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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Islamic Center of Boca Raton hosted fundraiser for Al Qaeda charity Life for Relief and Development in 2005

Islamic Center of Boca Raton hosted fundraiser for Al Qaeda charity Life for Relief and Development in 2005

September 22, 2006

MIM: The homes of several members of the board of directors of Life and Development was raided by the FBI and JTTF yesterday. According to newspaper reports:

Federal agents investigating the Muslim charity Life for Relief and Development seized more than $134,000 in cash from the Ann Arbor home of Mujahid Al-Fayadh, a board member and founder of the organization, newly filed federal court records showed Thursday.

Agents also seized Iraqi military decorations, a computer, photographs, videotapes and fundraising brochures in the Monday raid on the home of Al-Fayadh, who is also the imam and project manager of the Hidaya Muslim Community Association in Ann Arbor.

The seized cash included $76,568 found in a Meijer shopping bag, according to court filings.

Mohammed Alomari, a spokesman for Life for Relief, said Al-Fayadh is a fundraiser for both Life for Relief and the Ann Arbor mosque. That is likely the reason he had a large amount of cash in his home, Alomari said.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060922/METRO/609220370/1003

http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/325

An advertisement for a Life for Relief and Development fundraiser was advertised on the website of the Young Muslims (the Al Muhajiroun/Al Qaeda) youth group, which is under the aegis of the Muslim American Society, and the Islamic Circle of North America ,should be enough proof to show that the 'charity' has militant Islamist affiliations. (link to page above)

The speakers list at the event, which included the Council on American Islamic Relations Ghazi Kankan. known for a rally speach at which he proferred "greetings from the Muhajadeen at CAIR" and Zaid Shakir, an ICNA/MAS youth activities coordinator , who condemned the convictions of the Virginia Jihad paintball group, speaks volumes about Life for Relief and Development's Islamist agenda .

LFRD's president Khalil Jassemm, who spoke at the event, and is a featured speaker at numerous fundraisers throught the country, (see listings below), was also a speaker at the recent fundraiser of the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, whose Imam, Ibrahim Dremali, was labelled an "Islamic extremist" by counter terrorism expert Steven Emerson.

The fact that Life for Relief and Development is being permitted to bring"aid" to Fallujah is something which needs to be reviewed by law enforcement and a Senate committee immediately. The bizarre appointment of Al Jumaily, as Iraqi ambassador to Japan, is also a worrying development .One wonders how much his experience as a jet propulsion engineer at NASA and his work on several space projects for the agency further qualifies him for Iraqi diplomatic status in addition to his credentials as a Saddam loyalist.

The state of Missouri has proven itself to be a hotbed of Al Qaeda and Al Muhajrioun activity. In 1999 Kamran Bokhari, the spokesman for Al Muhajiroun was a co founder of the Saudi/ Al Haramain/ funded Islamic Center of Springfield, which was closed by the US Treasury Department last year . The center had gotten $470,000 from Soliman Albuthe, who is under investigation for connections to terrorism financing.

Last month the Islamic American/African Relief agency was raided by the FBI . Zayid Khaleel, the terrorist who provided cell phones to Bin Laden with which he ordered the bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Narobi, was a student at the University of Columbus, Missouri, a member of the Muslim Student Association, and a fund raiser for the IARA.

Life for Relief and Developments active participation in Iraqi rallies which compared US sanctions to the bombings in Hiroshima are further proof that their agenda is political and antithetical to American interests. Indeed the LRD's aid to Fallujah, where American soldiers found medical supplies in terrorists hideouts, could be proof that their aid is being used against American troops in Iraq.

This account is one of several recent reports of medical supplies found in terrorist strongholds which described Zarqawi's HQ as " a one stop shop for terrorists".

"In the house, the soldiers found letters reportedly written by Zarqawi to his lieutenants, medical supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development and boxes of ammunition from the Chinese and Jordanian armies.

Nearby were medical supplies from the International Red Cross." http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A59519-2004Nov18?language=printer

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29, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Kaufman ([email protected])

AMERICAN ISLAMIST CHARITY RAIDED IN IRAQ

PRESIDENT OF CHARITY HOSTED AT FUNDRAISER FOR BOCA MOSQUE LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS AFTER RAID

(Coral Springs, FL) Saturday night, June 25th, the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR) hosted Dr. Abdel Rahim Al-Ansari as a guest speaker for its nighttime prayer session or Maghrib. Al-Ansari had previously been affiliated with the International Relief Association (IRA), a group that had been cited for bringing the self-proclaimed leader of the Jordanian terror group, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), to speak at its 1996 fundraiser.

