bedower
Jedi Master
From Al Jazeera:
Article can be seen at: _http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/11/20081124212126642596.htm
US charity guilty in Hamas case
The verdict came after Holy Land's first trial last year
ended in a mistrial
A US court has convicted a Muslim charity and five of its former leaders on 108 charges in the largest "terrorism" financing trial in US history.
The Texas jury reached its verdict on Monday after eight days of deliberations over whether the former Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, once the largest US Muslim charity, had given money to the Palestinian group Hamas.
The charity, which was shut down seven years ago, was accused of giving more than $12m to support Hamas, which was designated a "terrorist organisation" in 1995 by the US government.
The hour-long verdict, following a seven-week trial, came after a first trial ended in October 2007 with one man acquitted on 31 charges but jurors unable to agree on verdicts for others.
Several relatives of those convicted on Monday wept as the verdict was read out in the Dallas courtroom, with one woman shouting "my father is not a criminal".
Ghassan Elashi, Holy Land's former chairman, and Shukri Abu-Baker, the
charity's ex-chief executive, were convicted of a combined 69 charges, including
supporting a specially-designated "terrorist" organisation, money-laundering and tax fraud, The Associated Press reported.
Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh were convicted on three counts of
conspiracy, and Mohammed El-Mezain was convicted on one count of conspiracy
to support a "terrorist organisation".
The Holy Land foundation itself was convicted on all 32 counts.
'Political' case
While prosecutors said the foundation raised money for Hamas they did not accuse the charity of directly financing or being involved in "terrorist" activity.
"When you're supposed to be able to face your accusers fully and against secret evidence and secret witness, I think that leads to reasonable doubt"
Lydia Gonzalez,
League of United Latin American Citizens
Prosecutors said the charity was spreading Hamas's ideology by funding schools, hospitals and social welfare programmes controlled by the group in the Palestinian territories, and permitting it to divert funds to the activities of fighters.
However, the charity's supporters said the government was politicising the case as part of its so-called war on terror and ignoring the foundation's charitable mission in providing aid to the poverty-stricken Palestinian territories.
Government officials had raided Holy Land's headquarters in December 2001, and George Bush, the US president, later announced the seizure of the charity's assets as "another step in the war on terrorism".
But defence lawyers said their clients had been put on trial partly because of their family ties to members of Hamas - Khaled Meshaal, Hamas's political leader exiled in Syria, is the brother of defendant Mufid Abdulqader.
Unidentified Israeli witness
Al Jazeera's Tom Ackerman, reporting from Dallas, Texas, where the court case took place, said a former US state department official testified that he was never told that Hamas directed the US charity during intelligence briefings.
But an unidentified Israeli witness told the court that the aid was funnelled through Hamas channels.
Lydia Gonzalez of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the defendants did not get a fair trial.
"When you're supposed to be able to face your accusers fully and against secret evidence and secret witness, I think that leads to reasonable doubt."
Muslim groups say the prosecution has made American Muslims more hesitant to fulfil their religious obligation of helping the needy and the foundation's defenders accuse the government of selectively prosecuting the charity.
"The same charities that these guys gave to the American Red Cross is still giving to, the USAID is still giving to," Mustafaa Carroll of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 32
nick in cali
United States 25/11/2008
This was stupid to do.
First, don't hold this trial in Texas of all places. No way that they're going to get a fair trial. Second, one persons terrorist is another persons freedom fighter. By this court's logic, if the Red Cross provides or funds any type of relief or support to people in Isreal, Palestine could hold them for supporting terrorism?
Harpy
United Kingdom 25/11/2008
US charity
Another case of discrimation and persecution.
secretslave
United States 25/11/2008
I support Hamas
salaam = peace for the Middle east
Davy de Verteuil
Trinidad and Tobago 25/11/2008
US charity guilty of funding Hamas
There you go, the ignorance procrastinations and false representations are the better part of being American. The just can't see with their eyes wide open. How I loathe this deaf dumb and blind society which prefer hate above reasoning. Now the charitable and charity is determined only by Americans.
k.
Afghanistan 25/11/2008
The U.S. has given another proof of its neutrality in Arab - Israeli conflict.
sharif
Afghanistan 25/11/2008
apparently the author has a different verdict in mind. Try being a reporter first, then possibly you could try your hand at law, either way having no bias should be your starting point. It is so hard to take you serious without it.
Micah
United States 25/11/2008
disgusted
I am disgusted after reading this! All this is going to do is alienate Muslism further. How can you blame a charity for giving funds to Hamas, when Fatah had a horrible reputation for stealing zakat & tax dollars! When is the American system going to quit being so arrogant and close minded of diversified political views who see Hamas as the only large entity who stand up for Palestinian rights. USA might as well prosecute every Palestinian who voted for Hamas in the 2006 DEMOCRATIC elections
Krapotkin
United States 25/11/2008
Kangaroo Court find US charity guilty!
