The Seamen’s Church in Pasadena, Houston, has been sold to the Islamic organisation Mohammadia Madrasha. The property was formally taken over on 27 October, and the organisation is already advertising that it has become a masjid, that is to say a mosque, after the church had been deconsecrated and put up for sale for some time.
Another mosque in the same network recently advertised an event featuring Siraj Wahhaj, an imam regarded as an anti-Western hate preacher, particularly in his views on homosexuals, Jews and terrorists.
“Welcome to the Islamic Centre in Pasadena, TX (ICP). ICP Masjid is committed to fostering a growing and spiritually enriched community”, write the Muslims who are now set to use the Seamen’s Church in Texas, on the website set up for the former church. Masjid means mosque.
The Islamic Centre of Pasadena (ICP), in Texas, USA, is already publicising that it has purchased a church and that it is to become a mosque. We do not know who the people in the photograph are, as the Islamic Centre does not specify this, but we assume they are the sellers and buyers, representing the church and the mosque respectively. We also assume that the cross on the tower has already been removed. Photo: The ICP Islamic Centre’s website.
The Seamen’s Church is pleased with the sale of the church
– We are pleased that the sale has now been finalised. We moved out of there a year ago and are well underway with our new venture in Houston. The proceeds from the sale will be managed in such a way that they benefit the Seamen’s Church’s objectives, says General Secretary Jeffrey Huseby, in a brief press release on the Seamen’s Church’s website.
It states that the property has become too large, and that the largest user groups live and work on the other side of the city.
– The property has been a good base for our work, with space for various activities and a location halfway between the harbour and the area with the highest concentration of permanent Norwegian residents. Although we still visit ships, there are fewer calls with Norwegians on board, so it is now more practical to be located closer to the Norwegian businesses in the city,” says Huseby.
Sold for less than the asking price
The Seamen’s Church outside Houston was sold for 1.55 million dollars, which is equivalent to approximately 14.4 million Norwegian kroner. Verdinytt has also reported on the sale of the church, and according to them, the asking price was much higher. That is, 2.5 million dollars. Which, if true, means that the sale price was $950,000, or 38 per cent, lower than the initial asking price.
Mohammadia Madrasha, the organisation that is the formal purchaser of the Seamen’s Church, has bought several churches in the US to convert them into mosques.
“With branches in Michigan and Florida, our aim is to transform this church into a vibrant and inclusive mosque, where our Islamic community can flourish to its full potential,” writes Mohammadia Madrasha on the website of a church in Rowlett, Michigan, which they have purchased to convert into a mosque – or cultural centre, as they often refer to their mosques. The website abbreviates this to mmi-america.org.
Mohammadia Madrasha has also established itself in the state of New York, specifically in the small town of Cheektowaga, which has a population of just under 90,000. Mostly Europeans, according to previous statistics, which indicate that the majority are of Polish, German, Italian and Irish origin, but there is now likely to be an increase in the number of Bangladeshis.
For although the websites of both Mohammadia Madrasha and the individual mosques do not list any names or contact details, it is clear that Islam from Bangladesh is the driving force.
Aiming to train leaders
And they have money. Vacancies for imams and teachers are being advertised at Islamic centres within this network in many parts of the US. These include the Devon Cultural Centre in Chicago, the aforementioned Islamic Centre of Rowlett (ICR), the Islamic Centre of New York (ICNY) – that is, in Cheektowaga – and it is surely only a matter of time before vacancies are advertised for the former Seamen’s Church as well.
«We invite qualified individuals to join our team. Together, let us educate, inspire and nurture our children to become future leaders with strong Islamic values, excellent character and a deep commitment to Islam.»
One of the mosques in the Mohammadia Madrasha network recently advertised meetings with the highly controversial imam Siraj Wahhaj. The second image shows what integration looks like in the US. Photo: Facebook.
Sister mosque advertised Siraj Wahhaj
The children being taught, and converts – whom they also target – may be influenced by the ideas that Imam Siraj Wahhaj recently brought to this community. The Seamen’s Church’s sister mosque in Cheektowaga, New York, certainly advertised a meeting with him that was organised in mid-September.
“An evening with Imam Siraj Wahhaj – For the love of the Rohingya refugees. Join us for a powerful and inspiring evening with the legendary Imam Siraj Wahhaj, as we stand together in solidarity with the Rohingya refugees facing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises.»
The Rohingya were driven out of Myanmar to Bangladesh, where some say they actually belong. However, thousands of Rohingya are now said to be in the US, where Siraj Wahhaj, amongst others, is being used as a draw to raise money for them.
Supporter of Islam Net
There was some uproar when Mamdani began associating with Siraj Wahhaj in New York in 2025. *Document* wrote:
“Siraj Wahhaj is an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing, and is known for expressing support for jihad and for his homophobic statements.
In Norway, he is known as a hate preacher and a supporter of Islam Net and Fahad Qureshi’s fundraising project for the Dawah Centre in Groruddalen. He was a speaker at the organisation’s Easter conference in 2016.»
The newspaper New York Post took the opportunity to remind readers of what Siraj Wahhaj stands for:
“The left-wing mayoral candidate in New York, Zohran Mamdani, took delight this week in campaigning alongside a notorious, homophobic imam from Brooklyn, who is an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing and has been linked to other terrorist activity in the US — including calling for ‘jihad’ in the Big Apple.»
A few years ago, Wahhaj was also linked to an extremist camp in New Mexico, where his son was training young children.
But being labelled an extremist need not necessarily be a bad thing for someone seeking to get ahead in the West today. In fact, it is sometimes almost the opposite.
Perhaps Wahhaj or his ilk will also turn up at a Seamen’s Church – a former one, perhaps?
Mamdani sparks outrage after meeting with hate preacher and Islam Net spokesperson Siraj Wahhaj