[In March of 1999, IRA changed its name to Life for Relief and Development or LIFE.]

In October of 2004, the President of LIFE, Dr. Khalil Jassemm, was a featured speaker at an event put on by ICBR to raise money for a new Boca mosque and Islamic school. This event took place less than five months after the Baghdad office of LIFE was raided in June of 2004 by U.S. troops, having been suspected of funding Iraqi uprisings. During the raid, computers and documents were confiscated.

Joe Kaufman, the Chairman of Americans Against Hate, stated, "Time and time again, the Islamic Center of Boca Raton has sought to bring individuals associated with radical Islamist organizations to speak in front of its congregation. This includes Rafil Dhafir, a man that was convicted of raising millions of dollars in a conspiracy to unlawfully send money into Iraq through an Iraqi children's charitable front called 'Help the Needy.' When will the city of Boca Raton take the necessary actions to 1. stop the new mosque from being built and 2. shut down ICBR altogether? We cannot afford to be politically correct, during this war on terrorism."

Further information about LIFE can be found on the website of Militant Islam Monitor, at www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/325.

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

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http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_Letter_from_CEO

Dear Respective Donor,

On behalf of LIFE's Board of Director's, employees, and beneficiaries, allow me to express a genuine gratitude to each Donor, without whom this organization would not function nor deliver the much needed assistance for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Due to worsening conditions in a number of areas, we have significantly expanded our outreach and contribution to increasing numbers of war-torn and disaster areas and established additional offices globally. Consequently, the statistics on the number of lives LIFE affected in 2005 has climbed sharply. With the occurrence and impact of such tragedies as the Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake that struck Pakistan, 2005 has proven to be especially harsh. LIFE managed to collect over $22 million in various forms of donations and spent over $28 million to aid the countless injured, homeless, and destitute. It is worthy to note that this amount has more than doubled since 2004.

Living in a dynamic world and adjusting to its fast-paced and often cruel demands is critical to survival. Our most immediate strategic planning involves focusing on and planning for, the establishment of a more concrete foundation from which to create human development programming. This will inevitably result in educating and instilling in others the capacity to independently arrive at self-sufficiency, along with assisting efforts that lead to the construction of stronger infrastructures for areas most in need while building orphanages to assist the most helpless of children. This vision requires motivated and stable planning efforts. A number of mature Donors and charitable entities possess the awareness that emergency relief is only the beginning of rebuilding and definitely not the end. We hope that our highly committed Donors will look deep in their hearts, and in addition to the bountiful giving for emergency response, make the commitment to support the self-sufficiency of human beings, as the only true and effective means of poverty reduction.

We at LIFE fully understand the global impact of 9/11. To this day 9/11's consequences, are directly or indirectly, felt by all; charity sectors, particularly Muslim charities, have been under intense pressure. This simultaneously creates a challenge and opportunity that we at LIFE are determined to pro-actively handle as an asset and not a liability. We would like to assure our Donors that the United States has not become anti-charity, but without a doubt, continues to be the most generous country in the world. Our Donors must also understand that they can and should continue to do their part in goodness. However, I urge them to contribute to charities that are legally registered, routinely hold themselves accountable, and practice wise and sound methods for their expenditures as they manage their incoming and outgoing resources.

LIFE is a non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and has worked with many different UN-affiliated NGO's such as UNICEF, The Church of Latter Day Saints, Brother's Brother, the Wheelchair Foundation, Veterans for Peace, AmeriCares, and many more.

Last but not least, I thank LIFE staff world-wide who on a daily basis put their lives on the line, and see to it that shipments of food, medicine, and supplies, paid for by our Donors, safely and effectively meet the desperate need of so many. Thank you again for your cooperation, dedication and generous hearts. With your continued labor and devotion to the alleviation of human suffering, we can and will continue to present options and hope to those who world-wide live without either.

