(PatriotNews.net) – Convicted terrorist supporter Tarek Mehanna, who once translated Al-Qaeda materials and plotted attacks on U.S. shopping malls, is now teaching Islamic studies to children as young as four at a New York City mosque with ties to Mayor Eric Adams’ former advisor.
Key Takeaways
- Tarek Mehanna, convicted in 2011 for supporting Al-Qaeda and sentenced to 17 years in prison, is now teaching children at the Muslim Community Center in Staten Island
- The mosque is run by Mohamed Bahi, a former senior advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who announced Mehanna’s teaching role on Facebook before deleting the post
- Mehanna was convicted of conspiring to provide material support to Al-Qaeda, plotting attacks on U.S. shopping malls, and lying to federal investigators
- Critics, including former NY Assemblyman Dov Hikind, have raised serious concerns about a convicted terrorist supporter having access to impressionable children
- The mosque has been running the program four days a week since January 2025, with Mehanna teaching Arabic and Quran studies
From Federal Prison to Teaching Children
Tarek Mehanna, a man convicted on terrorism-related charges in 2011, has sparked controversy after securing a teaching position at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) of Staten Island. According to reports from the Middle East Forum and other sources, Mehanna has been teaching Arabic and Quran studies to children as young as four years old since January 2025. The program reportedly runs four days a week, raising serious concerns about the influence a convicted terrorism supporter might have on impressionable young minds.
The FBI’s Boston field office previously described Mehanna as a significant threat to national security. According to their 2011 press release, Mehanna was convicted of “conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda, conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country, and making false statements.” These weren’t minor charges – they represented a coordinated effort to support terrorist activities against the United States. His 17-year prison sentence reflected the severity of his actions, which included attempting to join terrorist training camps in Yemen.
Political Connections Raise Questions
The controversy extends beyond Mehanna himself to the mosque’s leadership and political connections. Mohamed Bahi, the founder of the Muslim Community Center, served as a senior advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. It was Bahi who announced Mehanna’s teaching role in a Facebook post that was later deleted after media scrutiny began. This connection raises troubling questions about oversight and vetting procedures within community organizations that have ties to city leadership.
Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind has been outspoken in his criticism of the arrangement. According to The Post Millennial, Hikind expressed grave concerns about Mehanna’s continued extremist views, citing writings where Mehanna compared the U.S. government to an “AIDS virus” and promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories. These statements suggest that Mehanna’s time in prison did little to moderate his radical perspectives, making his current role working with children all the more alarming.
A Dangerous Pattern of Radicalization
Mehanna’s case follows a troubling pattern seen in terrorist radicalization. Court documents revealed that he became radicalized after the September 11 attacks, eventually traveling to Yemen in search of terrorist training camps. When that effort failed, he returned to the United States and began translating and distributing materials promoting violent jihad. His activities were specifically designed to inspire others to engage in terrorism, according to federal prosecutors who secured his conviction.
“Tarek Mehanna wasn’t expressing his own views. He was promoting Al-Qaeda’s deadly ideology with the specific intent to inspire others to engage in violent jihad. That’s not protected speech – that’s material support for terrorism, and the jury rightly convicted him for it.”
After his prison term, reports indicate Mehanna was placed in a special prison unit specifically designed to prevent inmates from radicalizing others – a fact that makes his current role teaching young children all the more concerning. Critics argue that allowing someone with his background to influence children represents a serious lapse in judgment and potentially endangers community safety.
Defenders Claim Political Persecution
Despite the serious nature of his conviction, Mehanna has defenders who claim his case was politically motivated. Some supporters, including blogger Andy Worthington, have argued that Mehanna’s prosecution represented an overreach of government power, emphasizing that he never directly engaged in violent actions himself. These defenders frame his case as primarily a First Amendment issue, suggesting that his translations and online activities should have been protected as free speech.
However, federal prosecutors successfully argued that Mehanna’s activities went well beyond protected speech. The jury agreed, finding that his translations of jihadist materials and efforts to inspire others constituted material support for terrorism. His conviction on multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, reflected the gravity of his actions as determined by the American justice system.
Community Safety Concerns
The revelation that Mehanna is now teaching children has sent shockwaves through counterterrorism circles and community safety advocates. The Jihad Watch organization reported that the mosque’s decision to employ Mehanna represents a troubling disregard for the potential risks of exposing young children to someone with his background. Critics point out that religious education positions provide unique opportunities to influence developing minds, making proper vetting of instructors essential.
The Muslim Community Center’s decision to delete social media posts announcing Mehanna’s role after media scrutiny began suggests an awareness of the controversy his appointment would generate. Yet questions remain about why the mosque leadership thought it appropriate to hire him in the first place, and whether they fully considered the implications of placing a convicted terrorism supporter in a position of trust with children.
As this story continues to develop, parents, community leaders, and public officials will need to grapple with difficult questions about rehabilitation, second chances, and the paramount importance of protecting children from potentially harmful influences. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing security concerns with religious freedom and community autonomy in post-conviction scenarios.
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