Holy Land charity convicted in terrorism financing trial

[Insomniac]

www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25charity.html?ref=us (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25charity.html?ref=us)


http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/11/24/us/25charity_600.JPG
DALLAS — On their second try, federal prosecutors won sweeping convictions Monday against five leaders of a Muslim charity in a retrial of the largest terrorism-financing case in the United States since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The five defendants, all leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, based in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, were convicted on all 108 criminal counts against them, including support of terrorism, money laundering and tax fraud. The group was accused of funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an Islamist organization the government declared to be a terrorist group in 1995.

“Money is the lifeblood of terrorism,” Richard B. Roper, the United States attorney whose office prosecuted the case, said Monday in a statement. “The jury’s decision demonstrates that U.S. citizens will not tolerate those who provide financial support to terrorist organizations.”

The defendants argued that the Holy Land Foundation, once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, was engaged in legitimate humanitarian aid for community welfare programs and Palestinian orphans.

The jury, which deliberated for eight days, reached a starkly different result than the jury in the first trial, which ended in a mistrial on most charges in October 2007, after nearly two months of testimony and 19 days of deliberations.

The government shuttered the Holy Land Foundation in December 2001 and seized its assets, a move President Bush heralded at the time as “another step in the war on terrorism.”

The charity’s leaders — Ghassan Elashi, Shukri Abu-Baker, Mufid Abdulqader, Abdulrahman Odeh and Mohammad El-Mezain — were not accused in the 2004 indictment of directly financing suicide bombings or terrorist violence. Instead, they accused of illegally contributing to Hamas after the United States designated it a terrorist group.

The defendants could be sentenced to 15 years on each count of supporting a terrorist group, and 20 years on each count of money laundering. Leaders of the foundation, which is now defunct, might also have to forfeit millions of dollars.

Khalil Meek, a longtime spokesman for a coalition of Holy Land Foundation supporters called Hungry for Justice, which includes national Muslim and civil rights groups, said supporters were “devastated” by the verdict.

“We respect the jury’s decision, but we disagree and we think the defendants are completely innocent,” Mr. Meek said. “For the last two years we’ve watched this trial unfold, and we have yet to see any evidence of a criminal act introduced to a jury. This jury found that humanitarian aid is a crime.”

He added, “We intend to appeal the verdict, and we remain convinced that we will win.”

The prosecutor, Barry Jonas, told jurors in closing arguments last week that they should not be deceived by the foundation’s cover of humanitarian work, describing the charities it financed as terrorist recruitment centers that were part of a “womb to the tomb” cycle.

After the mistrial last year, critics said the government had offered a weak, complicated case and had failed to recognize that juries were not as quick to convict Muslim defendants accused of supporting terrorism as they had once been. Prosecutors spent more time in the second trial explaining the complexities of the case and painting a clearer picture of the money trail. They also dropped many of the original charges.

“Today’s verdicts are important milestones in America’s efforts against financiers of terrorism,” Patrick Rowan, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement. Mr. Rowan added that the prosecution “demonstrates our resolve to ensure that humanitarian relief efforts are not used as a mechanism to disguise and enable support for terrorist groups.”

Nancy Hollander, a lawyer from Albuquerque who represented Mr. Abu-Baker, said the defendants would appeal based on a number of issues, including the anonymous testimony of an expert, which she said was a first.

“Our clients were not even allowed to review their own statements because they were classified — statements that they made over the course of many years that the government wiretapped,” Ms. Hollander said. “They were not allowed to go back and review them. There were statements from alleged co-conspirators that included handwritten notes. Nobody knew who wrote them; nobody knew when they were written. There are a plethora of issues.”

Noor Elashi, a 23-year-old writer who is the daughter of Ghassan Elashi, said she was “heartbroken” that jurors had accepted what she called the fear-mongering of the prosecution.

“I am utterly shocked at this outcome,” Ms. Elashi said. “This is a truly low point for the United States of America.” She said supporters would not rest until the verdict was overturned.

“My dad is a law-abiding citizen who was persecuted for his humanitarian work in Palestine and his political beliefs,” Ms. Elashi said. “Today I did not shed a single tear. My dad’s smile was radiant. That’s because he saved lives, and now he’s paying the price.”

According to freedomtogive.com, a Web site that calls itself the voice of the defendants’ relatives and friends, the foundation “simply provided food, clothes, shelter, medical supplies and education to the suffering people in Palestine and other countries.”
First of all, these claims really aren't mutually exclusive because unlike al-Qaida, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah do a lot of sincerely and genuinely good work for the people of their communities. But then they also lob mortars at Israeli schoolchildren.

