The Islamic Association of Long Island (also known as the Selden Masjid) is a mosque at 10 Park Hill Drive in Selden, New York, eastern Long Island, 65 miles east of New York City.The North American Muslim resource guide: Muslim community life in the United States and Canada, Mohamed Nimer Editor Mohamed Nimer, Taylor & Francis, 2002, . Retrieved February 25, 2010. It was founded in 1974 and is the oldest chartered mosque on Long Island.
Background Islamic Association of Long Island, also known as Selden Masjid, is the first Masjid in Suffolk County, registered with New York state in 1974. The original structure was purchased from a church. However, back in 2012 a new and modern building was built for this house of worship. In addition to various prayer services Selden Masjid provides various community services, including a fully functional food pantry, clothing and shoe donation, various educational programs, etc. Selden Masjid participates in various interfaith community events on a wide variety of topics and issues, including social justice, to create harmony and understanding between communities of faith. Our congregants represent some of highly educated and successful professionals in various sectors of the US economy, including Medicine, Healthcare, Science, Technology, Academia, Engineering, Financial Services, Media, Social Services, Law, Business and Government.
Controversy Alleged Former attendee became al-Qaeda member Bryant Neal Vinas (also known as Ibrahim, Bashir al-Ameriki, and Ben Yameen al-Kanadeeis) is an American who converted to Islam in 2004. He attended the mosque regularly from approximately 2004/05 until 2007, when he left for Pakistan.Blitzer, Wolf, "The Situation Room: American Al Qaeda Suspect; Senate Stalls President's Timetable; Bin Laden's Son Reportedly Killed," CNN, July 23, 2009, accessed February 25, 2010Rotella, Sebastian and Josh Meyer U.S.-born militant who fought for Al Qaeda is in custody. Los Angeles Times. July 22, 2009. In Pakistan, he became an al-Qaeda member. He was arrested and pleaded guilty in January 2009 to participating in and supporting al-Qaeda plots, including volunteering detailed information about the operation of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) system to a senior al-Qaeda leader, to help plan a bomb attack on an LIRR commuter train in New York's Penn Station.Rashbaum, William K. and Souad Mekhennet. L.I. Man Pleaded Guilty in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan. New York Times July 22, 2009.
See also List of mosques in the Americas Lists of mosques List of mosques in the United States References
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