Txn 304cr240 us v holy land foundation jury instructions in. Jun 24, 2016 part 1 of a look at the holy land foundation trial and the exposure of the muslim brotherhood. Heavy sentences to usbased holy land foundation leaders. Federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land foundation case. On may 29, 2007, the government filed its trial brief outlining the scope of the alleged conspiracy. Judge evans agreed with the reversal as to the holy land foundation but otherwise dissented. Us v hlf was the largest terrorism financing and hamas trial ever successfully prosecuted in u. Jan 27, 2020 the holy land foundation hlf was the largest muslim charity in the u. The holy land five the controversial trial of leaders of the holy land foundation, deemed a terrorist organisation by the us government. 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. The trial and conviction of the holy land foundation five. A handbook for law enforcement, intelligence and military professionals, by john guandolo, lepanto publishing 20, usa.
After years of litigationincluding a mistrial and constitutionallydubious prosecutorial tacticsthe federal government eventually secured criminal convictions against hlf and five of its officersemployees. Holy land foundation for relief and development open pdf 96 kb. 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. 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. Jurors in the longrunning trial of a muslim charity. The muslim brotherhoods strategic plan for america court. May 25, 20 more about the explanatory memorandum from shariah. District judge jorge solis in 2008, a federal jury. This is a tragic but true story about the case against the holy land. 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. 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. More about the explanatory memorandum from shariah. Verdict in the holy land foundation trial final final update.
Mohammad elmezain, cofounder and california hlf office representative. The holy land foundation hlf was the largest muslim charity in the u. Dec 12, 2011 holy land foundation trial backgrounder one of the convictions upheld was ghassan elashi, founder of cairs texas chapter. February 09th, 2018 by miko peled on december 4, 2001, less than three months after 911, president george. The government presented evidence at trial that, as the u. 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. It amounted to the muslim brotherhoods strategic plan for the united states and was entitled, an explanatory memorandum. From 19891991 the hlf was located in california and until 1991 it was called the occupied land fund. Holy land foundation office in the dallas, texas suburb of richardson in. Holy land foundation terrorfinancing trial documents.
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. 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 convictions affirmed by fifthcircuit. Fbi federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land. It was a time when palestinian families demonstrated in the streets, praying that their cries would be broadcasted across the world. Elbarasse was a member of the palestine committee, which the muslim brotherhood had created to support hamas in the united states. 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. Five convicted in terrorism financing trial the new york times. The muslim brotherhoods strategic plan for america. The plaintiffs petitioned for rehearing en banc, and the full. The holy land foundation funded charities publicly tied to hamas by the pa, the israeli government, the u.
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. In june 2007, the first trial took place in dallas, texas after several. The threat to america the following muslim brotherhood document was entered into evidence in the u. 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. To the founders of the holy land foundation, to ignore these cries would have been to deny their own humanity. Part 2 of a look that the findings in the holy land foundation trial including the muslim brotherhood connections. On two others, they were able to reach unanimous decisions on some of the counts. 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. District judge joe fish said monday as he unsealed their verdicts. Holy land foundation for relief and development the new. 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.
Holy land foundation american civil liberties union. The 2008 trial of the charity leaders was the largest terrorism financing prosecution. The first trial of the holy land foundation five ended in a hung jury. 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 second, marked by highly questionable procedures, resulted in very lengthy sentences.
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. Federal judge hands downs sentences in holy land foundation. Jul 07, 2016 part 2 of a look that the findings in the holy land foundation trial including the muslim brotherhood connections. Republican presidential candidate ben carson brought up the holy land foundation during tuesday nights gop debate in las vegas. 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 trial and the three muslim groups. In july 2007, seven key leaders of an islamic charity known as the holy. The explanatory memorandum was written in 1991 by a. Holy land foundation for relief and development open pdf 96 kb from its inception, hlf holy land foundation existed to support hamas harakat al. Holy land foundation for relief and development, 549 f.
The story of the holy land foundation five, i try to tell the extraordinary story of the hlf5. Beginning in february 2020, matt nance will assume leadership of christian holyland foundation. Throughout the trial the us prosecution argued that the foundations sole purpose was to support hamas, in contrast with the material support statute, legislated. Part 1 of a look at the holy land foundation trial and the exposure of the muslim brotherhood. Holy land foundation and leaders convicted on providing material. His experience in building longterm relationships with churches and individuals on both sides of the ocean will be an incredible asset to chlf. 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.
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. 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. From its inception, hlf holy land foundation existed to support hamas harakat. 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. Zakat islamic charity was used to fund violence, supremacism, jihad.
Discover the networks, a recognized and authoritative source on islamic terrorism, writes. The holy land foundation hlf was the largest islamic charity in the united states. Joe fish in a trial for conspiracy to fund terror ism, united states v. It is only required that the governments proof exclude any reasonable doubt concerning that defendants guilt.
Mufid abdulqader, volunteer fundraiser and abdulrahman odeh, new jersey office hlf representative. Judge evans agreed with the reversal as to the holy land foundation. Headquartered in richardson, texas, and run by palestinianamericans, it was originally known as occupied land fund. 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. The holy land foundation trial was the largest terrorist hamas funding trial in our nations history. 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. It was headquartered in richardson, texas, a suburb of dallas. Indeed, evidence presented at the hlf trial revealed that the foundations leadership was well aware it was funding hamas charities. The holy land foundation was the largest islamic charity in the united states. In 1992 the fund moved to texas and incorporated there.
Prosecutions trial brief in the holy land foundation. Five convicted in terrorism financing trial the new york. The first trial resulted in a hung jury and mistrial on october 22, 2007. This is not a terribly uplifting discussion, unfortunately. May 25, 2016 the holy land foundation trial was the largest terrorist hamas funding trial in our nations history. Prosecutions trial brief in the holy land foundationpdf. On may 29, 2007, the gover nment filed its trial b rief outlining the scope of the a lleg ed conspira cy. Holy land foundation and the proper framework of liability pdf. 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. Holy land foundation trial backgrounder one of the convictions upheld was ghassan elashi, founder of cairs texas chapter. News about holy land foundation for relief and development, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. On february, 2008, the court sc heduled this c ase for retria l. During the trial, the government presented evidence that holy land. 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.
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