Protect Our Mosque & School from Seizure by the Government

Honorable Preet Bharara
United States Attorney for Southern District of New York
13711 90th Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11435

RE: Alavi Foundation of New York

Honorable Preet Bharara:

The Islamic Education Center (IEC) of Maryland is the largest Islamic center in Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area providing religious, cultural and community services to hundreds of thousands of residents of this area over the past 30 years. Many American Muslims as well as first, second and third generation immigrants from Arab countries, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have been members of our Center and enjoyed a variety of services that our Center has offered. We believe any adverse outcome of the legal case against Alavi Foundation, Inc. would most certainly negatively affect the lives of thousands of families and their children in our area who depend on the services of IEC for themselves and their future generations.

Thousands of students have graduated from our full-time, Pre-K to 12th grade, Muslim Community School (MCS), moving on to higher education and professional life, leading successful lives as responsible citizens. Our school at IEC’s current location, 7917 Montrose Rd. Potomac MD 20854, a property that is owned by Alavi Foundation, was established in 1985. MCS is approved by Department of Education of the State of Maryland and closely follows the curriculum of the Montgomery County Public School. Many of our graduates have received advance degrees and are successfully working as responsible citizens.

For the last 20 years our Saturday Farsi Language School and our Sunday School have been catering to the needs of American and 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants in our area. By learning Farsi language, they were able to tap into the richness of Persian culture and blend it with all the positives of their American experience. Also, the Sunday School teaches Arabic and Islamic studies to predominantly English speaking students.

For the past several years our Ibn Sina Health Clinic, in cooperation with MobilMed Health Care and the local government, has been serving underprivileged and uninsured residents of the Montgomery County. Our volunteer doctors have treated over 10,000 patients free of charge. These services are offered to all residents regardless of their national origin or religious affiliations.

IEC has been an active participant in the Inter-Faith Abrahimic Round Table sponsored by the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. These meetings are attended by scholars and personalities of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, promoting peace, harmony, unity and understanding among the followers of the three major religions of the world.

All these accomplishments were made possible for the last three generations, through the understanding and generosity of the Alavi Foundation, granting us the use of this property in Potomac Maryland. Furthermore, Alavi Foundation, has provided financial support to IEC, MCS and Farsi School to offset their utilities, maintenance and other expenses related to everyday operations; making it possible to function and provide services at the level we have in over 30 years.

On behalf of this community, we express our deepest gratitude to Alavi Foundation for their years of support to IEC and to so many other institutions throughout the country who so desperately depend on Foundation’s generosity to continue their services. We as the members of this community and citizens/resident of this country are filing this petition to express our concern for the Alavi Foundation, appealing to the Government of the United States and all relevant government agencies/courts to consider the plea of our community and save our property.