DEARBORN — The Islamic Center of America’s board of trustees released a statement on Sunday, August 1 in response to accusations from a little-known group that Imam Hassan Qazwini embezzled donation money by sending it to his father’s company in California.

Imam Hassan Qazwini

Following a memorial service for the late Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah of Lebanon in July, a group calling itself the “Muslim Youth Congregation” called for the return of $350,000 to the center and accused the board of trustees of negligence in the matter. The group had left notes on cars in the center’s parking lot during the ceremony.

In the statement released by the Islamic Center of America, the board denied the accusations and called them an attempt to “destroy the image of the Islamic Center of America, Imam Qazwini, and the Young Muslim Association.”

The statement added that the group making the accusations is in no way affiliated with the Young Muslim Association.

Qazwini, who was born in Iraq, denied accusations that he spoke out against supporters of Fadlallah as well, saying that he had a special relationship with the late cleric while adding that he was once praised by Fadlallah in a TV interview.

Qazwini also denied the accusations of embezzlement against him and said that the 350,000 dollar amount is in the center with all the relevant documents and payment receipts.

“I am going to submit all the documents that prove the falsity of these accusations,” he told The Arab American News.

Qazwini did say he donated a portion of other transferred funds, about a quarter of the amount in question, to orphans in the Iraqi city of Karbala and specifically to a charity organization run by his father. He added that he chose to make the donation because of the massive amount of refugees in Iraq, with UNICEF estimating the amount at about 5 million.

The Islamic Center of America’s statement said that all donations are accounted for and that they will continue to go to the right places.

“The Islamic Center of America has nobly served our community with the highest level of integrity, honor, and leadership over the last 50 years,” the statement said.

“The Islamic Center Board of Trustees is pleased to advise the community it has always maintained the highest levels of integrity with regards to donations. Every dollar given to the Islamic Center financial office has been safely deposited into the bank account of the Islamic Center of America. We maintain thorough records of all money received from our community supporters and want to reassure you that your money has been, and will continue to be, well-spent on paying down our five million dollar loan, as well as paying for daily operating expenses, and religious programs.”