MUSLIM CHARITY MEMBER GETS 65 YEARS IN PRISON

COMMENTARY ARCHIVES, 31 May 2009

Associated Press - May 27, 2009

DALLAS (AP) – A founding member of what was once the nation’s largest Muslim charity today was sentenced to 65 years in prison for funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

50-year-old Shukri Abu Baker, of Garland, was the first Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development to be sentenced.

The November convictions of the five men on 108 charges followed a mistrial.

The government alleged the charity sent more than $12 million to Hamas. It’s illegal to offer Hamas support because it was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1995. The group has taken credit for hundreds of suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians.

Abu Baker told the judge today quote "I did it because I cared, not at the behest of Hamas."

Holy Land’s supporters say the prosecution was a politically motivated product of Bush’s "war on terror" and a prime example of post-Sept. 11, anti-Islam hysteria.

Information from The Dallas Morning News: http://www.dallasnews.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

GO TO ORIGINAL – WORLDNOW

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Comments are closed.