Muslim charity charged in U.S. with funding Hamas

[Gimel]

By The Associated Press

DAMASCUS - Hamas on Tuesday denied taking any money from the Holy Land Foundation, a major American Muslim charity charged with providing millions of dollars to the Palestinian Islamic militant group, accusing President George W. Bush's administration of using the case to help in his re-election bid.

"Hamas did not take any penny from the Holy Land Foundation," Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, told The Associated Press in Damascus. "Hamas has its own means of funding and that is not connected with any institution in the West."

A 42-count indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday alleges that the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development provided more than $12.4 million to individuals and organizations linked to
Hamas from 1995 to 2001. The U.S. government froze the charity's assets in December 2001.

"The reason for putting the Holy Land Foundation on trial is no doubt an election issue," Abu Marzouk said. "Bush wants to appear before the American public that he is successful in fighting terrorism."

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[MarianJack]

1. Amazing, isn't it?...

...that this happened on the 2nd day of our convention. I guess that Pakistan may not be able to dig somebody up. unless this was just the first "event".

[Gimel]

2. Could be only coincidence

after all, The U.S. government froze the charity's assets in December 2001.

A trial has been pending since then. If it had been brought forward a year ago, there would have been the same charge that it was political.