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Salaheddin Islamic Centre

Coordinates: 43°43′51″N 79°15′58″W / 43.730963°N 79.265976°W / 43.730963; -79.265976
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Salahedin Islamic Centre
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusMosque
LeadershipImam Aly Hindy
StatusActive
Location
Location741 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1K 2C6
Salaheddin Islamic Centre is located in Toronto
Salaheddin Islamic Centre
Location in Toronto
Geographic coordinates43°43′51″N 79°15′58″W / 43.730963°N 79.265976°W / 43.730963; -79.265976
Architecture
FounderHassan Farhat
Capacity2,500 worshippers
Website
salaheddin.org
[1][2]

The Salaheddin Islamic Centre is a mosque located in the Scarborough district of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, noted for its outspoken Imam Aly Hindy[3][4][5] and alleged links to convicted terrorists.[3][6]

History

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The mosque was founded by Imam Hassan Farhat.[7]

Imam Aly Hindy took over the leadership of the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in 1997, and has since transformed the community from a small mosque to become a full centre with many facilities and programs. In addition to offering regular prayers, lectures and conferences, the Salaheddin Centre assists disadvantaged and destitute members of the Toronto community with a full-time elementary and high school, marriage and counselling services, a food bank, youth programs, and funeral services, along with other activities that seek to improve people's lives.[peacock prose][citation needed]

In 2020, the Salaheddin Islamic Centre opened new facilities for the Safa and Marwa Islamic School in Mississauga, financed with the support of the Islamic Development Bank. The US$6.6 million project enabled the purchase of a former office building and warehouse and convert into high school classrooms and associated facilities for 850 students.[8]

Controversies

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One of the mosque's founders was, now disgraced, Imam Hassan Farhat,[7] however he was made persona non grata by the mosque's administrators and forbidden to continue to hold any position at the facility. Permission was granted to Farhat to worship at the mosque.[7]

A number of its worshippers have been accused of ties to terrorism, including Ahmed Khadr who ran a charity named Health and Education Project International that used to attend the mosque and allegedly funnelled money to Afghan training camps.[9][10]

Brothers Saeed and Masoud Rasoul, whose father was a prayer leader at the mosque, later went missing in Iraq, believed to have fought for Ansar al-Islam, possibly at the urging of Farhat.[7]

Following the 2006 Ontario terrorism plot, it emerged that Fahim Ahmad and a number of other suspects were members of the mosque.[11]

During the 2008 bail hearing of Abdullah Khadr, where the mosque offered surety,[12] Crown prosecutors attacked the credibility of the mosque, although Judge Trotter dismissed the suggestion, referring to testimony from RCMP officer Tarek Mokdad who agreed it was not reasonable to suggest the mosque supported terrorism.[13] The Court ruled:[3]

"I accept that, over the years, there may have been persons, involved in questionable activities, with questionable associations, who have passed through the Centre from time to time. In my view, this in itself is not sufficient to taint the centre in any way."

— Ontario Superior Court of Justice, 2008.

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Shephard, Michelle (February 28, 2004). "Centre of attention; Scarborough home to mosque, elementary school, library". Toronto Star.
  2. ^ Grady, Patrick. Royal Canadian Jihad. p. 121.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Bell, Stewart (February 16, 2012). "Toronto's million-dollar 'radical mosque'". National Post. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  4. ^ Khan, Sheema (December 10, 2019). "Opinion: Misbehaving imams must be held to account". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  5. ^ Warmington, Joe (February 18, 2012). "T.O. mosque gets thousands from foreign donors". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Cribb, Robert (March 15, 2003). "Four terrorism suspects linked to local mosque". Toronto Star.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Shephard, Michelle; MacCharles, Tonda (March 9, 2005). "CSIS say Scarborough mosque founder linked to Al-Qaeda". Toronto Star.
  8. ^ "Case studies: Financing a New Building for Safa & Marwa in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada in partnership with Salaheddin Islamic Centre". Islamic Development Bank. January 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Sara, Wood. "U.S. Military Commissions to Resume This Week at Guantanamo". American Forces Press Service.
  10. ^ Bell, Stewart (October 14, 2003). "Khadr killed in gunfight: report". National Post.
  11. ^ a b "No title". Macleans.ca. June 19, 2006.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ a b "Toronto Islamic centre offers to post bail for Abdullah Khadr". CBC News. August 6, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "Bail denied for Abdullah Khadr". Toronto Star. August 20, 2008.
  14. ^ "Canada: The Cell Next Door" (transcript). Frontline. PBS. January 30, 2007.
  15. ^ Bell, Stewart (April 2, 2013). "Desire to fit in with Muslim community can push 'bitter and isolated' converts to jihad: experts". National Post. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  16. ^ Agency Coordinating Body For Afghan Relief, "Kabul Directory" (PDF). June 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  17. ^ "Son of al Qaeda" (streaming video). Frontline. PBS.
  18. ^ Bell, Stewart (July 13, 2006). "Faction linked to Khadr claims attacks: Allegedly formed by Canadian". National Post. p. A4.
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