Case against Iranian centre threatens mosques

New York: The organisation that federal investigators say is a front for the Iranian government has spent millions of dollars over the years on philanthropy: Buying property for four US mosques, funding religious schools and language classes, and translating books on Islam.

The move to seize assets held by the New York-based Alavi Foundation will cripple the charity's work and put the government in the awkward position of potentially shutting down the houses of worship, which occupy buildings and land that Alavi owns.

There are no claims of wrongdoing at the mosques. And they will stay open as prosecutors try to take hold of the hundreds of millions of dollars in Alavi money and property. The mosques were not mentioned by name, only listed by street address.

Still, the mosques and schools could be collateral damage in the case. On Friday, the government moved to cut off Alavi's direct access to its money, according to court records.

Sabukta Chowdhury, a parent at the Razi School, which is part of the Imam Ali Mosque in Queens, a borough of New York City, said her children would be upset if the school closed.

"The school is very good," Sabukta said outside the building on Friday. "My children [are] very sad. They do not want to go to another school."

Abdul Aziz Sachedina, a University of Virginia professor and expert on Shiite Islam, predicted the four Islamic centres in New York, Maryland, Texas and California would shut down without Alavi money.

Scarce funding

Alavi was one of the few central sources of funding for American Shiite communities, which have far fewer resources than US Sunnis. Often, the Islamic day schools the centres run are among the few available.

"Muslims aren't used to membership fees," said Sachedina. "In Muslim countries, most services are free, provided by rich people. Here, for the first time, Muslims are required to pay donations. It's very hard to collect money from the people."

The Islamic Education Center of Potomac, Maryland, reported on its website that it already had a budget deficit of more than $60,000 (Dh220,000) as of June.

As US marshals posted forfeiture notices on the buildings, mosque leaders stressed that they are just the occupants of the properties.

However, the Islamic centres and schools are deeply dependent on Alavi funding, according to tax records and the mosques' own websites. That makes them more vulnerable if the foundation closes.