Mosque suspected of ties to the Taliban protested

MARGATE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Tea Party members and the Americans Against Hate want the federal government to permanently close a mosque after its leader and several of his family members were arrested in connection to the Taliban.

On May 14, the FBI arrested imams Izhar Khan and Khalil Hussein and charged them with funneling money to the terrorist organization's holding in Pakistan.

Masjid Jamaat Al-Mu'mineen opponents say the allegations make this particular house of worship's followers guilty by association. Tuesday, at a press conference outside the mosque, AAH's Joe Kauffman said, "We believe that this mosque, this Margate mosque, should not be able to operate any longer within the State of Florida. We believe that this mosque should be shut down."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations' Nezar Hamze, however, could not disagree more. "It's a true sign of the anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic bigots that we have living in South Florida," he said of the AAH's demands. "This mosque has been contributing to the community for many, many years. The neighbors love them, and this is just a true sign of discrimination."

Though the imam was arrested, the mosque was not named in the federal probe. Mohamed Sulaman worships at the mosque and invites anyone to see what goes on inside. "Instead of standing on that side protesting, they should come on this side to see what's behind these walls," he said.

Margate Police has set up a tower near Masjid Jamaat Al-Mu'mineen to monitor the crowd that will form for a 7 p.m. protest.

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