Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi
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| Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi | |
|---|---|
 Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi in 1995 |
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| Born | Yemen |
| Charge(s) | Illegal financial transactions with Libyan government, unlawful procurement of citizenship, impeding administration of Internal Revenue Service, and role in Libyan conspiracy to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah |
| Conviction(s) | Illegal financial transactions with Libyan government, unlawful procurement of citizenship, impeding administration of Internal Revenue Service, and role in Libyan conspiracy to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah (October 2004) |
| Penalty | 23-year prison sentence |
| Status | USA |
| Occupation | Lobbyist and fundraiser |
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.[1]
[edit] Biography
Al-Amoudi was born in Yemen, raised in Yemen, and later immigrated to the United States.
He founded the American Muslim Council, a lobbying group to advocate on behalf of Muslims in the United States, in 1990. The Council's aim was to inform and influence both Republicans and Democrats). Until 1998, Al-Amoudi was involved with the selection of Muslim chaplains for the U.S. military (through the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, which he co-founded in 1991), and acted as a consultant to The Pentagon for over a decade.
During this time Al-Amoudi served as an Islamic adviser to President Bill Clinton and a fundraiser for both the Republican and Democratic parties. More recently, Al-Amoudi worked with leading conservatives, such as Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. Al-Amoudi became a U.S. citizen in 1996.
Al-Amoudi and other Muslim leaders met with then-presidential candidate George W. Bush in Austin in July 2000, offering to support his bid for the White House in exchange for Bush's commitment to repeal certain anti-terrorist laws.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Al-Amoudi spoke at the Washington National Cathedral prayer service held to honor the memory of the victims.
In 2004 he pled guilty to three charges of illegal financial transactions with the Libyan government, unlawful procurement of citizenship and impeding administration of the Internal Revenue Service, as well as a role in a Libyan conspiracy to assassinate then-Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. He agreed to cooperate in ongoing investigations in return for prosecutors dropping 31 other counts and possible reduction in a pending 23-year sentence and $750,000 in fines.[2][3] He was sentenced to 23 years in October 2004.[1]
Al-Amoudi was described as an "expert in the art of deception" in a report by Newsweek journalists Mark Hosenball and Michael Isikoff, for expressing moderate, pro-American sympathies in his lobbying and public relations work with Americans, but then expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah at an Islamist rally.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b 28 Fall from grace, Al-Ahram Weekly, October 28 – November 3, 2004 Issue No. 714.
- ^ U.S. Muslim admits guilt in plot; Conspired to kill Saudi prince, Washington Times, July 31, 2004.
- ^ Rasha Saad , Libyan quandary, Al-Ahram Weekly, 5 – August 11, 2004 Issue No. 702
- ^ "America at a Crossroads . Inside the Muslim Brotherhood". PBS. http://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/about/show_the_brotherhood.html. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Emerson, Steven (November 3, 2000). "Hillary and Hamas". OpinionJournal.com. http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=65000531.
- O'Beirne, Kate (October 27, 2003). "The Chaplain Problem: What gives with imams in the military? – and others". National Review. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_20_55/ai_108892926/print.[dead link]
- Pipes, Daniel (August 5, 2004). "American Muslim Council Founder Heads to Jail". Capitalism Magazine. http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3824.
- United States v. Abdurahman Muhammad Alamoudi, a/k/a Abdulrahman
- Al Gaddafi Speaks - to the Supreme Council of Judicial Bodies and to the Chiefs of Judicial Bodie
- American criminals
- American Muslims
- American prisoners and detainees
- Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government
- Living people
- Eritrean Muslims
- Yemeni emigrants
- Yemeni emigrants to the United States
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- Muslim activists
- American activists
- Muslim Brotherhood figures
