Islamic Free Market Institute
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Free Market Institute (also known simply as the Islamic Institute) is a Muslim outreach group founded by Khaled Saffuri
and Grover Norquist
in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.
donated at least $35,000, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought
contributed $11,000. Both organizations were alleged to be part of the so-called SAAR Network
of interrelated business and non-profit entities with ties to sources of terrorism financing, and were among the subjects of a March 20, 2002 raid conducted led the U.S. Custom Service
under the auspices of Operation Green Quest
.
The Operation Green Quest raids led to the convictions of two people, including Abdurahman Alamoudi, who worked for the SAAR Foundation. Alamoudi admitted that he plotted with Libya to assassinate the Saudi ruler and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.
Khaled Saffuri
Khaled Saffuri is an Arab-American political activist of Palestinian origin, and the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute.- Background :...
and Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.
Synopsis
The Safa TrustSAAR Foundation
The SAAR Foundation was a flagship corporation representing charities, think tanks, and business entities named after its founder, Saudi patriarch Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi. The SAAR Foundation achieved prominence as the key subject of a March 20, 2002 raid by federal agents, as a part of...
donated at least $35,000, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought
International Institute of Islamic Thought
The International Institute of Islamic Thought is a privately held non-profit organization.The Institution is concerned with issues of Islamic thought...
contributed $11,000. Both organizations were alleged to be part of the so-called SAAR Network
SAAR Foundation
The SAAR Foundation was a flagship corporation representing charities, think tanks, and business entities named after its founder, Saudi patriarch Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi. The SAAR Foundation achieved prominence as the key subject of a March 20, 2002 raid by federal agents, as a part of...
of interrelated business and non-profit entities with ties to sources of terrorism financing, and were among the subjects of a March 20, 2002 raid conducted led the U.S. Custom Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
under the auspices of Operation Green Quest
Operation Green Quest
Operation Green Quest was a United States Customs Service-sponsored interagency investigative unit formed in October 2001 after the September 11 attacks, and concerned with the surveillance and interdiction of terrorist financing sources...
.
The Operation Green Quest raids led to the convictions of two people, including Abdurahman Alamoudi, who worked for the SAAR Foundation. Alamoudi admitted that he plotted with Libya to assassinate the Saudi ruler and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.
Notable personnel
- Talat M. OthmanTalat M. OthmanTalat M. Othman is a Palestinian-American businessman, investor, and Republican fundraiser. On July 31, 2000, he opened the Republican National Convention session with a dua'a, or Muslim benediction, marking the first time a Muslim had addressed a major US political gathering. Governor Jim Edgar...
, board member. - Grover NorquistGrover NorquistGrover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
, chairman emeritus.