It was a time when palestinian families demonstrated in the streets, praying that their cries would be broadcasted across the world. The second, marked by highly questionable procedures, resulted in very lengthy sentences. Prosecutions trial brief in the holy land foundationpdf. To the founders of the holy land foundation, to ignore these cries would have been to deny their own humanity.
Zakat islamic charity was used to fund violence, supremacism, jihad. The holy land foundation trial was the largest terrorist hamas funding trial in our nations history. The first trial resulted in a hung jury and mistrial on october 22, 2007. The government presented evidence at trial that, as the u. In july 2007, seven key leaders of an islamic charity known as the holy. The holy land foundation hlf was the largest muslim charity in the u. Cair is, in fact, among the more than 300 unindicted coconspirators of the holy land foundation named by the government in the holy land foundation prosecution. Nov 25, 2008 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. Holy land foundation for relief and development open pdf 96 kb from its inception, hlf holy land foundation existed to support hamas harakat almuqawama alislamiyya or islamic resistance movement. February 09th, 2018 by miko peled on december 4, 2001, less than three months after 911, president george. The threat to america the following muslim brotherhood document was entered into evidence in the u. Holy land foundation american civil liberties union.
Christian holyland foundation official chlf online home. The trial was st ill underway when ca ir file d it s amic us brief on august 14, 2007. His experience in building longterm relationships with churches and individuals on both sides of the ocean will be an incredible asset to chlf. On may 29, 2007, the government filed its trial brief outlining the scope of the alleged conspiracy. The trial and conviction of the holy land foundation five accusing holy land foundation five of funding terrorism required a great deal of creativity but also a collaboration between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
During the trial, the government presented evidence that holy land. Holy land foundation for relief and development wikipedia. The holy land foundation trial and the three muslim groups. The book begins with the arrests of the men, but i thought it important as well to say something about who these men are and why they created the holy land foundation. In november 2008 in the northern district of texas dallas, the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf and its leaders were convicted of materially supporting hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization fto. Holy land foundation office in the dallas, texas suburb of richardson in. Solis sentenced the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf and five of its leaders following their convictions by a federal jury in november 2008 on charges of providing material support to hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced acting u. The 2008 trial of the charity leaders was the largest terrorism financing prosecution. On may 29, 2007, the gover nment filed its trial b rief outlining the scope of the a lleg ed conspira cy. In 1988, just after the creation of hamas, the holy land foundation for relief and development was created in the united states by ghassan elashi, shukri abubaker and mohammad elmezain.
Five convicted in terrorism financing trial the new york. The holy land foundation was found guilty of funding terrorist groups in the largest terrorfunding trial in u. Elbarasse was a member of the palestine committee, which the muslim brotherhood had created to support hamas in the united states. Holy land foundation and leaders convicted on providing material. In 1992 the fund moved to texas and incorporated there. District judge joe fish said monday as he unsealed their verdicts. The holy land foundation was the largest islamic charity in the united states. The holy land five the controversial trial of leaders of the holy land foundation, deemed a terrorist organisation by the us government. On february, 2008, the court sc heduled this c ase for retria l. Republican presidential candidate ben carson brought up the holy land foundation during tuesday nights gop debate in las vegas. Fbi federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land. Mohammad elmezain, cofounder and california hlf office representative. The trial and conviction of the holy land foundation five accusing holy land foundation five of funding terrorism required a great deal of creativity but also a collaboration between the.
The holy land foundation funded charities publicly tied to hamas by the pa, the israeli government, the u. Prosecutions trial brief in the holy land foundation. Holy land foundation convictions affirmed by fifthcircuit. Oct 20, 2012 holy land foundation for relief and development trial documents the holy land foundation was found guilty of funding terrorist groups in the largest terrorfunding trial in u. The holy land foundation for relief and development hlf. In july 2004, federal agents raided the homes of five palestinianamerican families, arresting the fathers, who had been leaders of a texasbased charity called the holy land foundation. On two others, they were able to reach unanimous decisions on some of the counts.
Txn 304cr240 us v holy land foundation jury instructions in. Judge evans agreed with the reversal as to the holy land foundation but otherwise dissented. The indictment charges mohamad masfaka with lying to federal officials about his involvement with the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf, an organization that was designated by. The story of the holy land foundation five, where he catalogs the trial of the criminalization and dismantling of the holy land foundation for relief and development, leading to the arrest and jailing of foundation president shukri abu baker, chairman ghassan elashi, mohammad elmezain, mufid. Throughout the trial the us prosecution argued that the foundations sole purpose was to support hamas, in contrast with the material support statute, legislated. In june 2007, the first trial took place in dallas, texas after several. Discover the networks, a recognized and authoritative source on islamic terrorism, writes in july 2007, seven key leaders of an islamic charity known as the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf went on trial for charges that they had. On the general strategic goal for the group in north america. Jurors in the longrunning trial of a muslim charity. The muslim brotherhoods strategic plan for america. The first trial of the holy land foundation five ended in a hung jury. Holy land foundation trial backgrounder one of the convictions upheld was ghassan elashi, founder of cairs texas chapter. A handbook for law enforcement, intelligence and military professionals, by john guandolo, lepanto publishing 20, usa. Mufid abdulqader, volunteer fundraiser and abdulrahman odeh, new jersey office hlf representative.
