Three Islamic ‘Charity’ Leaders Convicted
Charles Johnson
Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 2:08 pm PST • Views: 245
Finally a victory for the government, in the terrorism case of Islamic “charity” Care International.
BOSTON - Three former leaders of an Islamic charity were convicted Friday of duping the U.S. government into getting tax-exempt status by hiding the group’s pro-jihad activities.
Care International Inc., which is now defunct, described its mission as helping war orphans, widows and refugees in Muslim nations. But prosecutors said the organization also distributed a newsletter promoting jihad and supported Muslim militants involved in armed conflicts around the world.
Emadeddin Muntasser, the founder of Care International; Muhammed Mubayyid, the group’s former treasurer; and Samir Al-Monla, the president of Care from 1996 to 1998, were charged with tax code violations, making false statements and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
After a two-month trial and more than two weeks of deliberations, a federal jury found them guilty on all counts, except a false statements count on which Al-Monla was acquitted. Each of the charges carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
“Today’s verdict is a milestone in our efforts against those who conceal their support for extremist causes behind the veil of humanitarianism. For years, these defendants used an allegedly charitable organization as a front for the collection of donations that they converted for the purpose of supporting violent jihadists,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein in Washington said in a statement.
Frank says: