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Charity Guilty on All Counts of Terror Funding

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 24, 2008 5:39 PM CST
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(Newser) – A Dallas jury found a Muslim charity and its ex-leaders guilty today on three dozen counts of terror funding, the Dallas Morning News reports. A retrial of the biggest terror financing case in US history, the case hinged on $12 million sent by the Holy Land Foundation to Hamas after the US declared it a terrorist organization in 1995. Analysts called the verdict a major victory for President Bush.

Holy Land's defense attorney criticized the "show trial" and cases like it as a means to further Washington's "so-called 'war on terrorism.'" But analysts saw it as key to curbing funding to America's enemies. "A lot of people will only look at the win/lose of the jury verdict," one expert said. "I'm looking at it from the perspective of the flow of funding through charities to terrorists."

Zaira Abu-Baker, 25, right, holds her head as Noor Elashi, 22, right, speaks during an interview at a cafe in Richardson, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008.
Zaira Abu-Baker, 25, right, holds her head as Noor Elashi, 22, right, speaks during an interview at a cafe in Richardson, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Zaira Abu-Baker, 25, left, looks down as Noor Elashi, 22, right, speaks during an interview at a cafe in Richardson, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008.
Zaira Abu-Baker, 25, left, looks down as Noor Elashi, 22, right, speaks during an interview at a cafe in Richardson, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
In this courtroom illustration, a judge and defendants in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial are shown at the federal courthouse in Dallas, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.
In this courtroom illustration, a judge and defendants in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial are shown at the federal courthouse in Dallas, Monday, Oct. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Pat Lopez)
Noor Elashi waits each day while a jury considers whether her fathers ran the biggest terrorism financing scheme in American history.
Noor Elashi waits each day while a jury considers whether her fathers ran the biggest terrorism financing scheme in American history.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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War on Terror • Hamas • Holy Land Foundation • terrorism financing • terror trial

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