International Institute of Islamic Thought

The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is a privately held non-profit organization concerned with issues of Islamic thought. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the Institute was founded in 1981 AC (1401 AH) with seed money from the Muslim Brotherhood [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12823-2004Sep10.html In Search Of Friends Among The Foes U.S. Hopes to Work With Diverse Group] ] , and has branches and offices in a number of major cities worldwide. [http://www.iiit.org/overview1.asp About Us] International Institute of Islamic Thought]

Mission statement

Governed by a Board of Trustees that meets regularly and periodically elects one of its members to serve as President, the Institute describes itself as an intellectual forum working from an Islamic perspective to promote and support research projects, organize intellectual and cultural meetings and publish scholarly works. It has established a distinct intellectual trend in Islamic thought which relates to the vivid legacy of the greater Muslim community, or "Ummah", and its continuous efforts of intellectual and methodological reform. This involves a large number of researchers and scholars from various parts of the world.

Controversy

In November 2006, the IIIT was under investigation for financing terrorist organizations [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111301205.html Witness Is Silent in Terror Probe] - The Washington Post] According to an anti-terrorism trial, prosecutors alleged that Sami Al-Arian, who pleaded guilty to providing services to a terrorist organization received money from the International Institute of Islamic Thought. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/09/america/NA_GEN_US_Attacks_Professor.php Judge: Professor who plead guilty to terrorist-related charges must testify to grand jury] - International Herald Tribune]

Notable personnel

* Anwar Ibrahim
* Jamal al Barzinji
* Ahmad Totonji
* Yaqub Mirza
* Ismail al-Faruqi
* Taha Jabir Alalwani

= SAAR Network raid = The Institute's Herndon, VA, headquarters, located at 555 Grove St., were subject of a March 20, 2002 raid, along with 19 other business and non-profit entities allegedly related to an umbrella corporation known as the SAAR Foundation, as part of a joint FBI-Customs Service program known as Operation Green Quest. No arrests were made, and neither the Institute, nor any of the other entities were shut down, but numerous documents, computers, and electronic storage were seized. In the aftermath, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, with the help of Grover Norquist, arranged a meeting [http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org/CMS/Topics/Leaders/119111662002.htm O'Neill Met With Muslim Activists Tied to Charities Raided by Treasury] Wall Street Journal] with representatives of the Muslim-American community, including Talat M. Othman and Khaled Saffuri.

References

External links

* [http://www.iiit.org/ IIIT main website]
* [http://www.iiituk.com/ London, UK Office]
* [http://www.amana-publications.com/iiit_selections.shtml A selection of IIIT texts] from Amana Publications