Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi
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Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi in 1995
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| Occupation | Lobbyist and fundraiser |
| Criminal status | USA |
| 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) |
| Criminal charge | 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 |
| Penalty | 23-year prison sentence |
Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi (
i/ɑːbˈduːl rɑːˈmɑːn ɑːlɑːˈmuːdiː/), also known as Abdurahman Alamoudi, was an American Muslim activist. He was known for starting the American Muslim Council. In 2004, he was found responsible for certain actions related to money and agreements. This led to him spending time in prison.
Early Life and Moving to the U.S.
Abdul Rahman Al-Amoudi was born in the Province of Eritrea. This area was part of the Ethiopian Empire at the time.
He moved from Yemen to the United States in 1979. He became a U.S. citizen in 1996. Later, he lost his citizenship because of serious legal issues. Al-Amoudi lived in Falls Church, Virginia.
His Work with Organizations
Before his legal troubles, Al-Amoudi was a well-known Muslim activist in America. He met with important government officials. These meetings were with leaders from both the Clinton and Bush administrations. His goal was to help Muslim voices be heard more in politics.
Al-Amoudi started the American Muslim Foundation. He was also a key member of other Islamic groups. These groups focused on politics and charity. He helped create a program for Muslim chaplains in the U.S. Department of Defense.
Al-Amoudi even met with President George W. Bush. He also gave money to political campaigns, including Bush's and Hillary Clinton's. Both Bush and Clinton later returned the money. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Al-Amoudi was invited to speak. He gave a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Al-Amoudi was also one of the people who started the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB). He signed the official papers for the Society. He was the first president of the Society's mosque in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Legal Issues and Statements
In 2004, Al-Amoudi faced legal problems. He was found responsible for illegal money dealings. These dealings were with the Libyan government. He was also found responsible for getting citizenship unlawfully. Another issue was hindering the Internal Revenue Service. He was also involved in a plan related to the Libyan government. This plan was about the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.
Some of Al-Amoudi's past statements caused controversy. In 1997, he spoke about a leader from Hamas. He said he considered this person "among the best people." He also said he worked with Hamas.
In a phone call that was recorded, Al-Amoudi made comments about past attacks. He suggested that more attacks should happen. These comments were part of the evidence in his legal case.
Journalists Mark Hosenball and Michael Isikoff reported on Al-Amoudi. They said he was seen as an "expert in the art of deception." This was because he sometimes expressed moderate views. But at other times, he showed support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
