Verdict on Terrorist Charity Expected

By Pamela Mortimer

The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, has been battling accusations in federal court that it was a major source in financing international terrorism.

Closing arguments began Monday, the beginning of the end of two months worth of testimony alleging that the foundation and five of its leaders aided terrorists and engaged in conspiracy and money laundering.

The defense for Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development says the foundation was devoted to helping needy Palestinians.

Prosecutor Barry Jonas disagreed and on Monday told the jury that the Holy Land Foundation was by no means a "normal charity".

The prosecution alleges that the foundation funneled more than $12 million to Palestinian schools and charities controlled by the militant group Hamas. The U.S. government declared Hamas a terrorist group in 1995, which made the foundation’s support illegal.

If the CEO and other representatives of the foundation are found guilty and it is determined their actions resulted in deaths, each could face life in prison.

The verdict may hinge on whether the jury believes the Palestinian charities that received money were in fact controlled by Hamas.

Edward Abington, a retired U.S. diplomat, testified the charities that received foundation’s money were not controlled by Hamas. Former Texas congressman John Bryant, a former representative of the foundation, also testified, stating that he contacted the FBI and State Department to find out if any of the charities had terrorist ties. Bryant said he received no response from either agency.

The prosecution’s case relies heavily on thousands of pages of documents such as bank records, audio tapes, and video that showed some of the defendants meeting with members and supporters of Hamas.

Surprisingly, prosecutors didn’t call several people on their witness list. Among those was Mohamed Shorbagi, a former Holy Land representative who pleaded guilty last year to supporting Hamas. Shorbagi was scheduled to testify about the relationship between Holy Land Foundation and Hamas.

In addition to chief executive Shukri Abu Baker, those being charged are former Holy Land Foundation chairmen Mohammed El-Mezain and Ghassan Elashi, former fundraiser Mufid Abdulqader, and Abdulrahman Odeh, the group’s representative in New Jersey. The indictment also named two other men who were never arrested and are believed to be in the Middle East.