But if this charity is held accountable for the money they sent to Hamas to spend, who's responsible for the money the U.S. has sent and is sending to right-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America and the Middle East? Or even the planes, tanks, and missiles the IDF uses.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I believe that this was totally legit or everyone running it is totally innocent. But unless they were specifically handing money to an organization for the purposes of strapping bombs on people or putting AK-47s in their hands, I don't see what case the government can make that it isn't making against itself.

[Archangel]

Israel's Merkava tanks are Israeli designed and made, as are their small arms and most of their aircraft weapons.

Even the AH-64s, F-15s and F-16s they use are heavily modified and largely licence-built.

[kid_vidrio]

Got tangent?

[Archangel]

I'm not saying that some of the things that the Israelis do aren't bad enough to be classified as terrorism: I'm just sick of hearing that commonplace bullshit that the US are handing Israel the weapons with which to carry it out.

[IdiotBrain]

Side note: Merkava mkIV's are the SHIIIIT.


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_99GOge_oCb4/R92hwRTBIQI/AAAAAAAACXs/ORt0N99HuBE/alpy_a_izrael_jar_2008+084.jpg

[Insomniac]

I'm not saying that some of the things that the Israelis do aren't bad enough to be classified as terrorism: I'm just sick of hearing that commonplace bullshit that the US are handing Israel the weapons with which to carry it out.

I'm not saying we hand Israel weapons, but you would agree that we in the U.S. support them more than anyone else in the Middle East, and I'd argue that if we keep someone in power because we think it benefits us (like Pakistan or earlier, the Shah of Iran), we're in some way responsible for the actions of that state.

[redsox39]

www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25charity.html?ref=us (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/us/25charity.html?ref=us)


http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/11/24/us/25charity_600.JPG
DALLAS — On their second try, federal prosecutors won sweeping convictions Monday against five leaders of a Muslim charity in a retrial of the largest terrorism-financing case in the United States since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The five defendants, all leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, based in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, were convicted on all 108 criminal counts against them, including support of terrorism, money laundering and tax fraud. The group was accused of funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an Islamist organization the government declared to be a terrorist group in 1995.

“Money is the lifeblood of terrorism,” Richard B. Roper, the United States attorney whose office prosecuted the case, said Monday in a statement. “The jury’s decision demonstrates that U.S. citizens will not tolerate those who provide financial support to terrorist organizations.”

The defendants argued that the Holy Land Foundation, once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, was engaged in legitimate humanitarian aid for community welfare programs and Palestinian orphans.

The jury, which deliberated for eight days, reached a starkly different result than the jury in the first trial, which ended in a mistrial on most charges in October 2007, after nearly two months of testimony and 19 days of deliberations.

The government shuttered the Holy Land Foundation in December 2001 and seized its assets, a move President Bush heralded at the time as “another step in the war on terrorism.”

The charity’s leaders — Ghassan Elashi, Shukri Abu-Baker, Mufid Abdulqader, Abdulrahman Odeh and Mohammad El-Mezain — were not accused in the 2004 indictment of directly financing suicide bombings or terrorist violence. Instead, they accused of illegally contributing to Hamas after the United States designated it a terrorist group.

The defendants could be sentenced to 15 years on each count of supporting a terrorist group, and 20 years on each count of money laundering. Leaders of the foundation, which is now defunct, might also have to forfeit millions of dollars.

Khalil Meek, a longtime spokesman for a coalition of Holy Land Foundation supporters called Hungry for Justice, which includes national Muslim and civil rights groups, said supporters were “devastated” by the verdict.

“We respect the jury’s decision, but we disagree and we think the defendants are completely innocent,” Mr. Meek said. “For the last two years we’ve watched this trial unfold, and we have yet to see any evidence of a criminal act introduced to a jury. This jury found that humanitarian aid is a crime.”

He added, “We intend to appeal the verdict, and we remain convinced that we will win.”

The prosecutor, Barry Jonas, told jurors in closing arguments last week that they should not be deceived by the foundation’s cover of humanitarian work, describing the charities it financed as terrorist recruitment centers that were part of a “womb to the tomb” cycle.

After the mistrial last year, critics said the government had offered a weak, complicated case and had failed to recognize that juries were not as quick to convict Muslim defendants accused of supporting terrorism as they had once been. Prosecutors spent more time in the second trial explaining the complexities of the case and painting a clearer picture of the money trail. They also dropped many of the original charges.

“Today’s verdicts are important milestones in America’s efforts against financiers of terrorism,” Patrick Rowan, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement. Mr. Rowan added that the prosecution “demonstrates our resolve to ensure that humanitarian relief efforts are not used as a mechanism to disguise and enable support for terrorist groups.”