Best regards,

Dr. Khalil Jassemm
Chief Executive Officer
Life for Relief & Development
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Board of Directors

http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_Board

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http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_Time_Capsule

2006: UN awards LIFE the Habitat Grant (LIFE, through its Habitat Grant from the UN, was able to fund essential community development projects in Iraq)

2005: UAE Office Opens; Nazareth Office Opens; Partnership with IHH begins (IHH is the International Humanitarian Hilfsorganization based in Germany and provides emergency relief around the world)

2004: Jordan Office Opens

2003: Joined the Interaction Committee; Syria Office Opens; Partnership with UNICEF begins (UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund created to care for and nurture a better future for children across the world); Partnership with Qatar Charity begins

2002: Afghanistan Operations Begin (Orphan sponsorship begins)

2001: Pakistan Office Opens (Office opens as a result of the increasing number of Afghani refugees attempting to escape Afghanistan's many hardships)

1999: Consultative status with UN (United Nations offers Grant Appeal to make LIFE a part of the International NGO Community)

1998: Name Changed to LIFE (was International Relief Association); Registered with USAID (USAID is the United States Agency for International Development improving life in countries around the world); Partnership with Veterans for Peace begins; Sierra Leone Office Opens (Office opens as a result of the increasing number of war-orphans and families in need)

1997: Iraq Office Opens (Official Iraq office opens in Baghdad)

1996: Went International; Partnership with AmeriCares begins (began helping those in Lebanon and Sierra Leone)

1994: Expanded to Michigan (LIFE moves Headquarters from California to Southfield, Michigan)

1993: Advanced ruling Federal Tax Exempt (LIFE is granted a tax exemption ID from the federal government)

1992: Founded in California (founded in December as a response to the Iraq war)

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http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_About_Us

LIFE was founded in 1992 by concerned Iraqi-American professionals in response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Iraq as a result of the 1991 Gulf War conflict. Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) has since become a 501(c)(3) non-profit/non-governmental organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and registered with United States Agency for International Development (USAID). LIFE dedicates itself to alleviating human suffering around the world regardless of race, color, religion, or cultural background. Our global organization strives to offer a variety of humanitarian, health, and educational services and programs to aid refugees and victims of natural or man-made disasters.

LIFE has established partnerships with many international NGO's including UNDP, UNICEF, Brother's Brother Foundation, Nour International Relief Aid, AmeriCares, Veterans For Peace, American Friend's Service Committee (AFSC), Care International, and the Wheelchair Foundation. In March of 2003, LIFE became a member of the American Council for Voluntary International Action (InterAction), which is the largest alliance of American international NGO's.

Since its founding, LIFE has provided over $50 million in humanitarian assistance to more than 13 million beneficiaries worldwide. Our programs started with providing basic emergency assistance to victims of manmade and natural disasters, then expanded to cover more areas including health, education, social, human and community development, and water & sanitation projects.

LIFE looks forward to expanding its partnerships with other NGOs in the effort to provide more efficient and sustainable human development programs. LIFE pledges that it will exert every possible effort to preserve its donors' trust and to ensure the delivery of donations to those who are in need. As always, your donations are tax deductible.

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http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_Credentials

Life for Relief and Development is a 501(c)(3) non-government organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Below you will find just some of the various documents issued by state, federal, and international authorities that have invested us with the legal authority to work as a globally recognized relief organization.

US Government Credentials

Michigan Department of Attorney General
License to solicit charitable contributions

US Department of Treasury
Internal revenue service, exemption from federal taxes
Permission to work in Iraq

US Agency of International Development
Certification of Registration

International Credentials

United Nations
Special Consultative status

Government of Iraq - Ministry of Planning & Development Cooperation
Registration Certification

Government of Afghanistan - Ministary of Planning
Registration Certification

Government of Pakistan - National Council of Social Welfare
Grant of Allowed to Work Status
Grant of Extension in Allowed to Work Status

Government of Jordan - Ministry of Social Development
Cooperation Agreement
Registration Certification

Government of Dubai
Trading License

Israel & Palestinian Territories
Registration Certification

http://www.lifeusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwa_Partners

LIFE would like to recognize and thank the selfless efforts of the well-known local and international organizations, without which the implementation of our relief and development projects throughout the world would not be possible. By working independently and in coordination with these organizations we are able to provide food, shelter, safety, and care to those in need. Some of these organizations are:

If your organization works with LIFE and is not listed here, please contact

The Islamic Center of Boca Raton hosted Khalil Jaseemm at at a 2005 fundraiser. One of the speaker was Hamdy Salama who was banned from entering the United States this week and sent back to Egypt together with three other 'Sheik scholars'.

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