During Governor Tim Walz’s (D-MN) tenure, Minnesota allocated over $2 million to an Islamic organization that was raising funds for a charity linked to an al Qaeda-affiliated group, as per records examined by the Washington Examiner.
The Islamic Association of North America (IANA), which has been the recipient of state grants from 2019 through 2024, is currently soliciting donations for Rahma Worldwide, a Michigan-based charity reportedly providing “humanitarian aid” to Gaza following an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th last year.
A deleted Facebook post from Rahma Worldwide’s President, Shadi Zaza, in October 2023 confirmed that the charity was collaborating on an aid effort with Kuwait’s Islamic Heritage Revival Society, a U.S.-sanctioned terrorist group due to its support of al Qaeda.
This revelation has emerged at a time when Governor Walz is facing increasing criticism after reports from the Washington Examiner exposed his connections to controversial Muslim cleric Asad Zaman.
Walz has consistently hosted Zaman, who openly expressed support for neo-Nazis and defended the October 7th attacks on Israel. At an event in 2018 hosted by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota led by Zaman, Walz even referred to Zaman as a “master teacher.”
Despite clear links, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign insists that Walz does not have a personal relationship with Zaman. However, both Harris and Walz officials have avoided commenting on the matter.
Terrorism analyst Sam Westrop from the Middle East Forum criticized the administration’s actions, stating that “Embracing and funding an imam that sympathizes with neo-Nazis was apparently only the start.”
Established in 2001—the same year when the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Treasury Department—IANA describes itself as a “nationwide umbrella organization with over 35 centers,” including more than a dozen in Minnesota.
IANA claims to represent Muslim communities nationally and speak on behalf of its member organizations, including mosques that pay membership dues.
In 2024, the Minnesota Health Department awarded IANA over $238,600. This followed a grant of $191,900 in 2023 and a million-dollar award in 2022, as well as over $612,200 from 2019 to 2021.
The funds were intended for public health initiatives such as community vaccinations and outreach to the Somali community.
IANA’s director Yusuf Abdi Abdulle publicly expressed support for Palestine’s right to defend itself on October 7th, leading to a response from Zaman with an image of a Palestinian flag.
On the same day, the Walz-backed IANA echoed a statement from its partner group accusing Israel of “unprovoked” attacks in Gaza, despite Hamas’s killing of 1,200 Israelis.
Additionally, IANA is part of a coalition supporting convicted murderer Imam Jamil al Amin and shares office space with the Humanitarian African Relief Organization (HARO), previously led by Abdulle. HARO was involved in aiding al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate.
Rahma Worldwide, which benefits from IANA’s fundraising efforts, has been involved in pro-Palestinian aid campaigns alongside Kuwait’s Islamic Heritage Revival Society—a group sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for supporting al Qaeda.
Rahma Worldwide also hosted an event with Syrian cleric Mohamad Rateb al Nabulsi known for his extremist views and involvement with Hamas.
Abdulle and Zaza appeared together at fundraising events benefiting Rahma Worldwide while IANA’s former director Sheikh Hassan Dhooye congratulated Minnesota Governor Walz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—linked to terrorism financing and recruitment activities within the Somali community.
Congratulations to Tim Walz on becoming Vice President—wishing to see the great impact you'll make in this role! pic.twitter.com/iIUTMnkQsa
— Sheikh Hassan Dhooye (@dhooye) August 6, 2024
Hassan Mohamed Jama, known as Dhooye, is still actively involved with the group supported by the Walz administration.
He participated in a meeting with Abdulle and other Somali leaders in April and was a speaker at IANA’s annual convention last September. In addition, he led a prayer on behalf of IANA before the Minnesota legislature in May.
Terrorism analyst Westrop criticized the Walz administration for consistently choosing unsuitable partners, citing the $2.1 million in grants given to IANA.
He described this as an “appalling misuse of Minnesota taxpayers’ money” and a “complete betrayal” of moderate Muslim and Somali activists working against extremism in their communities.
ICYMI: CORRUPTION: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Subpoenaed
How is it possible this “Happy Warrior” could be connected to a 2 Million dollar gift to an Islamic group with ties to al Queda .
We all now Tim quit his National Guard position after 24 years after being told they were to deploy in Afghanistan but still claimed he carried arms in a combat zone.
We know he cheered the looters and arsonists who burned Minneapolis during the ” mostly peaceful” George Floyd riots while his wife was quoted as saying she loved the smell of melting police car tires.
We know this great educator addressed school students in China, and that he was not only a great teacher but also a state champion football coach where he taught ( until we discovered he was the 9th grade coach who had little to do with that championship. But to embellish a supporting role is quite popular among democrats.
As a former teacher for 4 decades and a football coach myself for 27 years, I also started at the bottom as assistant ninth grade coach before advancing to junior varsity and later varsity after 10 years in the ninth and tenth grade programs. I was a varsity assistant and defensive coordinator for 17 years but remember well that my contribution to the varsity program during my freshman and junior varsity days consisted of assisting in the summer conditioning program, distributing equipment, dragging equipment and water to the practice field and working under direction of varsity coaches as I learned my trade. (As to equipment issue, was a helmet specialist) and scouting future opponents. I also served as athletic trainer for several years. I did as much if not more than Tim Walz. Gee, maybe I should run for VP.
As a good Democrat it wasn’t his money so just piss it away to some terrorists,just the taxpayers money and who carers
Walz brags and brags about his “24 years” in the National Guard and how he was an E-9 when left the service and now we’re finding out he has been fraternizing with the enemy and even supplying them with US taxpayer dollars. Sounds like Treason to me! His entire time in the National Guard equates to about 4 years of full time service. Then to top that off, he ran like the coward he is when he found out he and his outfit were going to be deployed to Afghanistan. He has created a Somali homestead in Minnesota with his socialist views and policies toward America. His far far left beliefs are a serious danger to the fundamentals our nations was founded on. The Kackling Kameleon and Walz the coward must be stopped or the US is coming to the point of no return. Trump 2024!