the panel will include Rabbi Allan Tuffs of Temple Beth-El in Hollywood, Khalid Salahuddin, Deputy Port Director of the Port of Miami-Dade, Robert Ingram, Member of the Dade County School Board, Dr. Ayesha Subhani, Emergency Room Physican at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Rabbi Jory Lang, Temple Beth Moshe, North Miami, and Robert Steinback of the Miami Herald.
A special feature of the meeting will be a brief presentation by JAM co-founder M. David Kamrat, now of Eugene, Oregon, on the creation of a JAM national organization and the founding of new JAM chapters in various U.S. cities.
The event will be held at in Knight Alumni Hall at Nova Southeastern University, East Campus at 3100 S.W. 9th Avenue, off State Road 84 east of I-95 in Ft. Lauderdale. For further information call Safiya Deen at (954) 600-6848, Irma Sulaiman (561) 865-2931 or Kathy Leonard at (561) 289-4621.
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAM & All was founded after 9/11 with a commitment to create and support peace between Jews and Muslims and people of all faiths through sustained dialogue, education, social events, understanding and mutual respect. To date JAM has held a series of events at mosques, synagogues and churches which have helped to build a firm foundation among participants. Picnics, shared holidays, ethnic food festivals, conferences, panel discussions, a women's group and a Festival for Peace have brought people together culturally and as friends.
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A South Florida interfaith organization born after the 9-11 terrorist attacks is going national, using its signature mix of food, fun and friendship to spread religious harmony.
Jews and Muslims, Christians and Others, known as JAM & All, has national headquarters in Oregon and a chapter in Miami, with plans to add at least two others by year's end, leaders said this week.
"We want to increase the critical mass of people who trust," said former South Floridian M. David Kamrat, a telecommunications businessman and a co-founder of the 3-year-old organization. "No wall is high enough to keep out hate. The only long-term solution is to work on people. If we can do away with hate, we'll have no reason to lock the front door."
Besides the chapters in Miami and Eugene, Ore., where Kamrat moved in April, he is starting groups in New York and Washington, D.C. A local JAM board member, North Miami lawyer Yigal Kahana, is also exploring interest for branches in the Mediterranean, especially Cyprus and Israel.
Each new chapter will likely use the same methods of the founding organization, said Kamrat, 52. Among them is lay leadership as well as clergy. Another is the emphasis on picnics, barbecues, home meetings and other leisure activities not usually associated with interfaith work.
"When people are with each other, they recognize the humanity in each other," Kamrat said. "Then when they do talk, they listen differently."
Aside from a college student who manages the Eugene office, JAM is still a volunteer operation on a shoestring budget of $2,500 per month. But Kamrat is applying for tax-exempt status from the federal government, which would allow the group to begin fund-raising appeals and fuel its expansion.
Locally, the organization will hold a public forum at 2 p.m. Sunday at the east campus of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. The event, "Alternatives to Extremism," will field a panel of leaders from several religions.
Although JAM has no formal membership rolls yet, it has about 300 on a mailing list and usually draws several hundred at its largest events every few months.
Kamrat hit on the JAM approach early after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists struck American targets in the name of Islam. Although he is a son of Holocaust survivors, the attack still didn't make him see Muslims as anti-Semitic.
"I found 9-11 crazy," he said. "It didn't line up with whom I knew. I had a lot of business relationships with Muslims. I saw them as people of honesty and integrity."
JAM has come a long way from 9-11. Members have helped start classes at the south campus of Broward Community College, bringing in Jewish and Muslim speakers on culture and law. The group sends representatives to numerous interfaith and interethnic community meetings. Kahana has taught seminars at two area mosques for JAM.
And up to 50 women meet monthly, a continuing series that Kamrat considers JAM's biggest success. Gathering at various homes, the women share food, hear speakers and discuss issues.
Irma Sulaiman, another South Florida board member, said she's heard questions ranging from "Why do Muslims hate Jews?" to "Why are Jews oppressing Palestinians? and "Is violence part of religion?"
"We talk, we get angry, we cry," she said. "We keep people safe, while letting them say their deepest concerns."
They also find things in common. Christians learn the connection between the Christian Holy Communion and the Seder, the ritual meal of Passover. They also hear that Jesus is revered as a prophet by Muslims.
JAM members visit one another's houses of worship, an experience that JAM board member Karen Bertocci found an eye-opener.
"When you go someplace you've never been, sometimes you have to face your fear," said Bertocci, who attends First United Methodist Church of Pompano Beach. "Now I find it easy to pray with Muslims. It hasn't changed my beliefs. But it's made my world bigger."
Pembroke Pines + Praying in synagogue is a common practice for Trudi DeGrazia of Sunrise and Margo Mintzer of Aventura.
But on Sunday, the two Temple Adath Or members participated in Muslim prayer for the first time during Festival For Peace at the Darul Uloom Islamic Institute in Pembroke Pines.
More than 200 adults and children took part in the free event, which brought Muslims and Jews together to share and enjoy their differences.
"I wanted to show the Muslims that I wanted to learn about what they do and be part of that," said Mintzer, 65. "Whenever I step into a holy place, a peace comes over me -- whether it's being in my temple, church or mosque, I feel at one with God."
DeGrazia said she enjoyed watching the expressions on the children's faces as they prayed.
"It gave me a sense of what they felt," said DeGrazia, who's in her 70s. "I bowed my head but didn't bring myself to bow down to the floor because I wanted to understand why before I did that."
The event was organized by Jews & Muslims & All, or JAM, a post-Sept. 11 brainchild of Moshe David Kamrat of Temple Adath Or in Fort Lauderdale.
"Today gave us a chance to bring an understanding of the human race and who we are," said Kamrat, JAM's co-founder. "Our only goal was bring people together, increase love and the spirit behind it. I think we did that."
Those at the event heard speakers, sang, provided input for a JAM Mideast peace proposal and signed up for a "peace tour" of Israel scheduled for the December holidays. Halaal, kosher and vegetarian foods from around the world were available at no charge for event-goers.
Other activities included a dunk tank, bounce house, face painting, children's arts and crafts, and an opportunity to create their own "posters for peace."
"Our mission was accomplished, and people came on their own," said Maulana Shafayat Mohamed, co-founder of JAM. "People said we couldn't get Jews and Muslims together, and we have been able to prove that we could."
Nicole T. Lesson can be reached at [email protected] or 954-385-7920.
Letter to Maulana Shafayat Mohammed, Imam of the Dar Ul Uloom Islamic Center , thanking him for his financing of the JAM brochure.
JEWS & MUSLIMS Brochure
Dear Maulana, On behalf of all the JAM members—and those who will become members because of the new brochure, I want to thank you again for donating the printing of the new brochure. It looks very good. The paper is nice and the insert card for name and address information works very well. Not only are we grateful to have the expense covered, but Shameek is such a delight to work with. He went out of his way to pick up the hard copy when the PDF file did not come through as expected. And he made sure to have the brochures all printed and folded in plenty of time ahead of the conference last Sunday. The conference went well and the feeling of the group (350 at the prime time) was good. The speakers were good, the panel went fine, and Javed and Jane did a good job in speaking about JAM. No real verbal hassles. You would've been proud of the event. Thanks again for your continuing guidance, Maulana. Sincerely, Kathy L.