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Supreme Court Rejects Muslim Charity's Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court let stand on Monday a ruling that upheld the government's decision to freeze the assets of a Texas-based Muslim charity accused of funding a militant Palestinian group. Without comment, the high court rejected an appeal by the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, headquartered in Richardson, Texas. The foundation, which called itself the largest U.S.-based Muslim charity, was shut down when the government seized its assets. On Dec. 4, 2001, the Treasury Department designated the charity a "terrorist" group and froze its assets because it said the foundation funneled millions of dollars to Hamas. The United States designated Hamas a "terrorist" group in 1995. Holy Land Foundation challenged the freezing of its assets and the designation. It said it was not linked to Hamas and was not a terrorist organization. But a federal judge and then a U.S. appeals court rejected the charity's arguments. The appeals court cited evidence the foundation operated as a fund-raiser for Hamas in the United States and that Hamas officials provided it with funds. In appealing to the Supreme Court, the charity argued the Treasury Department's procedures violated its constitutional due process rights. Posted by: Fred 2004-03-01 |
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