The Investigative Project has posted a document indicating that the Muslim American Society (MAS) will be closing its political action wing, known as the Freedom Foundation (MAS Freedom), due to lack of “resources”, presumably meaning funding. According to the MAS announcement:
With the publication of our MAS Info commentary for Friday, June 17th, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation (MAS Freedom) will cease to operate as a component program of the Muslim American Society.It has been a blessing and honor from Allah (SWT), over the last eight years, to work in defense of the human and civil rights of Muslims in America and throughout the world, and to advance social justice work for all human beings, everywhere. All of us owe our highest thanks to Imam Mahdi Bray for his visionary leadership in creating the MAS Freedom program and guiding us in our commitment to work, and struggle, for justice. Regrettably, we find ourselves in the unfortunate position of not having the resources that would allow us to continue our advocacy and organizing work.But we also know that our work will continue, as we remain committed to the overall program of MAS. Our national network of MAS organizations continues to support the Muslim community of America in the essential tasks of empowerment, service, and spiritual elevation, which by the grace of Allah (SWT) will continue.
Read the rest here.
The MAS website describes MAS Freedom as follows:
MAS Freedom is a national grassroots Muslim American advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance a broad agenda for justice, freedom and peace in the United States and throughout the world through a comprehensive empowerment process which includes civic education and political engagement, coalition building, media outreach, and civil and human rights protection.MAS Freedom, through its organizational activities, contributes to the promotion of peace and social justice. It seeks to build an American Muslim community that is politically empowered, civically engaged, fully protected in the areas of civil and human rights, and able to contribute to the advancement of society, both in the United States and the world, as impacted by our nation and guided by Islamic values and beliefs.
MAS Freedom has been headed by MAS leader Mahdi Bray who, as reported in a post from January, was recovering from a cerebral stroke. The MAS was identified in a Hudson Institute report as a part of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood and closely tied to the Egyptian organization. Numerous posts have discussed the activities of Mr. Bray who according to a 2009 Investigative Project investigation had an undisclosed criminal background.