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Home Front

Al-Arian Charged With Operating Global Terror Organization

2003-02-20

A Florida professor and seven other men were charged Thursday with operating a global terrorist organization. University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian was shown in television images being led in handcuffs to FBI headquarters in Tampa. "It's all about politics," the Kuwaiti-born Al-Arian told reporters as agents led him inside.
So's terrorism, Perfessor...
The 50-count indictment charges the eight men with operating a criminal racketeering enterprise since 1984 that supported Palestinian Islamic Jihad and with conspiracy to kill and maim people abroad, conspiracy to provide material support to the group, extortion, perjury, mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, attempt to procure citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and other charges. Each defendant faces up to life in prison if convicted.
It'd be nice if each got it, too...
Those arrested in the United States Thursday were described as setting up a terrorist cell at the University of South Florida. They are:

Al-Arian, the Florida college professor the government says ran the Jihad's U.S. operations. Al-Arian is a native of Kuwait and teaches engineering.
Sameeh Hammoudeh, 42, born in the West Bank, now a resident of Temple Terrace, Fla. He also is an instructor at the University of South Florida and administrator at the Islamic Academy of Florida.
Hatim Naji Fariz, 30, born in Puerto Rico and now living in Spring Hill, Fla. He is a manager at a medical clinic.
Ghassan Zayed Ballut, 41, a West Bank native now living in Tinley Park, Ill., and owner of a small business.

Four men who live abroad were also charged. It was not immediately clear if they had been arrested as well. They are:

Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, 45, a Gaza Strip native and now resident of Damascas, Syria. He is described as the worldwide leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and is a former instructor at the University of South Florida.
Bashir Musa Mohammed Nafi, 50, originally from Egypt and now living in Oxfordshire, England. The indictment calls him the United Kingdom leader of the group.
Mohammed Tasir Hassan Al-Khatib, 46, originally from the Gaza Strip and now living in Beirut; described as the treasurer of the organization.
Abd AL Aziz Awda, 52, born in Israel and now imam of the Al Qassam Mosque in Gaza Strip. The indictment calls him the founder and "spiritual leader" of the group.

I tend to doubt at least three out of the four are ever going to make their way to the USA, but it's nice to be on record as wanting to have a long talk with them. Perhaps the Israelis might be so kind as to snag Awda next time they're in Gaza. That might make it two out of four. We'll havae to wait until the 82nd Airborne's in Damascus before we get Shallah and al-Khatib...

Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#2 He's been running Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Tampa since '84 and we're just getting around to shutting him down? A whole lotta people got some 'splainin' to do!

Posted by: VAMark 2003-02-20 23:00:40

#1 Jon - correcto - in fact O'Reilly was crowing about this on Imus's show this AM

Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-20 14:54:57

00:00