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| Europe |
| Germany charges Iraqi with supporting Ansar al-Islam |
| 2007-02-13 |
| An Iraqi man has been charged in Germany with transferring money to his home country to finance the radical Islamic group Ansar al-Islam, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. The 37-year-old, identified only as Burhan B., was charged Jan. 12 with membership of a terrorist organization and violating foreign trade laws. He was arrested last June at Frankfurt airport and has been held since in investigative custody. Prosecutors said he was in contact with Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid, who is accused of playing a central role in Ansar al-Islam's European network. Rashid is one of three Iraqis currently on trial on charges they plotted to kill former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi when he visited Berlin in 2004. Burhan B., prosecutors said, made at least three transfers totaling €22,000 (US$28,500) to Ansar al-Islam in Iraq on Rashid's behalf to finance "violent jihad," prosecutors said. The transfers were made between November 2003 and May 2004. "Through these money transfers he supported terrorist activities and at the same time violated foreign trade and payment laws," the prosecutors said in a statement. Rashid and two co-defendants were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Dec. 3, 2004, hours before they allegedly planned to attack Allawi in Berlin. Prosecutors have not said what kind of attack was planned at a business forum at a bank in downtown Berlin, which was canceled. German authorities have had suspected supporters of the group under intense scrutiny since late 2003, when an Iraqi was arrested in Munich for allegedly channeling men and money to Ansar al-Islam. Amin Lokman Mohamed was convicted last year of membership of the group and smuggling volunteer fighters from Europe to Iraq. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. |
| Posted by:ryuge |