Muslim Nonprofit Linked to Terror Merchandise Rakes in $85K from NYC Council
A Muslim nonprofit, the Muslim American Society of Brooklyn and Staten Island, scored $85,000 in taxpayer funds from the City Council, despite a January scandal where it hosted a fundraiser featuring merchandise promoting Hamas and other terrorist organizations.
The organization received $70,000 in discretionary funds from Democrat Kayla Santosuosso, representing Bay Ridge and parts of southern Brooklyn. The remaining $15,000 came from Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn), whose district includes Red Hook and Sunset Park.
This funding was awarded even after City Council Speaker Julie Menin expressed her shock in January upon discovering the nonprofit was selling items linked to terrorism. Previously, the organization had received $265,000 in Council funds over three years under former Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Menin, the first Jewish speaker of the Council, stated she would block $80,000 in funds pending an investigation by city lawyers into the nonprofit's activities and its future funding prospects.
According to Council spokesman Yoav Gonen, the Office of the General Counsel conducted an investigation and found no connection between the nonprofit and the vendor selling the controversial merchandise. He noted that MAS ended its relationship with that vendor.
Gonen added that the nonprofit's funding was restored after its leadership committed in writing to implement enhanced screening and prevention protocols for all future vendors using its space.
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn), a staunch Zionist, criticized the funding decision, stating that while individual members decide on discretionary spending, funding nonprofits that appear to support designated terrorist organizations is unacceptable and potentially illegal.
Vernikov questioned whether MAS had apologized or condemned Hamas following the incident, emphasizing that members must justify why taxpayer dollars are allocated to groups perceived as hostile to America instead of supporting organizations with legitimate needs.
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Both Santosuosso and Avilés represent neighborhoods with significant Muslim populations. The new funding is designated for community safety, educational programs, youth mentoring, cultural initiatives, job training, and other projects within their districts.
Santosuosso previously served as deputy director of the Bay Ridge-based Arab American Association of New York, which received $124,500 in Council funds this fiscal year, including $5,000 from Santosuosso's allocation.
During a January 18 event at MAS's Brooklyn youth center, vendors sold keychains, stickers, pins, and other items supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
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The event featured merchandise displaying images of late terrorist leaders Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah and Yahya Sinwar of Hamas, along with a masked figure resembling former Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida.
Some items bore logos of terrorist groups or called for violence against Israel with slogans like “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv” and “Death to the IDF,” as reported by The Times of Israel.
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MAS’s New York leadership includes Abdullah Akl, a known pro-Hamas activist who grew up attending its Brooklyn youth center and is also an organizer for the radical anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime.
The influence of MAS over city politics intensified following the election of socialist Mamdani as NYC’s first Muslim mayor in November. MAS-NY’s executive director Sherif Ahmed and political director Hannah Towfeik were part of Mamdani’s transition team that helped fill key positions in City Hall.