Holy land foundation for relief and development open pdf 96 kb. Solis sentenced the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf and five of its leaders following their convictions by a federal jury in november 2008 on charges of providing material support to hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Beginning in february 2020, matt nance will assume leadership of christian holyland foundation. Indeed, evidence presented at the hlf trial revealed that the foundation s leadership was well aware it was funding hamas charities. Joe fish in a trial for conspiracy to fund terror ism, united states v.
Jun 24, 2016 part 1 of a look at the holy land foundation trial and the exposure of the muslim brotherhood. Part 2 of a look that the findings in the holy land foundation trial including the muslim brotherhood connections. Until 911, the hlf was the largest muslim charity in the united states, but in december 2001 the federal government shuttered the organization and seized its. This dispute is related to the criminal charges of conspiracy brought against the holy land foundation for relief and development hlf and seven other named defendants. Part 1 of a look at the holy land foundation trial and the exposure of the muslim brotherhood. We wrote last month that a federal appeals court agreed with a district judges ruling that prosecutors in the case against the holy land foundation and its officers accused of funding hamas. Dec 12, 2011 holy land foundation trial backgrounder one of the convictions upheld was ghassan elashi, founder of cairs texas chapter. 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.
District judge jorge solis in 2008, a federal jury. From its inception, hlf holy land foundation existed to support hamas harakat. The organizations mission was to find and implement practical solutions for human suffering through humanitarian programs that impact the lives of the disadvantaged, disinherited, and. Holy land foundation and the proper framework of liability pdf. Federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land foundation case. After years of litigationincluding a mistrial and constitutionallydubious prosecutorial tacticsthe federal government eventually secured criminal convictions against hlf and five of its officersemployees. Jul 07, 2016 part 2 of a look that the findings in the holy land foundation trial including the muslim brotherhood connections. It is only required that the governments proof exclude any reasonable doubt concerning that defendants guilt. This submission is to provide the court with an overview of the case, the scope of the conspiracy, and the different kinds of evidence that the government will seek to admit at trial and the evidentiary bases for the admission of that evidence.
Holy land foundation for relief and development open pdf 96 kb from its inception, hlf holy land foundation existed to support hamas harakat al. The second, marked by highly questionable procedures, resulted in very lengthy sentencesfor supporting terrorism by donating to charities that the u. Judge evans agreed with the reversal as to the holy land foundation. Jury instructions 2 while the governments burden of proof is a strict or heavy burden, it is not necessary that a defendants guilt be proved beyond all possible doubt. Heavy sentences to usbased holy land foundation leaders. The story of the holy land foundation five, i try to tell the extraordinary story of the hlf5. Headquartered in richardson, texas, and run by palestinianamericans, it was originally known as occupied land fund. This is not a terribly uplifting discussion, unfortunately. The jury in the holy land foundation terrorismfinancing trial was unable to reach unanimous decisions on three of the six defendants, u. The holy land foundation hlf was the largest islamic charity in the united states.
Federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land foundation. Federal investigators found the document in the home of ismael elbarasse, a founder of the dar alhijrah mosque in falls church, virginia, during a 2004 search. The us v holy land foundation for relief and development hlf case was the largest terrorism financing and hamas trial ever successfully prosecuted in american history. May 25, 20 more about the explanatory memorandum from shariah. Verdict in the holy land foundation trial final final update. The trial and conviction of the holy land foundation five. Tomorrow, the supreme court of the united states will make a decision about the holy land foundation case. The holy land foundation hlf was the largest muslim charity in the. Holy land foundation for relief and development, 549 f. Us v hlf was the largest terrorism financing and hamas trial ever successfully prosecuted in u. From 19891991 the hlf was located in california and until 1991 it was called the occupied land fund. The plaintiffs petitioned for rehearing en banc, and the full.
Discover the networks, a recognized and authoritative source on islamic terrorism, writes. It was headquartered in richardson, texas, a suburb of dallas. More about the explanatory memorandum from shariah. Five convicted in terrorism financing trial the new york times. The collapse of american justice nancy hollander thank you and it is my pleasure to be here and to speak about the holy land case.
The muslim brotherhoods strategic plan for america court. Holy land foundation for relief and development the new. News about holy land foundation for relief and development, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. The explanatory memorandum was written in 1991 by a.
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