(Newser)
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A member of a California mosque was so ardently promoting jihad against the US that frightened Muslim officials obtained a restraining order against him—and reported him to the FBI. The only problem? He was an FBI mole out to get the goods on any terrorists who were lurking in the holy place. "Farouk al-Aziz," code name Oracle, regularly attended the Islamic Center of Irvine with a minuscule camera hidden in a button, and a microphone on his key chain, reports the Washington Post. Aziz was actually convicted forger Craig Monteilh—who's now suing the FBI for conspiracy to have him arrested.
He claims he was paid $177,000, tax-free, in 15 months, and trained to entrap Muslims as he built a case against a mosque member, which has been dropped by prosecutors. His revelations are causing a major new breach in FBI-Muslim relations. "The community feels betrayed," said Shakeel Syed, head of an umbrella group of some 75 California mosques. "They got a bona fide criminal, and obviously trained him and sent him to infiltrate mosques. When things went sour, they ditched him and he got mad. It's like a soap opera, for God's sake." FBI officials insist the situation is not representative of its relationship with American Muslims. The bureau "relies on the support, cooperation and trust of the communities it serves and protects," said a spokesman. (Click for more on the FBI's latest questionable actions.)
