A private not-for-profit organization, the Alavi Foundation was founded by the Shah of Iran. Located a few blocks from Rockefeller Center in New York City, the mission of the organization is to support and promote Islamic culture.
The Alavi Foundation has been the target of an federal investigation regarding its financial practices and accusations that the organization if a front for the Iranian government. In December 2008, the president of the Alavi Foundation, Farsid Jahedi, was arrested on charges of obstruction of justice.
On June 17, 2009, John Winter, the attorney the charitable organization, told Fox News, "the Alavi Foundation is an independent, not-for profit entity organized under the laws of New York. It is not owned by, controlled by, or linked to the Iranian Government."Fox News: 5th Avenue Skyscraper Center of Iranian Mystery (June 17, 2009)
Federal Investigation
In May 2009, Robert Morganthau, the District Attorney of Manhattan, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According for Fox News, the NY DA told Chairman Senator John Kerry that "we were looking at the Alavi Foundation, this major Iranian foundation in New York and found money going to suspect people, and then we were looking at their banking transactions."Fox News: 5th Avenue Skyscraper Center of Iranian Mystery (June 17, 2009)
In December 2008, Farshid Jahedi, the former president of the Alavi Foundation, was charged with obstruction of justice for shredding paperwork related to the federal investigation. If convicted, Jahedi could face up to 20 years in prison.
Controversy
Accusations regarding the types of organizations the Alavi Foundation funds as well as who controls the Foundation have surrounded the charity for several years, particularly after the events of 9-11/9/11.
In 2002, David Cohen, a top level CIA official at the time, stated in court documents that the Alavi Foundation was "controlled by the government of Iran" and "funds a variety of Anti-American causes."Fox News: 5th Avenue Skyscraper Center of Iranian Mystery (June 17, 2009) The attorney for the foundation denied the accusations. As of 2009, Cohen is the chief of intelligence for the NYPD.
References
Fast Facts
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1973
Founded by the Shah of Iran
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Headquarters
New York, NY
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Charitable organization
A not-for-profit 501(c) (3), donatations are tax deductable
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Fact 4
Provides grants to other not-for-profit organizations, not to individuals
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Fact 5
The majority of the organization's money dervives from rental income from a New York City office building
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2009
Reportedly has assets valued over $121 million
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Fact:
Has made donations to Harvard University, Columbia University as well as to mosques, schools and Islamic Centers
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2006
Donated $30,000 to former President Bill Clinton's organization, the William J. Clinton Foundation
