Khaled Saffuri
Encyclopedia
Khaled Saffuri (born in Lebanon
) is an Arab-American political activist of Palestinian origin, and the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute
.
, California.
In 1990, he joined the National Association of Arab-Americans
(NAAA) and served as an Assistant Executive Director until September 1993.
Saffuri was Executive Director of American Task Force for Bosnia (ATFB), an organization he established in December 1992 to consolidate efforts among mainstream Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other ethnic organizations in the United States to end the conflict in Bosnia
. Saffuri was also the director for government affairs for the American Muslim Council from September 1995 until December 1997.
In the 1990s Suffuri was also an executive directory of the American Muslim Council
(AMC) headed by Abdulrahman Alamoudi who is now serving a 23 year prison sentence for financing terrorism.
, one of the most politically-connected Republican lobbyists, founded the Islamic Free Market Institute
(often called simply the Islamic Institute) to build Republican support among Muslim Americans. The Institute operates out of the headquarters of Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform
. The start-up money largely comes from Middle Eastern sources. Saffuri’s former boss at the AMC American Muslim Council, Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi
, gives at least $35,000. The Safa Trust donates at least $35,000, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought
(IIIT) contributes $11,000. Both organizations are part of the SAAR group and are among the organizations that were subject to a March, 2002 raid under the auspices of Operation Green Quest
.
The Operation Green Quest raids led to the convictions of two people, including Abdurahman Alamoudi, who worked for the SAAR Foundation. Alamoudi admitted that he plotted with Libya to assassinate the Saudi ruler and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
) is an Arab-American political activist of Palestinian origin, and the co-founder of the Islamic Free Market Institute
Islamic Free Market Institute
The Islamic Free Market Institute is a Muslim outreach group founded by Khaled Saffuri and Grover Norquist in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.- Synopsis :...
.
Background
Brought up as a stateless exile in Kuwait, Saffuri came to the US a student in 1982, and started college in San Diego, eventually receiving a bachelors degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Management Science from the University of RedlandsUniversity of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
, California.
Career
Saffuri moved to Washington, DC in 1987 to work as Development Director with the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a civil rights group founded by former US Senator James AbourezkJames Abourezk
James George Abourezk is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S...
In 1990, he joined the National Association of Arab-Americans
National Association of Arab-Americans
National Association of Arab Americans, founded in 1972, was a political advocacy group for Arab-Americans residing in the United States. Its goals were "to strengthen U.S...
(NAAA) and served as an Assistant Executive Director until September 1993.
Saffuri was Executive Director of American Task Force for Bosnia (ATFB), an organization he established in December 1992 to consolidate efforts among mainstream Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other ethnic organizations in the United States to end the conflict in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. Saffuri was also the director for government affairs for the American Muslim Council from September 1995 until December 1997.
In the 1990s Suffuri was also an executive directory of the American Muslim Council
American Muslim Council
The American Muslim Council is an Islamic organization and registered charity in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois....
(AMC) headed by Abdulrahman Alamoudi who is now serving a 23 year prison sentence for financing terrorism.
Islamic Free Market Institute
In 1997 Saffuri, along with Grover NorquistGrover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
, one of the most politically-connected Republican lobbyists, founded the Islamic Free Market Institute
Islamic Free Market Institute
The Islamic Free Market Institute is a Muslim outreach group founded by Khaled Saffuri and Grover Norquist in 1998 , where they served as executive director and chairman, respectively.- Synopsis :...
(often called simply the Islamic Institute) to build Republican support among Muslim Americans. The Institute operates out of the headquarters of Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is an advocacy group and taxpayer group whose stated goal is "a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax...
. The start-up money largely comes from Middle Eastern sources. Saffuri’s former boss at the AMC American Muslim Council, Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi
Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi
Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi, also known as Abdurahman Alamoudi, the founder of the American Muslim Council, pled guilty to financial and conspiracy charges in 2004, which resulted in a 23-year prison sentence.-Biography:...
, gives at least $35,000. The Safa Trust donates at least $35,000, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought
International Institute of Islamic Thought
The International Institute of Islamic Thought is a privately held non-profit organization.The Institution is concerned with issues of Islamic thought...
(IIIT) contributes $11,000. Both organizations are part of the SAAR group and are among the organizations that were subject to a March, 2002 raid under the auspices of Operation Green Quest
Operation Green Quest
Operation Green Quest was a United States Customs Service-sponsored interagency investigative unit formed in October 2001 after the September 11 attacks, and concerned with the surveillance and interdiction of terrorist financing sources...
.
The Operation Green Quest raids led to the convictions of two people, including Abdurahman Alamoudi, who worked for the SAAR Foundation. Alamoudi admitted that he plotted with Libya to assassinate the Saudi ruler and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.