Where a suicide bomber AND America's worst mass shooter worshiped: The tiny Florida mosque now connected to two terrorists - but whose imam insists is no place for extremism
Omar Mateen, 29, killed 49 people and injured more than 50 after opening fire inside an Orlando, Florida gay club Saturday night. He was killed by SWAT teams after taking hundreds hostage. The imam at Mateen's mosque in Fort Pierce, Florida was shocked to hear the news. Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman says Mateen could not have been radicalized in his congregation since he preaches against groups like ISIS. However, Mateen is the second terrorist to be connected to the mosque. In 2014, former-worshiper Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha (inset right) carried out a suicide bombing in Syria.
Congregants gathered as usual at the Fort Pierce Islamic Center for prayers on Sunday, the day after one of their members murdered 49 people and injured more than 50 more at a gay club in Orlando.
Omar Mateen, 29, is the second extremist to be tied to the small Florida mosque, which has about 200 regular attendees.
In 2014, Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha carried out a suicide bombing in Syria and is believed to be one of the first Americans to commit such an act overseas. Before joining the jihad, Salha lived in Vero Beach and attended the same Fort Pierce mosque as Mateen.
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Congregants pray at the For Pierce Islamic Center in Fort Pierce, Florida on Sunday, a day after a former worshiper killed 49 at injured more than 50 at an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub
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After prayers on Sunday, the men of the mosque gathered for a nightly meal. This month, Muslims around the world fast during the day as part of the holy month of Ramadan
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While communal meals like this are common during Ramadan, members of the church said Omar Mateen would not attend these social events
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The imam of the mosque says that Mateen, 29, attended night prayer services with his young son about four times a week
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Before opening fire at Pulse nightclub Saturday night, Mateen called 911 and pledged an allegiance to ISIS. He's pictured above in a photo posted to Facebook
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In 2014, Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha carried out a suicide bombing in Syria and is believed to be one of the first Americans to commit such an act overseas. Before traveling to Syria Salha lived in Vero Beach and attended the Fort Pierce mosque
On Saturday, Mateen followed in Salha's footsteps, killing 49 people partying at Orlando gay club Pulse, before he was shot dead by a SWAT team.
Fort Pierce Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman refused to call either Salha or Mateen 'members' of the mosque, saying they only worshiped there.
Rahman says his mosque is not a radicalized one, and that he has spoken out against extremist groups like ISIS in the 11 years he has led the congregation.
'This is a coincidence. There is no teaching given about extremism in this mosque. There is nothing coming in the sermon or the speeches,' Rahman told WPTV on Sunday.
Before carrying out the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, Mateen called 911 and made a pledge of allegiance to ISIS.
But Rahman said he is skeptical of Mateen's actual ties to the terrorist organization, and says he may have made the statement for publicity.
'The mosque did not radicalize him,' Rahman added. 'If something radicalized him, it might be the Internet.'
Rahman invited the press into the mosque on Sunday as his congregants gathered for prayers during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.
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Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman says he's skeptical about Mateen's actual ties to ISIS. Rahman, who is a doctor by day, speaks to reporters at his mosque on Sunday
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Rahman says that Mateen did not talk with the other congregants much, instead showing up last minute and leaving immediately at the end of prayers. Above, the basin where Muslims wash their feet at the church before prayers
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The mosque is regularly attended by about 200 people. Above, a prayer service for the men of the mosque on Sunday
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Since the attack, Rahman has had to call the local police for protection since they have received threats on their Facebook page. Above, a prayer service on Sunday
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and then gather for communal meals after the sun sets and before the sun rises.
Pictures from inside the mosque Sunday night show the men of the congregation seated on the floor for their evening meal, which is spread out on a plastic sheet.
Rahman says he knew Mateen since he was a young boy, when his Afghan-born parents moved to Florida from New York.
He described Mateen as energetic as a boy but quiet as an adult. While he attended night prayers about four times a week with his three-year-old son, Rahman says the gunman rarely socialized with any of the other men in the service - including his own father and brothers-in-law.
'As a grown-up he did not talk to anyone,' Rahman told the Sun-Sentinel. 'He was really quiet. He came at the last minute and did not talk to anybody. He would shake hands ... and take his son on his shoulders and leave.
Since the attack, Rahman has had to call the local police for protection since they have received threats on their Facebook page. Someone else was also seen standing outside of the building wearing an offensive T-shirt, while neighbors have started a petition to close the religious center.
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Rahman also said he did not know that Mateen was on the FBI watch list, but that the FBI had come to the mosque before to ask questions during other investigations and that they complied with authorities. Above, the scene inside the mosque Sunday night after the evening Ramadan feast
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Above, another shot of the plastic sheet that was laid out on the floor for the evening Ramadan feast
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Above, a description of a Muslim scholar hung up at the Fort Pierce Islamic Center on Sunday
Congregants gathered as usual at the Fort Pierce Islamic Center for prayers on Sunday, the day after one of their members murdered 49 people and injured more than 50 more at a gay club in Orlando.
Omar Mateen, 29, is the second extremist to be tied to the small Florida mosque, which has about 200 regular attendees.
In 2014, Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha carried out a suicide bombing in Syria and is believed to be one of the first Americans to commit such an act overseas. Before joining the jihad, Salha lived in Vero Beach and attended the same Fort Pierce mosque as Mateen.