How can an US Palestinian Charity and its memebers, get a fair trial in USA, when Israeli Jewish Mosad (Jewish KGB) members are used a anonymous ,witnesses against US citizens? Kangaroo Courts, an old US tradition!
secretslave
United States 25/11/2008
First they need to define terrorism in description
salaam, For description keeps to accuracy in accounts to matters, Deeds of work in efforts ! because the description exposes many workers of terrorism in accounts to matters so if the shoe fits does it wear the same shoe in work efforts? For if it measured Wisdom it was not found lacking in accuracy upon matters, came subject in matters, for how is robbery made recognizeable matter? claims it needs no proof upon claims in ownership matters, anti wisdom equal to anti christ matters
secretslave
United States 25/11/2008
More than 60 years USA supporter of terrorism
salaam = PEACE
Homeboy
Canada 25/11/2008
US charity guilty of funding Hamas
...I say its PROPAGANDA. "Prosecutors said the charity was spreading Hamas's ideology by funding schools, hospitals and social welfare programmes..." How is this spreading Hama's ideology? Feeding childrean and running hostiptals and social welfare, is not a crime, even if the area is controlled by Hamas. When will the Amricans realize their ignorance? To me this is propanganda, the Jews are responsible for this.
Chris
Canada 25/11/2008
US Charity guilty of funding Hamas
This is obsene. But then why should we expect anything better from the nation that set up Gitmo. This foundation was assisting those in Gaza who lived under terrible conditions and oppression, supporting basic needs, health and education. They were supporting those who were truly terrorized, and who are the terrorists? The government of Israel supported by the government of the US.
HAMZA MUHUMED
Somalia 25/11/2008
who is terrorist
Hamas is not terrorist organization in terms of muslims. Terrorists are those zionists who dont give food to people and dont let let them earn what they eat by their own. if hamas is terrorist, then we all muslims are terrorist and we fully support hamas, what so ever. the number one of my terrorist list is USA, ISREAL, AND UN
Johan
Sri Lanka 25/11/2008
What a democrasy
What a democrasy USA is ...I cant belive the whitsh hunt against islam and muslims. Is discusting how this can happen 2008.
Norberto
Argentina 26/11/2008
The ultimate financial trick
Usury, pirates, black slave trade and now Charities. These are the specialties of the Anglo-Zionists since the discovery of America by Cristobal Colon in 1493. The Zionists are taking control of the charitable organizations of rich western countries, including religious ones, as the ultimate financial maneuver, the target: baby boomers savings.
reuscit
United States 26/11/2008
us charity
Feed a hungry child, you got to be kidding. Don't you meen to re-supply themselfs with new missles they can send into Israel, to kill another inocent child.
sayfud-deen
United States 25/11/2008
u.s.charity guily of funding hamas.
i don't know what it's going to take to wake muslims up to these atrocities that this gov't is doing to the muslims! this is an injustice and it should be addressed by every muslim leader in this country! look! this is not going to stop until the muslims stand up together and demand that these enemies of islam stop! what are we afraid of? allah says he will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts! this weakness and fear of the kuffar has to stop!
sayfud-deen
United States 25/11/2008
u.s.charity guilty of funding hamas
iam so mad right now that iam seeing red! i am sick and tired of the double standard that exist in this country. it did'nt start with the muslims. this has been going on since the indians. they can't stop the clan but the could stop the panthers! they allow jews to send millions of dollars to israel all the time but the muslims can't sent a dollar overseas to feed a hungry child. this nonsense has to stop. the u.s. gives 13 billion a year to israel while they imprison women and children!
Justin
United States 26/11/2008
US charity guilty in Hamas case
You mean double standards like the way that Muslims, from most Arab countries, treat their wives and females of the community? You mean the double standards of making attacks on innocents because the Quran says they are infidels although your "religion" is supposed to mean peace? Sounds to me like you should really look at what your own values are before you try to, again, force them upon others in a country that is publicly despised by all your Islamic brethren.
NAZ
Afghanistan 26/11/2008
Discrimination
Discrimination against Muslims is a form of extremism. Allah has assured us in the Quran that there will be a people SO POWERFUL that only Allah can punish and humiliate them. So many unjust people have been wiped out over centuries. These people think they can get away with anything for ever. They never imagine for a second that they can be swashed like flies by the one more powerful, God Almighty. We relish the day when they get their just deserts.
