Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation (MAS Freedom)

MAS is often identified as the United States chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, a highly influential worldwide Islamist fundamentalist organization. According to some former members, the organization works towards establishing Islamic rule by electing Muslims and proselytizing Americans. ^{3 4}

Alleged Muslim Brotherhood Ties

The Muslim Brotherhood is an international activist and militant organization which primarily operates in the Middle East and North Africa. Originally founded in 1928, it pushes for Islamic law as the basis for civil governance. ⁵

In the early 2000s, reports emerged which indicate that the Muslim American Society is a de facto chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, with members seeking to increase the influence of Islamist ideology on the Muslim-American community and the U.S. overall. ^{6 4}

MAS claims to have “no affiliation” with the organization while also acknowledging that “many” Brotherhood activists migrated to America and were involved in founding numerous new Islamic groups. The MAS also states that its supporters must not “demonize” the Muslim Brotherhood, which it describes as “a very broad, diverse movement.” ⁷

Initiatives

In 2003, the then-leader of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Mahdi Bray sought to redeem Islam from Osama bin Laden and post-9/11 backlash by hosting seminars for Muslims around the country, teaching them how to portray a positive image of themselves and their faith through media-relations skills. ⁸

In June 2004, following the assassination of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by Israeli security forces, MAS Freedom issued a statement condemning the move and blaming the alleged “unlawful Israeli occupation” for unrest in the region. Executive director Mahdi Bray claimed that Israel had violated international law by killing Yassinand that the attack would “plunge the region into further turmoil.” ⁹

In February 2006, after a number of newspapers in Europe published satirical images of Islam’s founder Muhammad, prompting violent riots among Muslim populations in European cities and in the Middle East, MAS Freedom director Mahdi Bray stated that he and his organization “condemn the cartoons” but also claimed that they “condemn the violence” as well. While Bray acknowledged that “it’s a free press,” he indicated that the MAS Freedom had been contacting ambassadors of European countries and Australia. ¹⁰

Later in 2006, MAS Freedom rallied D.C. area Muslims to join the May 1 Coalition, a movement focused on citizenship for illegal immigrants, in a D.C. rally and lobbying day. ¹¹ Mahdi Bray spoke at the event, which was held on the National Mall. This rally was one of dozens that took place that spring to advocate for granting citizenship to illegal immigrants. ¹²

In November 2009, the MAS Freedom protested the federal government’s move to seize assets belonging to several mosques and a Muslim foundation with apparent links to the government of Iran. In a statement, the fund’s executive director Mahdi Bray portrayed the decision as a “seizure” of a worship space and claimed that the government was using the mosques as “pawns in geopolitical struggles.” At the same time, an investigation by CNN found that at least one of the mosques appeared to be operating normally despite the alleged seizure. ¹³

Decline and Closure

In September 2006, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundationdirector Mahdi Bray indicated that he, along with other Islamic nonprofit group heads, was struggling to raise money for the fund, estimating that he and his colleagues had seen as much as 40 percent fewer donations over the previous several years. He also noted that more donors were making pledges rather than contributions and switching to monthly donations rather than larger one-time grants. Concluding that “the state of Islamic charities is abysmal,” Bray attributed the decline of support in part to the George W. Bush administration and its targeting of Muslim nonprofits with alleged ties to overseas extremist groups such as the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. However, he also acknowledged the apparent “donor fatigue” which the Islamic philanthropic community had been reaching even before the fallout from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the War on Terror. ¹⁴

In June 2011, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation announced that it would be ceasing operations due a lack of funding and resources. In its announcement, the fund suggested that its parent organization, Muslim American Society, would be taking over some of its functions. ^{1 15} MAS Freedom executive director Mahdi Gray also reportedly had health problems in late 2010. ¹⁶

Controversies

In September 2006, the Jewish Daily Forward reported that the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation had claimed it would honor then-U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) without his approval. According to the Forward, a spokesperson for Conyers denied that the congressman would be attending the MAS Freedom event where was supposed to be an honoree, and that he had not given the fund permission to use his name. The original MAS Freedom press release had also incorrectly referred to the Michigan Representative as “North Carolina Democrat Congressman John Conyers.” ¹⁷

Leadership

Mahdi Bray was the executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom Fund. A former Baptist, he converted to Islam in the 1970s. Bray has also worked for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, where he was the political director, and the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, which he ran as president. Bray has participated in pro-Islamist rallies where his fellow speakers praised militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. He has also frequently issued statements defending and endorsing prominent Muslims convicted of supporting terrorist groups. ¹⁶