The U.S. government is seeking to take over a building in Woodside that houses an Islamic school and mosque, saying the Alavi Foundation, which owns the property, is funneling money to the Iranian government. The feds also laid claim to a skyscraper in Manhattan which is partly owned by Alavi, as well as several bank accounts associated with the group.
“The Alavi Foundation has effectively been a front for the Government of Iran,” Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. “For two decades, the Alavi Foundation’s affairs have been directed by various Iranian officials, including Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations, in violation of a series of American laws.”
Supplying services, goods or technology to Iran has been illegal since President Bill Clinton announced in 1995 that “the actions and policies of the government of Iran constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States.”
The building in Queens for which the government is seeking forfeiture, located at 55-11 Queens Blvd., is home to the Razi School, but the educational institution is not implicated in the civil complaint the U.S. attorney filed last week; only the building’s owner is accused of violating federal law.
“The tenants and occupants remain free to use the properties as they have before today’s filing,” said Yusill Scribner, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney. “There are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants.”
Nonetheless, several parents and students were quick to defend the Razi School, saying its curriculum does not promote Iran and adding that they value the rigor of the education there.
“I saw no connection with the Iranian government,” said Iyad Jaber, 21, who attended the school. “There’s barely even Iranians in this school.”
