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Secretary of State John Kerry and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson met today with Moaz al Khatib, former President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition. Mr. Khatib shared his views on ways to advance a political solution to the crisis in Syria. Secretary Kerry emphasized that Bashar al-Asad is a brutal dictator with no legitimacy to lead Syria. The Secretary reaffirmed our commitment to pursuing all diplomatic avenues to help bring about a political transition based on the Geneva Principles that leads to an inclusive government and a future of freedom, dignity, and security for the...

An Anaheim woman filed a federal lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff's Department today, claiming her religious rights were violated when deputies forced her to remove her hijab, or head scarf. Deputies insisted Souhair Khatib, 33, who is Muslim; remove her scarf when she was being booked into a county jail in connection with a probation violation. Islam dictates that women must wear the hijab, which covers a woman's hair and neck, for reasons of modesty. Khatib was seen by deputies and other men from her mosque without her covering, causing her extreme emotional distress, her lawsuit says. "For Souhair,...

FBI agents searched the home of a prominent Islamic community leader and Iraq war critic, a bureau spokesman said, declining to reveal any reasons for the search. A dozen agents searched the home of Shakir Abdul-Kaf Hamoodi and his wife, Lamya Mukhlef Najem on Monday, FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza said. Agents removed boxes and computer equipment throughout the day, neighbors said. The search warrant has been sealed and Lanza wouldn't comment on what the agents were looking for. Federal agents on Monday also raided the offices of a Southfield, Mich., Muslim charity organization, Life for Relief and Development. In that...

September 18, 2006 BREAKING: Largest U.S. Islamic Charity Raided by FBI Printer Friendly By Debbie Schlussel I've been writing about LIFE for Relief and Development for years, and I think my columns (especially this one), have finally made a difference. Ditto for my complaints about LIFE to Assistant U.S. Attorney for counterterrorism, Ken Chadwell. Less than half an hour ago, the FBI began raiding LIFE and hauling out documents. Well, it's about time. LIFE--the largest Islamic charity still open for business in America--openly admitted on its 1995-'97 taxes to be a major funder of HAMAS. Headquartered in the Orthodox Jewish...

‘Israel will lose to a billion angry Muslims’ Sheikh Kamel Khatib, the deputy chairman of the Islamic Movement's northern Israel branch, says following Friday’s incident in which a pig’s head was thrown into a Tel Aviv mosque, “future holds an escalation of the rift beyond political boundaries. It may become a religious struggle emanating from the Israeli establishment and right-wing; Jews will find themselves facing not only five million angry Palestinians, but more than a billion angry Muslims all over the world By Ali Waked 8/21/05 Should the Israeli-Arab strife become more and more religious in nature, Israel and the...

Insight on the News - National Issue: 03/02/04 Special Report Saffuri's Ties to Terror Suspects By Kenneth R. Timmerman The rise of Khaled Saffuri to political prominence within the U.S. Muslim community has all the ingredients of a Horatio Alger success story. Brought up as a stateless exile in Kuwait, Saffuri came to America as a student in 1982, went to college in San Diego, and soon gravitated into the world of Muslim activism. A talented fund-raiser and behind-the-scenes power broker, Saffuri built bridges to politicians in both parties by generously contributing to their election campaigns, from California libertarian Rep....

Special ReportSaffuri's Ties to Terror Suspects Posted Feb. 23, 2004 By Kenneth R. Timmerman Saffuri (above) has formed relationships with several questionable allies, including Sami al-Arian, who was arrested last year. The rise of Khaled Saffuri to political prominence within the U.S. Muslim community has all the ingredients of a Horatio Alger success story. Brought up as a stateless exile in Kuwait, Saffuri came to America as a student in 1982, went to college in San Diego, and soon gravitated into the world of Muslim activism. A talented fund-raiser and behind-the-scenes power broker, Saffuri built bridges to politicians in both...

Tip led INS to follow immigrant to Citadel Saturday, November 10, 2001 BY BRIAN HICKSOf The Post and Courier Staff      A tip from an Atlanta eye surgeon about a Middle Eastern man with suspicious identification put INS investigators on a trail that led, ultimately, to the ranks of The Citadel.     U.S. Magistrate Robert Carr ordered cadet Yasir Khatib held without bail Friday after federal prosecutors laid out their case against him - a case that includes allegations of four different identities, disguises and "cosmetic surgery," a visa violation and references in private correspondences to a "jihad," the Islamic term ...

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has arrested a member of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's presidential guard who had been involved in numerous shooting attacks, an Israeli security source said. Force 17 member Bashar Said Kamal Khatib, 30, was arrested in his home town of Qalandia just south of the West Bank town of Ramallah during Israel's reoccupation of West Bank cities in April, the source said. Details of his arrest were released after the conclusion of an investigation into Khatib's activities. The probe found Khatib guilty of involvement in numerous shooting attacks at soldiers and Israeli buses, the source said. Meanwhile,...