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Congregants pray at the For Pierce Islamic Center in Fort Pierce, Florida on Sunday, a day after a former worshiper killed 49 at injured more than 50 at an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub
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After prayers on Sunday, the men of the mosque gathered for a nightly meal. This month, Muslims around the world fast during the day as part of the holy month of Ramadan
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While communal meals like this are common during Ramadan, members of the church said Omar Mateen would not attend these social events
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The imam of the mosque says that Mateen, 29, attended night prayer services with his young son about four times a week
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Before opening fire at Pulse nightclub Saturday night, Mateen called 911 and pledged an allegiance to ISIS. He's pictured above in a photo posted to Facebook
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In 2014, Moner-Muhammad Abu Salha carried out a suicide bombing in Syria and is believed to be one of the first Americans to commit such an act overseas. Before traveling to Syria Salha lived in Vero Beach and attended the Fort Pierce mosque
On Saturday, Mateen followed in Salha's footsteps, killing 49 people partying at Orlando gay club Pulse, before he was shot dead by a SWAT team.
Fort Pierce Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman refused to call either Salha or Mateen 'members' of the mosque, saying they only worshiped there.
Rahman says his mosque is not a radicalized one, and that he has spoken out against extremist groups like ISIS in the 11 years he has led the congregation.
'This is a coincidence. There is no teaching given about extremism in this mosque. There is nothing coming in the sermon or the speeches,' Rahman told WPTV on Sunday.
Before carrying out the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, Mateen called 911 and made a pledge of allegiance to ISIS.
But Rahman said he is skeptical of Mateen's actual ties to the terrorist organization, and says he may have made the statement for publicity.
'The mosque did not radicalize him,' Rahman added. 'If something radicalized him, it might be the Internet.'
Rahman invited the press into the mosque on Sunday as his congregants gathered for prayers during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.
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Imam Syed Shafeeq Rahman says he's skeptical about Mateen's actual ties to ISIS. Rahman, who is a doctor by day, speaks to reporters at his mosque on Sunday
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Rahman says that Mateen did not talk with the other congregants much, instead showing up last minute and leaving immediately at the end of prayers. Above, the basin where Muslims wash their feet at the church before prayers
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The mosque is regularly attended by about 200 people. Above, a prayer service for the men of the mosque on Sunday
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Since the attack, Rahman has had to call the local police for protection since they have received threats on their Facebook page. Above, a prayer service on Sunday
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during the day and then gather for communal meals after the sun sets and before the sun rises.
Pictures from inside the mosque Sunday night show the men of the congregation seated on the floor for their evening meal, which is spread out on a plastic sheet.
Rahman says he knew Mateen since he was a young boy, when his Afghan-born parents moved to Florida from New York.
He described Mateen as energetic as a boy but quiet as an adult. While he attended night prayers about four times a week with his three-year-old son, Rahman says the gunman rarely socialized with any of the other men in the service - including his own father and brothers-in-law.
'As a grown-up he did not talk to anyone,' Rahman told the Sun-Sentinel. 'He was really quiet. He came at the last minute and did not talk to anybody. He would shake hands ... and take his son on his shoulders and leave.
Since the attack, Rahman has had to call the local police for protection since they have received threats on their Facebook page. Someone else was also seen standing outside of the building wearing an offensive T-shirt, while neighbors have started a petition to close the religious center.
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Rahman also said he did not know that Mateen was on the FBI watch list, but that the FBI had come to the mosque before to ask questions during other investigations and that they complied with authorities. Above, the scene inside the mosque Sunday night after the evening Ramadan feast
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Above, another shot of the plastic sheet that was laid out on the floor for the evening Ramadan feast
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Above, a description of a Muslim scholar hung up at the Fort Pierce Islamic Center on Sunday
Or....
Just don't allow Muslims into the country in the first place. Period.
Problem solved.
Who is the idiot who let this family in? His father was a Taliban supporter.
hno:
The terrorist was an anchor baby (mother came here specifically to give birth and thus ensure the kid, the parents and the rest of the family can come over no questions asked). What needs to be asked (among many other things) in this case is why the terrorist's father who had a TV show in his native Afghanistan and made no secret of his support of the Taliban was allowed to come to the U.S.
The terrorist was an anchor baby (mother came here specifically to give birth 29 YEARS AGO and thus ensure the kid, the parents and the rest of the family can come over no questions asked). What needs to be asked (among many other things) in this case is why the terrorist's father who had a TV show in his native Afghanistan and made no secret of his support of the Taliban was allowed to come to the U.S.
33 minutes ago
Barack Obama:
Barack Obama:
"It appears that the shooter was inspired by various extremist information that was disseminated over the internet…we see no clear evidence that he was directed externally. It does appear that at the last minute he announced allegiance to Isil but there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directed by Isil or that it was part of a larger plot."
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Mass shooter Omar Mateen’s father Seddique Mateen visited Congress, the State Department and met political leaders during a trip to Washington, DC, in April
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Mateen, pictured above in front of US Rep for South Carolina Mark Sanford in Washington, DC, has made more than one trip to the nation's capital
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Mateen also attending a hearing for Afghanistan security in Washington, DC, in March (pictured above)
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Another photo from his Facebook page shows Mateen wearing Army fatigues while saluting and holding a flag
Mateen is pictured above with US Rep for California Ed Royce (left) and US Rep for California Dana Rohrabacher (right)
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Mateen is pictured above with US Representative for New York Charlie Rangel in an undated photograph
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_and_Nationality_Act_of_1965
- One of the main components aimed to abolish the national-origins quota. This meant that it eliminated national origin, race, and ancestry as basis for immigration.
- For the first time, immigration from the Western Hemisphere was limited.
- It added a labor certification requirement, which dictated that the Secretary of Labor needed to certify labor shortages.
- Refugees were given the seventh and last category preference with the possibility of adjusting their status. However, refugees could enter the United States through other means as well like those seeking temporary asylum.
