[NYTr] Jury Deals "Stunning Blow" to US "War on Terror"; Judge Declares Mistrial

Mon Oct 22 16:37:35 EDT 2007

Actually, in contrast to what the news story says, the JURY delivered
the "stunning blow" since they "could not agree on anything" but a
not-guilty verdict on all but ONE of the 32 charges, it seems. The
JUDGE, by declaring a mistrial, is permitting the government to
continue to persecute these people. It isn't exactly clear what actually
occurred from this article. Other parts of the story say they cleared 3
of the five leaders of the Holy Land Foundation, but could not agree on
charges against the other 2 or the organization itself. -NY Transfer]

AFP via Yahoo Singapore - Oct 23, 2007
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20071023/twl-mideast-us-attacks-hamas-charity-jus-7e07afd.html

Mistrial in US Muslim charity terror funding case

DALLAS, United States (AFP)--A US judge Monday dealt a stunning blow to
the government's legal battle in the "war on terror" declaring a
mistrial in the case of a Muslim charity accused of aiding Palestinian
militants.

US district judge Joe Fish declared the mistrial after jurors failed to
reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of the Texas-based Holy Land
Foundation for Relief and Development after 19 days of deliberations.

Fish sent the jury back to deliberate Monday after they acquitted three
of the charity's five leaders of most of the charges against them, but
were unable to reach a verdict against two others and the charity
itself.

When they returned, jurors said they could not agree on any of the
charges except a not guilty verdict on all but one of the 32 charges
against the charity's top fundraiser.

Fish allowed that verdict to stand, but declared a mistrial on all
other counts.

When asked if the government would attempt to retry the case against
what was once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, the lead
prosecutor said "yes" but would not comment further because of gag
order.

Government prosecutors allege the foundation raised millions of dollars
for the Palestinian group Hamas, but they do not accuse the charity of
directly financing terrorist activity.

Instead prosecutors say humanitarian aid was used to promote Hamas, a
multi-faceted Islamist political, social and armed movement which now
controls the Gaza Strip, and allow it to divert existing funds to
militant activities.

The United States designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1995 and
outlawed any support to the group, including humanitarian aid.

All but one of the five Holy Land defendants are US citizens and none
are accused of any violent acts.

Defense attorneys said their clients ran a legitimate charity and had
no connection to Hamas or any other terrorists.