Nancy Hollander, a lawyer from Albuquerque who represented Mr. Abu-Baker, said the defendants would appeal based on a number of issues, including the anonymous testimony of an expert, which she said was a first.

“Our clients were not even allowed to review their own statements because they were classified — statements that they made over the course of many years that the government wiretapped,” Ms. Hollander said. “They were not allowed to go back and review them. There were statements from alleged co-conspirators that included handwritten notes. Nobody knew who wrote them; nobody knew when they were written. There are a plethora of issues.”

Noor Elashi, a 23-year-old writer who is the daughter of Ghassan Elashi, said she was “heartbroken” that jurors had accepted what she called the fear-mongering of the prosecution.

“I am utterly shocked at this outcome,” Ms. Elashi said. “This is a truly low point for the United States of America.” She said supporters would not rest until the verdict was overturned.

“My dad is a law-abiding citizen who was persecuted for his humanitarian work in Palestine and his political beliefs,” Ms. Elashi said. “Today I did not shed a single tear. My dad’s smile was radiant. That’s because he saved lives, and now he’s paying the price.”

According to freedomtogive.com, a Web site that calls itself the voice of the defendants’ relatives and friends, the foundation “simply provided food, clothes, shelter, medical supplies and education to the suffering people in Palestine and other countries.”
First of all, these claims really aren't mutually exclusive because unlike al-Qaida, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah do a lot of sincerely and genuinely good work for the people of their communities. But then they also lob mortars at Israeli schoolchildren.

But if this charity is held accountable for the money they sent to Hamas to spend, who's responsible for the money the U.S. has sent and is sending to right-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America and the Middle East? Or even the planes, tanks, and missiles the IDF uses.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I believe that this was totally legit or everyone running it is totally innocent. But unless they were specifically handing money to an organization for the purposes of strapping bombs on people or putting AK-47s in their hands, I don't see what case the government can make that it isn't making against itself.


You have a legitimate point, but citizens cannot go into a foreign country and drop bombs or shoot people either. The "government" can do many things a civilian or an organization cannot do. You cannot lock someone up against his will, but our Jails are full of people. Lots of examples, making you last point kinda of moot.

[Insomniac]

"I'm saying when the government does it, it's not illegal"?

[redsox39]

"I'm saying when the government does it, it's not illegal"?

Basically. What do you want? a sugar coated answer?

[supervixen*]

I'm not saying that some of the things that the Israelis do aren't bad enough to be classified as terrorism: I'm just sick of hearing that commonplace bullshit that the US are handing Israel the weapons with which to carry it out.
As much as -I- hate to admit it - the US did hand Israel a large amount of its weapon. Whatever Israel modified of it and built on its own is a whole other story.

But see, the main difference between Israel and the Hammas is that whenever happens an extremely rare case of an Israeli citizen attacking a Muslim - the government arrest the man and throws him in jail. And they wont be sent free in a veeeeery long time either, if ever at all.
See here, attacking a human being for the sole reason of them being different is frowned upon in so many levels and is against the law. Human life is -the- value Israel is trying to protect, while in Gaza and its likes you'll see how innocent 5-year-olds are being brainwashed to kill and destroy everything that's not like them, they send these kids to suicide bomb in Israeli territory, and if a single non-muslim soul gets hurt on the action - that, for them, was worth their kid's life.

I, myself, had the "pleasure" to catch a trapped AMBULANCE with a pregnant lady, that looks like is about to give birth any second, inside, to car-bomb an Israeli busy city area.

Now, the Hammas SUPPORTS this kind of actions, and for the same exact cause, nonetheless. And despite what you might think/know, Israel actually used to transfer money to the Hammas, after it was elected to run Gaza's gov. Just like the US did. Israel and the US both wanted to believe that now, with a strong goverment, the Gaza citizens will have good lives. That the Hammas will invest in proper education for the young, in public areas for them to enjoy, in building proper water and electricity systems... But alas, the Hammas took all this money and invest it in MORE terror activity against these 2 countries that tried to help it up (and a few more on the way, but nvm...).
So don't let anybody tell you they transfer this money anywhere other than terror ((And to the palaces of their very few leaders)). They could've had maybe not a well-built country with high life quality, but surely be on the way there if all this money wasn't invested in terrorism.

Now tell me how is it that anything Israel do is anything like terrorism.


Oh, and yes, next time I burst in a Muslim family's house to bring in their 20 years old boy for questioning and possibly jail (because the f**ker try help executing suicide bombing in an Israeli city), and his 10-13 years old brother breaks a chair on my back and tries to cut open the soldier next to me - I'm going to hit this bananas-eater right back and f**king tear his eyes out with my fingers, unlike last time that i backed out of the apartment. Call me a terrorist like that, please.
Edit: And kill him too, if I have to. Just figured it probably wasn't clear enough.

