This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/4755

Florida Professor And Mosque Leader Pleads Guilty To Tallahassee Attacks

January 28, 2011

http://www.americansagainsthate.org/press_releases/PR-Bassem_Alhalabi_4.php

January 28, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Kaufman ([email protected])

FLORIDA PROFESSOR AND MOSQUE LEADER PLEADS GUILTY TO TALLAHASSEE ATTACKS

ANTI-HATE GROUP, WHOSE CHAIRMAN WAS VICTIM OF ATTACKER, SAYS BASSEM ALHALABI UNFIT TO TEACH FAU'S STUDENTS

(Tallahassee, FL) In a plea agreement filed earlier this week, Bassem Abdo Alhalabi, an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a director for the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR), admitted guilt to two separate attacks taking place in Tallahassee, Florida on March 11, 2010 (See ‘Assault on Muslim Capitol Day').

Alhalabi, a former research assistant for Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist Sami al-Arian, had been charged with one count of battery on Americans Against Hate Chairman Joe Kaufman and one count of assault on cameraman J. Mark Campbell. The attacks took place approximately one hour from each other.

The first attack was on Kaufman, after he was coming out of a meeting with the Florida Attorney General's office, in the Rotunda (lobby) of the State Capitol Building.

At the time of the attacks, Alhalabi was participating in an event sponsored by United Voices for America (UVA), a political lobby group of CAIR-Florida, headed by former Executive Director of CAIR-Tampa Ahmed Bedier.

A warrant was issued for Alhalabi's arrest on March 19th. He was taken into custody on March 22nd and released from prison on March 23rd.

According to the plea agreement, which was secured by Leon County Assistant State Attorney Tiffany Cruz, Alhalabi will have to perform community service and take an anger management course.

This was not the first time Alhalabi became in trouble with the law. In June 2003, the U.S. Department of Commerce found Alhalabi guilty of illegally shipping a $13,000 military-grade thermal imaging device to Syria, a state sponsor of terrorism.

Joe Kaufman stated, "With everything that Bassem Alhalabi has been involved in – from his association with terrorists to his illegal exporting activities and now to his physically violent confrontations – it is high time that FAU part ways with this radical. Alhalabi is a danger to others and should not be trusted around any university's students."

Americans Against Hate (AAH) urges all those concerned to immediately contact Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Click here for contact details.

Joe Kaufman is available for interview. E-mail: [email protected].

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/4755