Exclusive: Are Somali Jihadists in Nashville?

For a few days in February and March of this year, my field counterterrorism researchers and I visited Nashville, Tennessee. I had obtained information in Richmond, Virginia, that a group of Muslims originally from Somalia had relocated to Nashville. Additionally, there were several media organizations (conservative and liberal) and individuals reporting concerns for our national security in regards to some Somali nationals missing from various U.S. cities and likely organizing to commit Jihadist activity against America.

During my counterterrorism lectures and training, I have often said the truth is somewhere in the middle. Never focus solely on what organizations slanted to the extreme right or extreme left inform the American public. More importantly, I advocate only using first-hand intelligence and do not rely on open source intelligence. The only method to determine if Muslims from Somalia were advocating Islamic Jihadist ideologies in America was to conduct research in predominately Somalian Islamic Centers. The Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Nashville was selected as a start.

My research was coordinated with law enforcement authorities who also expressed concerns on groups of Somalian Muslims possibly being involved in Jihadist activity. My researchers and I visited Al-Farooq several times in February and March. We attended prayers, lectures, and Islamic study programs. Based on my knowledge of Islamic Jihadist mindset, ideology, materials used to advocate young people to commit violence against innocent people, and by studying from many Muslims themselves who have first-hand experiences with Islamic jihadist organizations, I provided my professional assessment of Al-Farooq.

In short, I opine the leadership of Al-Farooq in Nashville advocates Islamic Jihadist activity against America and innocent people. My analysis is based on the following:

1. Material (lectures, books, and manuals) by convicted terrorist supporters such as Ali al-Timimi and others is available and provided to worshippers (to include children).
2. Worshippers advocate Sharia law in its entirety.
3. A child informed my female researcher the Islamic teachers “hit” them during Islamic studies, and “her leg hurts.”
4. Worshippers advised polygamy is being practiced by some men of the mosque.
5. My female researcher was escorted by an Al-Farooq worshipper to a Somalian store “hidden” in a section of Nashville that could only be located if taken there. The worshipper informed my researcher the “store” had moved because of “government problems.” “Bootleg” copies of Islamic lectures/films were being provided at the store (observed by my researcher) and this store was involved in financial transactions such as sending money from America to Somalia/other locations.
6. I reviewed many of the materials distributed by the mosque and there are statements advocating killing people and destroying countries who do not live their lives under Sharia law and who oppress Islam/Muslims.
7. Sedition and treasonous activity is being advocated through the distribution of Islamic Jihadist materials.

Any of the above should justify law enforcement authorities to conduct a formal investigation. Contrary to this, they advised the activities are not illegal in Tennessee, and/or are covered under the First Amendment to our U.S. Constitution, and they had reservations about being involved because they may be sued by such organizations as CAIR. In addition they required “hard evidence” to investigate.

My further analysis concludes law enforcement authorities are not properly trained in Nashville to understand the complexities of Sharia law and appear to be more devoted to “Interfaith” dialogue with Islamic leaders than protecting the citizens of Nashville, to include innocent Muslims and non Muslims who do not adhere to the Islamic Jihadist ideology. Also, although they do not realize it, by cowering to CAIR, they themselves are being “terrorized” by the threats of such organizations.

It is my professional opinion the people (Muslim and non-Muslim) of Nashville face potential violence being advocated by the leadership of Al-Farooq, and a “slow and calculated” implementation of Sharia law. The authorities should be more concerned by lawsuits by innocent Americans against them for failing to fulfill the duties taxpayers are paying for than by organizations such as CAIR.

Until concerned American citizens demand our law enforcement and elected officials to perform their jobs and protect our country and children, we (America) will likely suffer another terrorist attack far worse than 9/11. This attack was ‘hard evidence’ Islamic Jihadist are better trained than our law enforcement and will utilize all tactics (to include deception) to destroy America and Israel.

Readers may go to my website – www.dgaubatz.blogspot.com – to further review information about Al-Farooq in Nashville, including video of the “library” containing Jihadist material.

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dave Gaubatz spent 20 years as an active duty USAF (Special Agent/OSI), 3.5 years as a civilian 1811 Federal Agent, trained by the U.S. State Department in Arabic, and was the first U.S. Federal Agent to enter Iraq in 2003. He is also a counterterrorism counterintelligence officer. Gaubatz currently owns "Wahhabi CT Publications" and conducts CT Research on behalf of high profile non-profit organizations. His website is here, and he can be reached at davegaubatz@gmail.com.