Yaqub Mirza

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M. Yaqub Mirza^[1] (b. Karachi, Pakistan) is a Herndon,VA -based businessman and Islamic activist.

1 Synopsis
2 References
3 External links

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Background

Mirza holds a M.Sc. from University of Karachi (1969), a Ph.D. in Physics (1974) and M.A. in Teaching Science (1975) from University of Texas at Dallas.

[edit] Federal investigation

Mirza was chief executive of the SAAR Foundation / Safa Trust at the time of a March 20, 2002 raid by federal authorities under the auspicies of Operation Green Quest, a U.S. Customs Services unit charged with the investigation of alleged sources of terrorist financing. He was also a co-founder of the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) (along with Jamal al Barzinji), and was listed as an officer of virtually all the other business entities targeted in the raid.^[2]

Mirza would again become a subject of interest to federal investigators in their December, 2002 raid on the headquarters of P Tech, in response to concerns of Ptech employee's concerns about the company's connection to alleged terrorist funding sources. An attorney for Mirza has said Mirza was not involved in P Tech,^[3] and at the time of the raid, P Tech's own principals declined to say whether he was involved,^[4] despite the fact that papers filed in Virginia indicate that Mirza's Sterling Advisory Services controlled an entity called "Ptech Fund LLC."

Mirza has sternly denied any wrongdoing, and has pledged full cooperation with investigative authorities on all of these matters.

No charges have been brought against Mirza.

[edit] Other activities

Mirza was a co-founder and trustee (1984-2003) of Amana Mutual Funds Trust, a Bellingham, Washington-based mutual fund that operates in accordance with Sharia financial principles. Since 1998 has been President and CEO of Sterling Management Group, Inc (SMG).^[5]

Mirza is a respected lecturer on Entrepreneurship and has spoken at several institutions. ^[6]