|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072402273.html
Trial Begins for Islamic Charity Charged with Funneling Money to Hamas
[Washington Post] Robert Barnes - Federal prosecutors opened their case Tuesday against what was once the nation's largest Islamic charity, arguing that the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation knowingly sent at least $12 million to Hamas, the militant Palestinian group officially designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Administration officials say the trial is an important battle in the fight to cut off funding to terrorists. Some 300 individuals and groups were named in the indictment as unindicted co-conspirators, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The indictment charges that the foundation in part directed the money to take care of the families of suicide bombers, an action to "effectively reward past, and encourage future, suicide bombings and terrorist activities." Assistant U.S. Attorney James Jacks said the foundation and defendants shared Hamas' goal of the destruction of Israel.