The Mosque Foundation

While the Foundation’s work principally involves providing ordinary Islamic religious services, it has been accused of significant ties to at least two designated terrorist organizations.  ^{2 3}

History

The Mosque Foundation was founded in 1954 to serve immigrant Muslim families in the Chicago area. However, it did not have a permanent location until the mid-1960s, after which it moved several times as its popularity grew. Its services grew significantly late in the 20^th century and in the early 21^st century to include a school, a youth center, and a food pantry. It also became the center of a Muslim community that included homes, schools, and an Islamic cemetery. ¹

In 2005, the Foundation’s donation of $10,000 to Islamic American Relief Agency, a Muslim group under federal investigation. Mosque Foundation’s bank at the time closed its accounts. ⁴

In 2015, a man made a bomb threat against the mosque that led to the mosque seeking additional security and the person making the threats turning himself in to police. No charges were filed against the man, who claimed he never intended to follow through on the threat. ⁵

In 2023, the Foundation raised $700,000 for earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey.  ⁶

A man described as afraid of Muslim attacks on America used a knife to attack a woman and her six-year-old son after the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. The boy died in the assault, which led to condemnations from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), and President Joe Biden. A federal hate crime investigation was announced against the accused killer, who was arrested. The boy’s funeral service was held at the Foundation’s mosque. ⁷

Advocacy

In 2014, the Mosque Foundation signed a letter urging Boko Haram, an extremist Islamist group operating in Nigeria and West Africa, to release several dozen local schoolgirls it had kidnapped that same year. ⁸

In 2016, leaders claimed to stay out of public politics, with the Daily Beast reporting it due to avoid disrespecting a Muslim religious event that happened at the same time. Foundation officials did say they would meet with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and other politicians privately, and a campaign official met with them. ⁹

In a newsletter published by the Foundation, a then-University of Chicago divinity student criticized the Trump administration’s decision to formally acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as historically inaccurate and dangerous. ¹⁰

The group held a rally in 2020 to oppose alleged racial discrimination by police against Black people in America and worldwide. ¹¹

In 2021, the Foundation signed a letter praising the Biden administration for revoking “Muslim ban” restrictions on entry to the United States by nationals of a list of mostly Muslim-majority states determined to sponsor terrorism implemented by the Trump administration. Signed by several other Muslim groups, the letter urged the administration to make changes to both policy and personnel to support American Muslims and Muslim immigrants. ¹²

The Foundation endorsed a pro-Palestinian march in Washington, D.C. that called Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks a “genocide.” ¹³

Alleged Terrorist Ties

The Mosque Foundation has been accused of ties to terrorist groups, with most attention going to principal imam Jamal Said’s alleged involvement with the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) through speaking at these groups’ events. ^{14 15 16}

IAP and HLF were both found to be involved with terrorism, with HLF convicted under federal law for providing material support to Hamas. ¹⁷ IAP ostensibly went out of business in 2004 after the parents of a 17-year-old murdered by Hamas successfully sued it for $156 million for its relationship with Hamas. Those parents have since accused IAP of continuing to operate under the AMP umbrella. ¹⁸

HLF closed its doors after a federal judge sentenced it to major fines and several of its leaders to prison in 2009. The group had been designated a terrorist group in 2001. ¹⁷

Said and another Foundation leader, Kifah Mustapha, were designated as unindicted co-conspirators in a federal case against Holy Land Foundation. Said was included because of his fundraising for HLF. ^{19 20} Said continues to be a prolific fundraiser, including for AMP. ²¹

Mustapha worked for HLF before its closure. He was never prosecuted by the federal government. ^{22 23}

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) co-founder and former IAP president Rafeeq Jabar was a board member of the Mosque Foundation. ^{24 25} He is a major supporter of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MN). ²⁶

Leadership

Raed Abysuwwa is president and board chairman of the Mosque Foundation. In 2020, he spoke at a rally to support Black Lives Matter, saying that Muslims had a role to play in changing society. He argued, “It doesn’t matter your race, ethnicity, or gender. What matters is what you live for, what you stand for in history, and your actions.” ²⁷

Jamal Said is principal imam and a director of the Mosque Foundation. He has worked in that role since 1985. He grew up in the West Bank and has said that he was inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood as a child. In 1993, fellow leader Muhammad Salah was arrested in the Gaza Strip on charges of financing Hamas military operations, and jailed in Israel for five years. During questioning, Salah said that Said was responsible for recruiting him into the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2004, the Chicago Tribune reported that Said led a fundraiser for Sami Al-Arian, a Palestinian activist accused by the U.S. government of aiding terrorists. The same report noted that the theocratic government of Saudi Arabia paid part of Said’s salary at the mosque. ²⁸