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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Lynn Stewart lawyer of Omar Abdel Rahman sentenced to 2 1/2 years - letter smuggled from jailed cleric lead to tourist murders

Lynn Stewart lawyer of Omar Abdel Rahman sentenced to 2 1/2 years - letter smuggled from jailed cleric lead to tourist murders

Indictments against Stewart,Yousry and Abdel Sattar and the 'fatwa' to kill Jews which they smuggled out from prison
October 16, 2006

Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman

MIM: Stewart's smuggling out of a letter written by Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman from prision which was

call for his followers to stage another attack after one in which his Armed Islamic Group stabbed and

shot to death 58 tourists. at Luxor who were stabbed and shot to death as they tried to run for cover.

Some of the victims were disemboweled with pamphlets left in their bodies. A message which

Stewart smuggled out called for his followers to attack Jews and issued:

"an IG fatwah, issued in his name, that urged "the Muslim nation to fight the Jews and to kill them

wherever they are...Every Moslem should wage Jihad against them."

As for how the edict was delivered, Abdel-Rahman was also content to leave that a mystery,

prompting Attorney #2 (Stewart) to remark that the inmate had "trained doves that transport messages."

The lawyer then joked, "Am I cleared to tell The New York Times about the doves?" He then noted,

"We better tell the government that if they stop using secret evidence we will stop using doves."

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/lynnestewart1.html

"...Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, the militant Egyptian cleric convicted in a plot to bomb the United

Nations

and other New York City landmarks, has appealed to his followers to help end what he called his

humiliating treatment in a

United States prison..

"http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=

F70B15F63A5D0C768DDDAD0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2f

People%2fA%2fAbdel%20Rahman%2c%20Omar

This letter which was smuggled out by Stuart resulted in an attack by Rahman's followers

on Greek tourists waiting to get into bus

in front of their hotel in April 21 1996.

"...Gunmen with automatic rifles and pistols opened fire early today on Greek tourists outside their

hotel,

killing

18 people and wounding at least 17 others in the most violent attack on foreigners since tourists

became targets here in 1992.

Hours after the 7 A.M. attack, no group had claimed responsibility, nor did the Government officially

accuse any party.

But senior Egyptian officials said they suspected cells of the Islamic Group, fundamentalist Muslims

who have waged a violent four-year-old campaign to undermine Egypt's secular Government.

Their former spiritual leader, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, is serving a life sentence in the United States

for involvement in plots to bomb several New York City landmarks.

In a statement from prison made public this week, the Sheik called on his followers to avenge him,

saying he was being treated shabbily, prevented from praying when he wants and subjected to

frequent strip searches.

Witnesses to the shootings today said three men dressed in black jackets shouting the familiar

Muslim refrain "God is great!" jumped from a taxi van to spray bullets at the tourists. Most of them were

elderly Greeks on a pilgrimage, lining up at the palm-framed Europa hotel for a bus tour.

The firing, aimed both at the bus and inside the hotel lobby, lasted about three minutes, then the

gunmen packed into the van and a fourth man, armed with a pistol, drove them away, the witnesses

said.

The attack ended a hiatus in a terror campaign in Cairo, a metropolis of 13 million people, and will

almost surely usher in a new crackdown on the fundamentalists by the Egyptian Government.

Recent roundups of the militants had restored enough confidence in the capital that Egyptian

security forces had visibly relaxed their watch here in the last year, for example, by allowing

unarmed guards to provide hotel security.

Grigorious Mafoutis, 65, had come to see the Orthodox Christian tourist sites and was waiting in the

hotel's lobby to board a tour bus when the shooting began. "When I saw people screaming and running,

I threw myself on the floor," he said. "I never suspected it could happen here."

Most of the dead and wounded were Greek visitors who had just arrived in Cairo from Israel on

Wednesday after having celebrated Orthodox Easter there on Sunday.

The group operator, Mistakidis Tours of Athens, said the 88 Greek visitors had gone to Israel to visit

churches and other religious sites.

At the hotel, 10 miles or so from the Pyramids, the killers left behind a scene of mayhem, with the

dead and wounded lying on the ground among small pools of blood, abandoned shoes and

smashed bottles of mineral water.

The dead included 14 women and 3 men, all Greek, and an Egyptian parking attendant."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E1D91E39F93AA25757C0A960958260&sec=travel&pagewanted=print

MIM: Stewart's complicity in murder and lying to the media about Americans denying Rahman

medical

treatment should have netted her a treason charge.

When she was first indicted she said she would do the same thing adding that 'it was something any

lawyer should do". When faced

with a 30 year prison sentence she backpedalled and brazenly lied that it was her 'soft heartedness'

which had caused her to feel sorry for Rahman and she had just wanted to 'try to help him'. Stewarts

'compassion' for the terrorist leader and his followers resulted in the call for the murder of Jews

worldwide and the deaths of non Muslims for whom she apparently did not have a self declared

'soft spot'.

Rahman's imprisonment instead of execution was mistake. Over the years his followers have staged

terror attacks which they claimed were aimed at having him released from prison, one of them being

the attack on the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen.

Yousry then reported that "some people" had spoken to Sattar about the attack on the Navy

destroyer, "and said that they did this operation for Omar Abdel-Rahman so he could be released

from prison." The October 2000 attack in Yemen killed 17 sailors. Yousry continued, saying that

Sattar's contacts asked him "to do some negotiations with the American government and tell

them,

'If [Rahman is] not released we'll execute another operation..."

