Masjed As-Saber
Not to be confused with The Islamic Center of Portland (ICOP) based in Beaverton, Oregon (nonprofit)
Islamic Center of Portland – Masjed As-Saber, also known as Masjed As-Saber, is a mosque located in Portland, Oregon. According to a report by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), the former imam of the organization, Muhammad Sheik Abdirahman Kariye, was accused of allegedly having ties to radical Islamist terrorism, including associations with Islamic fighters who travelled to Afghanistan to assist the Taliban after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. 1 2
Contents
Despite reporting semi-annual operating expenses of only $25,914.84, Masjed As-Saber reportedly distributed over $263,000 in COVID-19 related grants on behalf of the City of Portland and the Oregon Health Authority between August and December 2020. 3
Controversy
Allegations of Extremist Connections
According to a report by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), since the mid-1990s, Masjed As-Saber has been linked to individuals connected with radical Islamist terrorism. IPT alleges the mosque’s former imam, Muhammad Sheik Abdirahman Kariye, had his assets frozen in December 2001 following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in response to allegations that Kariye was sending money to Al-Qaeda. The IPT report also claimed that Kariye was associated with the Portland Seven radical group, with at least two members of the mosque alleged to have aided Taliban forces in attacking U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. IPT also reported that a witness claimed Karyie provided $2,000 to fighters who travelled to Afghanistan and that the money provided was acquired from members of Masjed As-Saber. 2
According to IPT, a worshiper at Masjed As-Saber, Ali Khaled Steitiye, was arrested on October 24, 2001, on federal gun charges. He was later convicted after federal agents investigated his home where they found over $20,000 in cash, ammunition, firearms, and a calendar with September 11, 2001 circled in red ink. In 2004, Steitiye pled guilty to illegal possession of a machine gun. 2
Financials
According to 2020 financial records, Masjed As-Saber reported total revenue of $34,658 and total expenditures of $25,915. Roughly $24,043 of the revenue was reported as online donations. Roughly $12,916 of expenditures were spent on payroll. The Mosque also claimed to have spent $263,340 outside of its organization’s profit and loss statement, including providing $72,090 in internet assistance cards with grants provided by the city of Portland, Oregon, as well as providing $38,625 in lost wage assistance, $52,275 in rent assistance, $38,016 in payroll reimbursements, and $21,594 in grocery assistance with grants provided by the Oregon Health Authority. 4 5