[supervixen*]

"I'm saying when the government does it, it's not illegal"?
Yes.
The first thing you're talking about is called War. Good reason or not? up to everyone to decide on their own. Legitimate? Yes.
The second thing you're talking about is called Defending Human Rights. Legitimate? Definitely.

[taters]

Anyone else remember those bullshit "everytime you smoke marijuana, you support terrorism" commercials?

[Claydon]

ummm, hey thanks for nothing as per the usual tater.

[Claydon]

I bet that money bought a shit ton of Semtex.

[mongo]

Anyone else remember those bullshit "everytime you smoke marijuana, you support terrorism" commercials?

no. but i bet most black dudes do.

[taters]

Anyone else remember those bullshit "everytime you smoke marijuana, you support terrorism" commercials?

no. but i bet most black dudes do.

Indeed. If that commercial is right, weve been funding terror.

[redsox39]

I'm not saying that some of the things that the Israelis do aren't bad enough to be classified as terrorism: I'm just sick of hearing that commonplace bullshit that the US are handing Israel the weapons with which to carry it out.
As much as -I- hate to admit it - the US did hand Israel a large amount of its weapon. Whatever Israel modified of it and built on its own is a whole other story.

But see, the main difference between Israel and the Hammas is that whenever happens an extremely rare case of an Israeli citizen attacking a Muslim - the government arrest the man and throws him in jail. And they wont be sent free in a veeeeery long time either, if ever at all.
See here, attacking a human being for the sole reason of them being different is frowned upon in so many levels and is against the law. Human life is -the- value Israel is trying to protect, while in Gaza and its likes you'll see how innocent 5-year-olds are being brainwashed to kill and destroy everything that's not like them, they send these kids to suicide bomb in Israeli territory, and if a single non-muslim soul gets hurt on the action - that, for them, was worth their kid's life.

I, myself, had the "pleasure" to catch a trapped AMBULANCE with a pregnant lady, that looks like is about to give birth any second, inside, to car-bomb an Israeli busy city area.

Now, the Hammas SUPPORTS this kind of actions, and for the same exact cause, nonetheless. And despite what you might think/know, Israel actually used to transfer money to the Hammas, after it was elected to run Gaza's gov. Just like the US did. Israel and the US both wanted to believe that now, with a strong goverment, the Gaza citizens will have good lives. That the Hammas will invest in proper education for the young, in public areas for them to enjoy, in building proper water and electricity systems... But alas, the Hammas took all this money and invest it in MORE terror activity against these 2 countries that tried to help it up (and a few more on the way, but nvm...).
So don't let anybody tell you they transfer this money anywhere other than terror ((And to the palaces of their very few leaders)). They could've had maybe not a well-built country with high life quality, but surely be on the way there if all this money wasn't invested in terrorism.

Now tell me how is it that anything Israel do is anything like terrorism.


Oh, and yes, next time I burst in a Muslim family's house to bring in their 20 years old boy for questioning and possibly jail (because the f**ker try help executing suicide bombing in an Israeli city), and his 10-13 years old brother breaks a chair on my back and tries to cut open the soldier next to me - I'm going to hit this bananas-eater right back and f**king tear his eyes out with my fingers, unlike last time that i backed out of the apartment. Call me a terrorist like that, please.
Edit: And kill him too, if I have to. Just figured it probably wasn't clear enough.


Now Now SV, I know you are over there, and you SHOULD have a good conceot of what is going on, being first hand and all. But you should know that supporting Israel isn't the hip thing to do anymore. The poor peace loving Palestinians are just trying to live their lives without the violent oppression of the Israeli army kicking in doors and shooting babies. So just knock it off!

j/k Kick some ass for me too...

[supervixen*]

Now Now SV, I know you are over there, and you SHOULD have a good conceot of what is going on, being first hand and all. But you should know that supporting Israel isn't the hip thing to do anymore. The poor peace loving Palestinians are just trying to live their lives without the violent oppression of the Israeli army kicking in doors and shooting babies. So just knock it off!

j/k Kick some ass for me too...
Heh.. You know, when I think about it - you're so right. I should start fighting for the rights of ter--*clear throat* I mean innocent bomb-wearing-men. :D
lol

Now a serious moment: don't get me wrong - I do acknowledge that there are more than just two Palestinians or so who'd like to see the countries live in peace. But it doesn't mean that me respecting them and wanting the same will make me cut any slack to the ones who want to see us all burning-no-matter-what.

