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Since September 11th 2001, government targeting of Muslim community leaders has increased dramatically. Many of us recall the cases of Sami Al Arian and James Yee. Now, here in Los Angeles, the family and friends of a prominent Iranian American community leader, are calling attention to the persecution of yet another Muslim man. Seyed Mousavi is the founder of Al-Nabi Mosque in West Covina and a non-profit organization that aims to build bridges across religious divides. Under Mousavi’s leadership, Al-Nabi Mosque has developed an English curriculum for recent immigrants, worked on the unique issues facing American-Muslim youth, and preached the virtues of inclusion and acceptance. This April Mousavi was accused of filing false tax returns, omitting group membership on naturalization forms, and violating the U.S.’s economic embargo against Iran. He is being cast as a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and could face a stripping of his citizenship and up to nine years in prison. He has been held for the past 14 months in detention. His trial was seen as highly politicized – Mousavi’s sentencing hearing is tomorrow. His case is seen as exactly the type of occurrence that is a hallmark of facism by commentator Naomi Wolf, author of The End of America, and Give Me Liberty.

GUEST: Ali and Zeinab Mousavi, two of Seyed Mousavi’s children. For more information, visit www.freeseyedmousavi.com.

Seyed Mousavi’s sentencing hearing is on Tuesday, October 14 at 9 AM at CourtRoom 15 of the United States Court House, 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.