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The American Islamic Center of Florida (AICF) in Pompano Beach has long served as a hub for the local Muslim Shiite community, but its leadership raises serious concerns due to potential ties to Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. By examining the histories of its successive imams, Mohamad Al-Halabi and Ahmad Ali, we see a troubling pattern of support for Hezbollah’s extremist ideology. This issue is especially critical amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the Middle East.

Context of the Middle East Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has sharply intensified following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. As Israel countered with significant military operations in Gaza, Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon, opened a second front by targeting Israel’s northern border. The U.S. has responded by deploying two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region and moving additional military assets to deter further escalation.

Mohamad Al-Halabi and Hezbollah Affiliations

Mohamad Al-Ali Al-Halabi, the former imam of AICF, now serves as a research scholar and instructor at the Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya (I.M.A.M.) in Dearborn, Michigan. His responsibilities include overseeing I.M.A.M.’s Religious Affairs Office. Despite his current role, Al-Halabi’s past social media activity sheds light on his fundamentalist leanings.

In June 2010, Al-Halabi posted on Facebook about his experiences in Lebanon following Israel’s invasion of Beirut in 1982. He recounted finding himself at a recruitment center dedicated to training individuals to “defend Lebanon” against “the Israeli enemy.” Al-Halabi vividly described the determination of those present: “We want to fight, and we want to liberate Lebanon and Palestine. We want to die with dignity.”

The recruitment office he referenced aligns with those established by Iran to form Hezbollah, a Shiite terrorist group created to violently confront Israeli forces in Lebanon.

The timeline is significant. Following Israel’s siege of Beirut in 1982, Iran funded Hezbollah recruitment centers, attracting individuals committed to guerilla warfare. In October 1983, just over a year after the siege, Hezbollah orchestrated the bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 American servicemen. Al-Halabi’s account places him at the center of Hezbollah’s early formation period.

Adding to these concerns, this past September, Al-Halabi posted a memorial for deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on his Facebook page, which referred to the terrorist icon as “a star of his brothers in the honorable Lebanese resistance.” It was not the first time he posted praise for Nasrallah, a figure synonymous with Hezbollah’s anti-Israel and anti-American activities.

Ahmad Ali: A Predecessor with Similar Ties

AICF today is run by al-Halabi’s successor, Ahmad Ali. Ali’s ideological affiliations also appear to align with Hezbollah’s extremist agenda. He is a loyal admirer of the late Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, a spiritual leader associated with Hezbollah and a vocal supporter of suicide bombings. Fadlallah’s teachings have been instrumental in shaping Hezbollah’s militant ideology, and Ali’s social media is saturated with postings about Fadlallah.

One post from Ali was Fadlallah’s April 2006 “Appeal to the Mujahideen in the Resistance” and, much like Al-Halabi’s memorial to Nasrallah, one post was a memorial to Fadlallah.

In June 2020, Ali posted a graphic on Facebook declaring, “AMERICA IS STOLEN LAND.” Such statements reflect a broader pattern of anti-American rhetoric associated with individuals linked to AICF. While such sentiments are not unique to Ali, they underscore a troubling narrative emanating from a center claiming to represent American Muslims.

A Pattern of Ideological Support

The leadership history of AICF illustrates a recurring pattern of sympathy for Hezbollah and its militant ideology. Both Al-Halabi and Ali have used public platforms to express views that are hostile and antithetical to American values. This continuity suggests that AICF may serve as a conduit for the dissemination of extremist ideologies and recruitment, under the guise of religion and religious expression.

Implications in the Current Conflict

As Hezbollah increases its military aggression against Israel, the influence of centers like AICF within the U.S. becomes increasingly significant. Such polarizing entities may embolden domestic extremism, undermine counterterrorism efforts, or disrupt social cohesion. The U.S. has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel, deploying resources to secure the region. However, domestic institutions perceived as sympathetic to Hezbollah can complicate these efforts by fostering ideological divisions and potentially aiding radicalization.

Conclusion

Freedom of speech and religion are cornerstones of American democracy, but they must not shield entities that promote ideologies threatening national and global security. The American Islamic Center of Florida’s leadership and its documented embrace of the terrorist group Hezbollah and/or those linked to Hezbollah underscores the need for greater scrutiny of institutions that propagate extremism and pose a significant threat to America.

We ignore these threats at our own peril.

Beila Rabinowitz, Director of Militant Islam Monitor, contributed to this report.