Kyl presses for NIAC inquiry
Nov 20th, 2009November 20, 2009
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1109/Kyl_presses_for_NIAC_inquiry.html?showall
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican source says, sent written questions to Attorney General Eric Holder following yesterday’s meeting, going after the National Iranian American Council, a group drawing conservative ire because it advocates a soft(er) line on Iran and the subject of a Washington Times piece raising questions about its lobbying status.
Kyl’s questions:
The November 13, 2009 Washington Times article, “Iran advocacy group said to skirt lobby rules” alleges that the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) may be operating as an undeclared lobby and may be guilty of violating tax laws, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lobbying disclosure laws.
• Is DOJ investigating the allegations put forward in this article? If not, why?
• Has DOJ found the allegations in this article to be true?
• What is the proper recourse against a 501(c)(3) group that engages in lobbying activity on behalf of a foreign government without registering as a lobbyist or filing papers with DOJ indicating that the group is a local agent of a foreign government?
Dear Mr Sen .Jon Kyl
Thank you very much for this question from Attorny General .It is very imprtant for Iranian .
Sicerely Yours
Trita Parsi was interviewed last night(11/21/09) at KIRN670AM Persian Radio Station in Los Angeles.
His representation as an Iranian society delegate was questioned and put to test! He refused to speak Farsi and his interview was in English. A caller asked him if he represnts the Iranians why doesn’t he speak Farsi and why we have never had a chance to see him in our gatherings in Los Angeles, where half a million Iranians live , in recent years- the largest group in diaspora? He sidetracked the question!
Lets find out where their money comes from and how NIAC and other lobbyists on Iran activities are financed. This offers a logical course of action to take by the Federal agencies overseeing the political activities of suspected entities. PK
The Islami Regim of Iran(selact) has been working hard to etablish some satelights around the world for keeping theirsef in power by force. Regim of Tehran is spending a lots oil money for this matter.
There are so many example that shows what they have done so far. All mousqs and pro Islamic organization some how support by Islamic regim of Iran in different country.
NIAC and other lobbyists on Iran activities are not a leagal orgonaziation. If US put every member of these orgonization under microscop will find out where they coming from and what is their plan and how they get suport?
Groups like NIAC are not only backed financially by the Islamic Republic, but also supported by American companies who want to get their feet in the Iranian market. This is such a shortsighted view, but according to them, “business is business”!!! It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a regime which is murdering thousands of its citizens, who has notorious prisons such as “Kahrizak”. It’s so sad that certain sectors in this country (US) are so worried about Gitmo, or Abu Goreib, but when it comes to Iran, they’re totally ignorant, and they turn their faces around. Why? Because, our nation is wrong to oppose a regime who’s standing to the U.S. This is such a pathetic view, but unfortunately some people including some academics (Iranians or otherwise) are blind to thirty years of human rights violations. Here the role of people like Trita Parsi and NIAC are the worst. They have for the past 12 years defended a dialogue between the US and such a regime, but now, when the Iranian people are ready to kick these murderers out of power, all of a sudden, Mr. Parsi is jumping on the bandwagon, and now he remembers that the Iranians have human rights too.
Dr. Parviz Koupai was right to mention in his comment about Mr. Parsi’s lack of direct connection with the Iranian community, and the answer is that he knows that he’s truly hated by all who know his filthy character. Last time he was in L.A. about a year ago, he was booed out of the meeting he had planned with the help of some Iranian members of the Amnesty International. I’m glad I was there too!
Dear Senator Kyl,
As an Iranian-American, residing in California, I wanted to sincerely thank you for your efforts to have an investigation opened on the nature of NIAC, a lobbyist group, which “claims” to represent our community in the U.S., whereas in reality they’re only lobbying for the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime which has been labeled as a terrorist regime very correctly, and a regime which has violated the rights of its citizens every day for the past thirty years.
I think it’s very courageous of you to find out why a group like NIAC, which is headed by Trita Parsi (who’s well known among the Iranian-American community to speak for the mullahs) can have such an access to our policy makers, and media, while illegally work on behalf of the Islamic Republic. We do know that he’s backed by certain American groups who want a closer relationship with this barbaric regime, so, please continue your efforts, and many of us, are ready to help you.
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