And.... I wish I could do it on regular basis again, but I've already finished my military service long ago. Now I'm only on reserve service. Called in between once and four times a year, on average.
Also my man doesn't like me going there even on those rare cases. :(

[Archangel]

Yeah, but bombing the living fuck out of Lebanon because of two missing dead bodies seems like a bit of overkill, just saying.

[redsox39]

Tater's is definetly on the Other side on this one. He sounds an awful lot like the Palestinians.

"One time, this one cop, shot a black man, so now I hate all power hungry racist cops who oppress black men and I hope they all die."

Now replace Cop with Israel, and Black man with Palestinian.

[supervixen*]

Tater's is definetly on the Other side on this one. He sounds an awful lot like the Palestinians.

"One time, this one cop, shot a black man, so now I hate all power hungry racist cops who oppress black men and I hope they all die."

Now replace Cop with Israel, and Black man with Palestinian.

Haha. Totally.

Yeah, but bombing the living fuck out of Lebanon because of two missing dead bodies seems like a bit of overkill, just saying.
True enough.Only try three instead of two, and add a few more events of terrorists trying to kidnap Israeli soldiers that Israel didn't do a thing about it but trying to retrieve the soldiers back (and note, that when I say "soldiers" I don't mean "people-who-go-kill-innocent-men-women-and-children-in-their-schools/malls/whatnots" but young men and women who serve to prevent these things from happening on both sides) quietly.
Oh, and also add to your little equation the fact that Israel already released hundreds, and thousands, of dead AND alive terrorists, to the Hammas and Hezbollah's demands to get kidnapped soldiers back. And in case you're wondering: we're still waiting for them to release the kidnapped soldiers as they promised. By the way - not knowing even if they're even alive. I bet you wouldn't wanna be on the families' side, would you?
NOW bomb the scheisse out of Hezbollah? Thank you.
Yes, it's sad. Some of Lebanon's buildings where damaged/destroyed during the war, but it is their fault alone to let terrorists in and give them shelter and hide while they plan and execute their next terror action(s).

And one more thing: Did you know there are Israeli cities that suffer missile attacks from Gaza almost EVERY DAY? for years now.
-INNOCENT- citizens that are being attacked. Not even soldiers. Kindergartens, elementary schools, houses, shopping centers, etc that have missiles launched at them from the Gaza strip for no reason whatsoever. Did you know THAT? Or do they forget to mention these attacks on the BBC?
And that's just after Israel tried to show good will and promote peace convos by evacuating Israeli citizens from their homes, entire settlements, and hand it over on a silver plate to the Palestinians. You think they built houses/schools/anything positive on those lands, by the way, since then? 'fcourse not. They only spread their missile launchers wider, and closer to more main Israeli cities.

[Archangel]

Hey, calm down, woman; I'm on your side.

[supervixen*]

Hey, calm down, woman; I'm on your side.
That's supposed to be the point where I wave a knife on one hand, a flattop on the other, grind teeth and yell "I'm calm!", right?...

>.>

<.<

[taters]

American muslims send money that ends up in the hands of the elected Palestinian ruling party, which often uses the money to defend against (or attack, depending on how you see it) Isreali aggression = Terrorism

American Banks, production companies, Investment companies, private citizens and government sends money to the israeli government that they use to buy weapons to kill Palestianian terrorist and innocent alike = Acceptable


Dont you just love hypocrisy.

Before the Pro-zionist,anti-muslim/anti-arab crowd jumps on my ass here, Ill say its stupid for us to be involved with EITHER side in this religious land war conflict. If we were smart like the brits, we would have let them deal with it themselves. We have our own problems. We shouldnt be sending EITHER side a PENNY of our money. Especially now.

[riseabove!]

The united states does not "Give" anyone weapons without getting something in return.

[supervixen*]

The united states does not "Give" anyone weapons without getting something in return.
True that.
But lets not count the things Israel gave in return, ey?.. ;)

[riseabove!]

True that.
But lets not count the things Israel gave in return, ey?.. ;)
That could entail so many different sexual things

[supervixen*]

You'll have to bear with the vid-maker's incredibly lame English and horrifying song choices, but it pretty much hit the point there.

After watching this, tell me cutting the finance off for an organization that supports Terror and transfers money to Terror isn't justified.

((IMHO, the most terrible picture on the video is at 5:35 mins into the clip))


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9tSHpdvwkY

[taters]

True that.
But lets not count the things Israel gave in return, ey?.. ;)
That could entail so many different sexual things

From the amount of financial aid, political aid, cover upping, and ass kissing they get from the republicans and portions of the democrats, they must be giving free handjobs to American politicians.