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Terror $$$ Case Ends in Mistrial

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2007 7:17 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The biggest terror financing trial in US history ended today in a mistrial, as jurors deadlocked on charges that a charity knowingly gave $12 million to Hamas-controlled Palestinian groups. The five officials from the Holy Land Foundation—four of whom are US citizens—were jubilant today after acquittals on some counts and stalemates on the rest. The government prosecutor vowed to retry the case, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The defendants, whose organization was the largest Muslim charity in the US before the Bush administration shuttered it, maintained at the two-month trial that they had no terrorist ties. The jury deliberated for 19 days, and 11 of the panel’s 12 members told the judge today their opinions could not be changed.

Abdulrahman Odeh is lifted by supporters in front of the federal court in Dallas, Texas, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. after a mistrial was declared in the case against five former leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Abdulrahman Odeh is lifted by supporters in front of the federal court in Dallas, Texas, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. after a mistrial was declared in the case against five former leaders of the Holy Land...   (Associated Press)
Defendants Shukri Abu Baker, center left, and Abdulrahman Odeh, hug after a mistrial was declared in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial at the federal courthouse, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Defendants Shukri Abu Baker, center left, and Abdulrahman Odeh, hug after a mistrial was declared in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial at the federal courthouse, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007,...   (Associated Press)
Protestors picket outside the federal courthouse in Dallas after the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, in Dallas. A judge declared a mistrial Monday for four former leaders of a Muslim charity accused of funding terrorism, after chaos broke out in the court when three jurors...
Protestors picket outside the federal courthouse in Dallas after the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, in Dallas. A judge declared a mistrial Monday for four former...   (Associated Press)
In this courtroom illustration, U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish and defendants Mufid Abdulqader, Ghassan Elashi, Mohammad El-Mezain, Shukri Abu Baker and Abdulrahman Odeh are shown during the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial at the federal courthouse in Dallas, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Pat Lopez)
In this courtroom illustration, U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish and defendants Mufid Abdulqader, Ghassan Elashi, Mohammad El-Mezain, Shukri Abu Baker and Abdulrahman Odeh are shown during the Holy Land...   (Associated Press)
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Holy Land's assets were frozen in 2001
Washington Post

Jury forewoman thought acquittals were in the works
Associated Press

US

 
Hamas • Muslims • charity • mistrial • Holy Land Foundation • George W. Bush

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