Feds Release Bits of Additional Information Against Khan Family -- None Against Izhar Khan

By Matthew Hendley Thu., Jul. 21 2011 at 1:30 PM

Categories: Law & Order

Pin It

Photo by Mike Rice

The scene at the June protest outside Margate's Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen mosque

Since a gathering of the religulous assembled for a protest against Margate's Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen in early June, we've been waiting to hear any shred of evidence aside from accusations in a federal indictment against the mosque's former imam, Izhar Khan.

Khan was one of six people charged with conspiring to support the Pakistani Taliban, and the legal process is in its early stages -- bond has been denied for Hafiz Khan, but U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan delayed making a decision on his two sons, Izhar and Irfan Khan.

An FBI agent testified Tuesday as part of the proceedings, dropping some heavy accusations against 37-year-old Irfan Khan, according to the Associated Press, but that evidence the feds say they were holding back on Izhar Khan never came out.

The agent, Michael Ferlazzo, said Irfan Khan, 37, "Appears to advocate violence repeatedly on some of the more than 1,000 phone calls the FBI recorded between he and his father, brother and other alleged conspirators," according to the AP.

Ferlazzo reportedly went on to say that he referenced the Pakistani government as "big pimps" and that Irfan Khan talked about violent resistance to it.

It sounds more like an accusation, but accusations haven't even been piled on against his brother, Izhar Khan.

The judge didn't even schedule when he'd make a bond decision on Izhar, the AP reports.

If you haven't been following this story, the feds originally accused Izhar Khan of two "overt facts" in its indictment:

7. On or about July 11, 2009, [Hafiz] Khan asked Izhar to collect from a donor in the United States money that Khan told Izhar had been approved for the mujahideen.

9. On or about July 16, 2009, Izhar caused $900 to be sent via wire transfer to [his sister] in Pakistan.

And while people were angrily protesting that the mosque in Margate be shut down, we've been waiting for some sort of evidence other than Izhar's wiring $900 to his sister at his father's request.

NPR also wrote up some coverage on the Khan family's issues and influence at one of the Miami mosques, which very much mirrors the Pulp's piece on how the Margate mosque worshipers are attempting to move on.

Follow The Pulp on Facebook and on Twitter: @ThePulpBPB.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.