Mark
United States 26/11/2008
US Charity Guilty in Hamas Case
Mr. Sayfud-Deen is mistaken when he states the US gives $13 billion per year to Israel. Per the Congressional Research Service the top Foreign Aid Recipients, excluding Iraq, in 2004 (latest I could find) were Israel ($3B), Egypt ($1.9B), Afghanistan ($1.8B), Columbia ($0.6B), Jordan ($0.6B), Pakistan ($0.4B). Giving to Islamic countries exceeded giving to Israel. I know several people of Islamic descent. None that I know are the recipient of atrocities by our government.
Mike
Canada 26/11/2008
Aid (mark - USA)
Maybe Islamic countries receive more in terms of aid, but look at who is getting the money...countries that are proxies of the United States...Jordan and Egypt receive money in return for not attacking Israel...look at Egypt, they have one crossing unpatrolled by Israel to Gaza, yet they don't let aid through either. Afghanistan and Pakistan fight the US war on terror..Pakistan also in part to a peace deal with India and the nuke problems in the 80's/90's..where is the money to Iran and Syria
Heartbroken
United States 27/11/2008
U.S. Kangaroo Kourt
Hamas never attacked the United States. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist organization because it considers any organization that helps Palestinians terrorist supporters. But yet $4 billion a year is funneled to Israel to support terrorism against Palestinians. Like the Black Panthers, labeled by the U.S. as "terrorists" for starting breakfast programs for ghetto children and advocating self-defense against state-sponsored violence and terrorism.
reuscit
United States 27/11/2008
us charity
it bothers me so much to here a us citizen speek with so much ignorance, and hostility against the counthy they live in. the us is the most generious country the world has ever seen. may be you should thy living in a country that is governed by the so called (islamic systerm) where the woman are forbidden to go to school. the arab countries has 5 hundred times the land as israel. i don't see them helping the palastinians
reid
United States 27/11/2008
liberty
not long ago the founding fathers of America fought against the tyranny of British rule. Is it a strange thing for the palestinians to stand up with arms against such tyranny? Hamas is willing to fight for the Liberty of the people they protect. They are defending their right to provide the security their children diserve, food, shelter, medical care, the right to grow up nourished and loved. Sound familiar? palestinians and americans have more in common in light of fighting for freedom,liberty.
Ryan
United States 27/11/2008
amusment
I am always amused at what people choose to forget or ignore. the american govt gives more money to palistinian orginazations than all arab states combined. until you accept that america is not the "ultimate evil" and that EVERYBODY has their own agenda you will continue to look at the world with a childs understanding.
Nick
United States 27/11/2008
Charity Trial
I wonder how many US charities are going to trial? These same charities that gave money to Afghani charities that supported the Taliban when the USSR were there.
J.
United States 27/11/2008
to WINNER
You think that by stopping these charities from donating to Hamas, the US is depriving poor people of food? I have a question for you then: How many more Palestinians could Hamas feed if they sold all of their rockets and mortars? Does bombing Ashkelon and Sderot somehow help the Palestinian people in a way that is unapparent to the rest of the world? Hamas burns American flags in the street, they don't deserve our money.
Mestangloman
United States 26/11/2008
Donkey Elephant Fascism
First off, the charity left California and settled in Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Number two, it was a Palestinian businessman out of Illinois who fingered this group to the Israelis, who fingered them to Bubba Clinton, whose wife could be the Sec of State. And, yes, the Feds hounded the folks in Richardson till they got a conviction. I think it's a tragedy and, inshallah, a mistake. Americans, these are your Democrats and Republicans at work.
wasilla
United States 26/11/2008
the problem
I blame arab individuals who support arab leaders in the gulf, egypt and jordan. Especially the ones who work in the security services. Pro American arabs who think their religious are the ultimate fools. These pro american arabs sue do religious people, buy american cars and electronics even though their are alternatives in Japan or Korea. They are only able to think on a local scale in 'their communities' and are largely indifferent to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Victor
United States 27/11/2008
Bad Lawyer
In America, to win a court case, you must get the best lawyer. OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson were found "Not Guilty" because the had the best lawyers money can buy. Those convicted can only blame themselves if they went for the cheapest lawyer. "You get what you pay for". Guilty or Not Guilty always get a good lawyer and it does not matter if you're Muslim, Jewish, Christian or Buddhist.
WINNER
Ethiopia 27/11/2008
DEMOTING CHARITY
Dear All What ever the US is doing in the world is unfair and always pro JEWs ,Who as we are always watching ,are anti palastinians ,anti peace and anti rational thinkers . And know they started demoting charity organizations who are filling the bellies of poor people . For whomever who is poor ,a charity is given it is a charity it has nothing to do with terrorism or terrosists. By the way who is no one terrorist in z world? who are the invadors? who arekilling innocents?? except the BUSH&jews
Article can be seen at: _http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/11/20081124212126642596.htm
