Report: Columbia and Rutgers funded by Iran-controlled group
New York Post says Columbia got $100,000 from Alavi Foundation ahead of Ahmadinejad's visit two years ago.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Israel newsAn Islamic charity alleged to be a front for the Iranian regime has been funding anti-Israel and pro-Iran professors at Columbia and Rutgers Universities, the New York Post reported on Monday.
The Manhattan-based Alavi Foundation, which promotes Islamic charity and Persian education, has been accused by the American government of funneling money to U.S. schools supported by Iran and to a ring of Iranian spies in Europe, says The Post.
According to the report, the foundation has also given thousands of dollars to Columbia and Rutgers to fund its Middle Eastern and Persian studies programs.
"We found evidence that the government of Iran really controlled everything about the foundation," Adam Kaufmann, investigations chief at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, told The Post.
The Post reported that the Alavi Foundation gave Columbia $100,000 in 2007, after the university agreed to host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Columbia University spokesman Robert Hornsby told The Post that the money it received ahead of Ahmadinejad's visit was the largest single gift it had received from the foundation. He also told The Post that the university had been unaware that the charity was directly linked to the Iranian government.
In addition, says the report, the foundation gave $351,600 to Rutgers from 2005-2007 to fund its Persian Studies Program. That allegation was corroborated by a spokesman for the university, but no other comment was offered on the matter.
U.S. agents have begun confiscating as much as $650 million in assets from the foundation, according to the report.
|
The Razi School of the Islamic Institute of New York, one of the assets of the Alavi Foundation, an alleged front company. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Please tell us James what exactly AIPAC does as i though it legitimately raises money for the Jewish secular democratic state of Israel ?
...R U still waiting??? Year 2050: Are u still waiting? Year 2100: Are we there yet.......
First, AIPAC does not do anything under the rug, everything is in open, the Iranian government does not. Secondly, Israel promotes democracy, Iran promotes hate and terrorism, do they have the same rights? a big NO, shame on u who brought this point up
I get it, the entire world is controlled by a vast Iranian conspiracy.
This is only the tip of the iceberg.No wonder the western academia faculties are loaded with leftwingers/western values haters/antisemites and anti-Israel freaks,pompous idiots with Phd's printed on toillet paper...Follow the money and you'll know why the swedes,the brits,the norwegian and other university/whores want to boycott Israel and spread antisemitic filth all over the world...This is a long time ongoing process...Have petrodollars,the "scholars" will sell you their own mothers and sisters at bargain prices...
This not the first time it shall be the last they try before and lost such cases case without merit just to score propoganda for some fame chasers by the end the U.S. will relase not only those funds but all the funds that has been freezed since 1979
How much longer before they receive the kotak (thrashing) they so well deserve? Hard to believe that nobody connected the dots of questionable incoming funds so blatantly influencing the Islamic propaganda parrots on campus!
Uhhhh the group is an American one re. "Manhattan-based Alavi Foundation. If the group has broken American laws charge it. It is not a crime for Iran linked groups to donate to universities. The reality is that Israeli-funded front groups or groups funded by Israeli special interests intrude themselvs into every phere of American life. Look at that silly group Campus Watch and others of that ilk. As far as I am concerned, someone is funding them too, and it ain't the American tax payer nor is it a crime! Frankly, Amricans should be concerned as to: - Why Adam Kaufmann, the investigations chief at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating this issue at all - Why is he speaking about it if no law is broken except to try to imtimidate the universities into supporting his political viewpoints? - Why American taxpayers' money is being wasted on frivolous innuendo smears? - Are efforts being made to try to curry votes for an election run using tax payer dollars?
Ok, I am not to keen on the mullahs but what legal basis can the Americans have for "confiscating" $650M? That is theft.
The report "Columbia and Rutgers funded by Iran-controlled group is not so terrifying. What should alarm everyone, especially Americans, is the fact that "U.S. Congress is funded by Isareli-controlled group. That group is called AIPAC. That's what is really alarming.
Used to be called Pahlavi Foundation which was created during the shah's regime to advance Iran's charitable interests in the US. After the Pahlavis fled the country, it was renamed alavi and has been promoting Persian language, culture and studies as well as islamic culture. It provides grants to universities as stated above (funny though I just finished watching a program by a very Anti-Iranian regime Columbia University Persian Prof about the HR in Iran! - go figure!!), weekend persian schools, book distribution program, funds disaster relief projects, funds Persian & Islamic arts, funds scholarly research in Iranian and Islamic studies and a student loan program. "We found evidence that the government of Iran really controlled everything about the foundation," Adam Kaufmann, investigations chief." DUH! I mean a BIG DUH! So Mr. Genius, when the pahlavis fled Iran and monarchist gov fell apart who do you think will 'inherit' the foundation by default????D-U-H
"it specifically sayds that... "An Islamic charity alleged " (your script DR) Focus DR "ALLEDGED". Stop apologizing for wrong doers.
What a bunch of adolescent morons--it,s business ---nothing personal. Every body has a right to fund education---and the Israel gov refers to anyone who gets in their way--as terrorists. IS IT ANY WONDER THE WORLD IS LAUGHING AT THIS PIP SQUEAK STATE.
is just that. When can we expect the leftist/islamist axis to call for wider investigation and closer scrutiny etc etc.? Maybe send in the seasoned channel 4 investigators,they are pretty good with stereotypes. Imagine the cries of racist,Islamophobe from the "intelligencia" if they dared used them on their beloved proletariat.
Funding from terrorists organizations is illegal. Everyone knows that Iran supports terrorist organizations.
it specifically sayds that... "An Islamic charity alleged to be a front for the Iranian regime has been funding anti-Israel and pro-Iran PROFESSORS at Columbia and Rutgers" Stop apologizing for wrong-doers!
That's peanuts for Columbia. Barely the annual salary of a single mid-range academic. What a non-story.
I'm just interested to know if any of that Oil Money went towards funding any terrorist cells that may be lurking. Yeah. It's too bad that anyone takes money from any countries with Iran's agenda. But look. This is the way things really work. I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of the stick like Iran is. In order for us American Jews to be able to insure the security of Israel, we must always be able to demonstrate that Israel makes the United States stronger. That's why using certain language like "Obama and Israel are dueling" is really in fact, quite dangerous. Don't fool around. Iran is quite stupid and innocent Iranians are liable to suffer because of the Extremists that have taken over Iran. Deal with the Extremists in Iran but be aware that we Jews and Israel must be really good for the United States because honestly, we never had it so good!