In the shadows of Washington D.C. Halalaco, an Islamic store

Al Qaeda Cleric's Recordings Sold at Va. Store

By Erik Stakelbeck of CBN

WASHINGTON -- Some U.S. intelligence officials believe al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is now the world's most influential Islamic terrorist, surpassing even Osama bin Laden.

In recent months, al-Alwaki's jihadi "street cred" has risen to new levels.

He exchanged e-mails with Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hassan and mentored Christmas Day "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. He also reportedly served as the inspiration for Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad.

For more on this investigation, Pat Robertson spoke with CBN News Terrorism Analyst Erick Stakelbeck on the Wednesday, June 2 edition of The 700 Club. Click play to watch the interview. 

U.S. officials want al-Awlaki taken out.

They missed that chance just a few years back, when al-Awlaki was imam of the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

Al-Awlaki has since fled to Yemen. But a CBN News investigation has revealed that the al Qaeda cleric's presence is still being felt in the leafy suburb of Falls Church, just minutes from the nation's capital. 

The Last Place You'd Look

It seems like the last place you'd find CDs and DVDs by al Awlaki. But that's exactly what CBN News found during a recent visit to Halalco, a Muslim supermarket in Falls Church.Halalco is the largest store of its kind in the Washington, D.C. area.

In addition to halal meat, the store carries a large selection of Islamic books, recordings and clothing.

In an exclusive investigation, CBN News discovered that Halalco was also selling CDs and DVDs by none other than al-Awlaki. In the store, was a display devoted entirely to al-Awlaki's works just one day after he released a video calling for the killing of U.S. civilians.

When Halaco's management was asked for comment, CBN News was told to come back the following day to speak with store owner Abdul Mateen Chida. The next day, the al-Awlaki display was gone. CBN News asked Chida about the sudden change. "We have removed them now," he replied. When asked whether the display would still be up had CBN News never inquired about it, Chida answered, "…it is possible."

Anti-Semitic Materials for Sale

Chida told CBN News the Awlaki display contained no violent materials. He says he was just trying to sell them off and make some money."I don't agree with him at all," Chida said. "But his lectures that he had earlier were excellent--they were very good sellers. And there is nothing in this one which would you can say is terrorist material." Former federal terrorism prosecutor Andrew McCarthy told CBN News that doesn't always matter. "I prosecuted a guy a number of years ago named the Blind Sheikh whose commands to violence were usually couched in sometimes lengthy sermons," explained McCarthy, whose new book is called The Grand Jihad. "So when somebody says to you, 'not to worry, he's just talking about the prophet (Mohammed),' that's when you should start to worry."

CBN News purchased additional materials at Halalco, including notorious anti-Semitic works like The Protocols of Zion and The International Jew and a book by Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who has voiced support for Iraqi insurgents and suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

CBN News also found copies of a book written by convicted terrorist Abu Hamza al-Masri. Chida said he did not know that al-Masri was a convicted terrorist. He said he is unaware of the contents of his books and orders them based on their titles. Chida was asked if young Muslims could be inspired to commit violence by some of the materials sold at Halalco."Those things, no one can control," he answered.

Protected by the First Amendent

As for al-Awlaki, CBN News also found his materials for sale at Amazon.com.

The online bookselling giant did not respond to a request for comment.

However, a spokesperson from the FBI's Washington, D.C. field office told CBN News that al-Awlaki's recordings are protected under the First Amendment.

Link to Original article

Erick Stakelbeck

Erick Stakelbeck is a correspondent and terrorism analyst for CBN News. He covers the global war on terror, U.S. national security, the Middle East and the growth of radical Islam at home and abroad for the network’s Washington, D.C. bureau. Erick is a sought after authority on terrorism and national security issues with extensive experience in television, radio, print, and Internet media. Erick produces and reports feature stories for CBN’s nationally televised news programs on issues such as Al-Qaeda’s worldwide operations; Iran’s nuclear program; the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; Hamas, Hezbollah and existential threats to Israel’s security; and Islamic radicalism in the United States and Europe. He has interviewed numerous lawmakers and international diplomats, as well as Islamic terrorists. Erick has made hundreds of appearances as a commentator on leading television and radio programs. His appearances include: The O’Reilly Factor, The Sean Hannity Show, The Big Story with John Gibson, Your World with Neil Cavuto, Fox Weekend Live, Fox Online, Fox and Friends, The Live Desk with Martha McCallum, America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly,  CNN Headline’s Glenn Beck Show, Lou Dobbs Tonight, and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Erick has also worked as a senior writer and analyst at the Investigative Project on Terrorism, a leading counterterrorism think tank founded by terrorism expert Steven Emerson. His articles on Islamic extremism, global terrorism and national security have appeared in the Wall Street Journal Europe, Weekly Standard, Washington Times, New York Post, New York Sun, Jerusalem Post, and National Review Online, among other publications. Erick has delivered addresses at several public forums, including speeches before members of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, and the Dallas Council on Foreign Relations, among others, on terrorism and Middle East-related issues. Erick has contributed weekly “video blog” commentaries at Hot Air.com, a cutting-edge Web site founded by bestselling author and Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin. He has also worked as a contributing editor for David Horowitz's Frontpage Magazine.com.Erick is a graduate of Holy Family University in Philadelphia. His blog, “Stakelbeck on Terror,” can be found at CBNNews.com