You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: WoT
Treasury Orders Assets Frozen for Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
2005-07-14
WASHINGTON (AP) -The United States moved Thursday to freeze the financial assets of a London-based Saudi opposition group because of its alleged links to the al-Qaida terrorist network. The Treasury Department's action is against the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, or MIRA. Any bank accounts or other financial assets belonging to the organization found in the United States must be frozen and Americans are forbidden from providing financial or other support to the group. The British government recently ordered that the group's assets be frozen.
The United States said the group is run by Saad Fagih, a Saudi dissident. The department in December ordered that his assets be blocked, alleging that he provided support to Osama bin Laden's organization. Fagih has said he is an activist for democracy in his Saudi homeland, not a militant involved in violent activity with al-Qaida or any other group.
Fagih's group wants to "reform" Saudi Arabia into a more islamic state
"Fagih uses MIRA to facilitate al-Qaida's operations," contends Stuart Levey, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. "Designating MIRA will help stem the flow of funds to the organization and put the world on notice of its support for al-Qaida."
The department said the group's Web site has included messages from bin Laden as well as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's top operative in Iraq. Statements on the Web site "are intended to provide ideological and operational support to al-Qaida affiliated networks and potential recruits," the department said.
Posted by:Steve

00:00