Fast Facts: Information on Organizations

WASHINGTON – Following are descriptions of some of the organizations mentioned in a FOXNews.com story on a political appointee at the Department of Homeland Security:

American Muslim Council (search) — A Washington, D.C.-based organization, it was founded in 1990 by Abdurahman Alamoudi, who is now under federal indictment on charges that include receiving money from the Libyans. He has been criticized for his public support of anti-Israel terrorist groups. The mission of AMC, now defunct, was to promote the participation of American Muslims in the U.S. political and public policy arenas.

Islamic Free Market Institute (search ) — Also referred to as the Islamic Institute, this Washington D.C.–based think tank was formed in 1998 by former American Muslim Council lobbyist Khaled Saffuri and Grover Norquist, conservative lobbyist and president of Americans for Tax Reform. The two groups share offices. Its stated mission is to work with other faith-based groups and the Washington political and business communities to promote cultural understanding and free market ideals. The group also organizes an annual trade and democracy conference in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Web site www.islamicinstitute.org.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (search) — Founded in 1979, it has been responsible for scores of anti-Israel terrorist attacks. It considers the United States an enemy because of U.S. policy toward Israel. U.S. officials consider it a terrorist organization. American Sami Al-Arian was indicted in 2003 for allegedly serving as a prime fundraiser for the group.

National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom (search) — A Washington D.C.-based advocacy group, it was founded in 1997 to defend U.S. constitutional rights of political association and due process for immigrants and citizens. Co-founder Sami Al-Arian was indicted in 2003 for his fundraising connections with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Web site: www.ncppf.org.

Americans for Tax Reform (search) — An influential Washington D.C. non-profit lobbying organization, it is headed by conservative activist Grover Norquist. Since 1986, it has supported and lobbied for tax relief and pro-free market legislation using grassroots network at federal, state and county levels. Web site www.atr.org.

Center for the Study of Popular Culture (search) — A Los Angeles-based think tank established by conservative author and activist David Horowitz in 1984, it publishes Frontpagemag.com, which has recently featured reports on groups with terror links in the United States. Web site: www.cspc.org.