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Islamic Charities in Virginia Linked to Terrorism
Saudi Arabia-sponsored Islamic charities in northern Virginia put millions of dollars in a company suspected of funding Al Qaeda and the militant Islamic Resistance Movement, the government alleged Tuesday in court documents. Muslim charities invested $3.7 million in BMI Inc., a now-defunct private Islamic investment company in N.J. The money, part of a $10 million endowment from unidentified donors in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, may have been transferred to terrorist groups, according to an affidavit made public in federal court in Virginia. Suprise meter didnât budge. There have been allegations of money laundering, tax evasion and other financial improprieties against some Herndon, Va.-based organizations in the past, but it was the first time any government agency publicly tied the investigations to support of terrorists, The Washington Post reported. Increasing the pressure on Saudi? Federal agents raided about 100 companies located in Herndon, a Washington suburb, in March 2002. No charges have been brought so far. Following money trails takes time. The investigation spans four continents and is the largest current U.S. inquiry into terrorist financing, U.S. officials said. The affidavit was filed by David Kane of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in support of the detention of Soliman S. Biheiri, who was indicted two weeks ago on charges of making false statements to obtain U.S. residency and other immigration charges. Before that, he was held for more than a month as a material witness in the Justice Departmentâs investigation of terrorist financing, the Post said, citing unidentified sources. Biheiri founded BMI Inc., an investment firm that adhered to Islamic principles, in 1986. One of its chief investors was Saudi businessman Yasin Qadi, who the United States and United Nations named a "specially designated global terrorist" in October 2001 for his alleged support for both Al Qaeda and the Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Hamas. Qadi has denied supporting terrorism. "Lies, all lies!" Posted by: Steve 2003-08-20 |
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