Abdel-Rahman advised that a lawyer, and not Sattar, should handle any negotiations, otherwise

Sattar "would be bitten by them," an apparent reference to law enforcement scrutiny.

The FBI affidavit notes that Stewart voiced agreement with Abdel-Rahman's analysis, adding that

she told Sattar "there was a time to be a hero, but that this was not it."

The 9/11 attacks were said to have been part revenge for Rahman's imprisonment, and the head of

Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Hamza Al Masri, called upon his followers to kidnap and attack Americans

in order to demand Rahman's release.

MIM:News report on Stewart sentencing

US lawyer jailed on terror charge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6057200.stm

Lynne Stewart arrives at court for her sentencing Ms Stewart told the judge she was not a traitor
A US civil rights lawyer convicted of aiding terrorism by passing messages from a jailed client to his followers has been imprisoned for 28 months.

Lynne Stewart, 67, was found guilty in February 2005 of helping Islamic cleric Omar Abdel Rahman contact radical disciples in Egypt.

Abdel Rahman was jailed for life in 1995 for planning attacks in New York.

Prosecutors had recommended Ms Stewart, who told the judge she was not a traitor, be given a 30-year sentence.

Before the trial, the veteran attorney had asked for leniency.

"The government's characterisation of me and what occurred is inaccurate and untrue," she wrote in a letter to the judge.

"It takes unfair advantage of the climate of urgency and hysteria that followed 9/11."

But prosecutors said during the trial that by passing messages from Abdel Rahman, Ms Stewart broke government restrictions on his right to communicate with the outside world.

Some of the messages to the cleric's overseas followers included incitement to violence, they said.

Announcing the sentence, US District Judge John Koeltl described Ms Stewart's actions as "extraordinarily severe criminal conduct", the Associated Press reported.

But he said that in her 30-year career representing many controversial figures, she had "performed a public service, not only to her clients, but to the nation".

Well-known

Ms Stewart - the only US lawyer to face charges linked to terrorism - has become a well-known figure, with clients ranging from gangsters to left-wing activists.

Since her indictment in 2002, she has spoken at rallies and been the subject of a television documentary. Her sentencing was delayed while she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

Supporters of the lawyer gathered at the court in New York, carrying banners and chanting slogans.

Two co-defendants were also sentenced.

US postal worker Ahmed Sattar was given 24 years in prison for conspiracy to murder, while Arabic translator Mohammed Yousry received a 20-month jail term for supporting the conspiracy

--------

MIM: Announcement of the charges against Lynn Stewart and her co conspirators by then Attorney General John Ashcroft:

Department of State
International Information Programs

Washington File

09 April 2002

Four Indicted for Aiding Convicted Terrorist, Ashcroft Announces

(Four accused of helping Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman pursue terrorism from
prison) (2750)

A U.S. grand jury has indicted four people for supporting and
providing resources for convicted blind terrorist Sheik Omar Abdel
Rahman and the organization known as the Islamic Group, Attorney
General John Ashcroft announced at an April 9 news conference in New
York.

"The Islamic Group is a global terrorist organization that has forged
alliances with other terrorist groups, including al Qaeda," Ashcroft
said, noting that it has an active membership in the United States,
concentrated in the New York City metropolitan area.

The four indicted include New York City attorney Lynne Stewart, one of
Rahman's lawyers; Ahmed Abdel Sattar, described as a Staten Island
resident and a "surrogate" for Rahman; Yassir Al-Sirri, the former
head of the London-based Islamic Observation Center and currently in
custody in Britain; and Mohammed Yousry, identified as an Arabic
language translator.

Ashcroft said the four helped the 62-year-old Rahman "direct"
terrorist activity from his prison cell.

Sheik Rahman is in prison in Rochester, Minnesota, after being
convicted in 1995 along with nine others of joining in the plot that
resulted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a
conspiracy to destroy several New York landmarks, including the United
Nations.

Ashcroft said the indictment charges that the four defendants worked
in concert with Rahman in violation of special administrative measures
restricting Rahman's communications with the outside world, to provide
material support and resources to the Islamic Group.

"The indictment charges that Rahman used communications with Stewart,
translated by Yousry, to pass messages to and receive messages from
Sattar, Al-Sirri and other Islamic Group members," Ashcroft said.

Federal officials learned of the activity between the four and Rahman
by, in part, monitoring conversations the Muslim cleric had with his
lawyer and associates, the Attorney General said.

Such monitoring of conversations, Ashcroft added, would be continued in
an effort to thwart any possible terrorist activity.

Following is a transcript of the news conference:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney General Transcript
April 9, 2002
New York, NY

Islamic Group Indictments

ASHCROFT: This afternoon I'm announcing the indictment of four
associates of Sheik Abdel-Rahman, leader of the U.S.
government-designated terrorist organization, the Islamic Group. Since
1995 Sheik Rahman has been serving a life term, plus 65-year prison
sentence for conspiring to wage a war of terrorism against the United
States. Included in that conspiracy term is the plot that resulted in
the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a conspiracy to destroy
several New York landmarks, including the United Nations.

Today's indictment charges four individuals, including Rahman's
lawyer, a United States citizen, with aiding Sheik Abdel-Rahman in
continuing to direct terrorist activities of the Islamic Group from
his prison cell in the United States. The United States charges the
following individuals: Lynne Stewart, who was Sheik Abdel-Rahman's
attorney during his 1995 conviction for the World Trade Center bombing
and who has continued to act as one of his attorneys since he has been
in prison.

Mohammed Yousry, the Arabic language interpreter for communications
between Lynne Stewart and the imprisoned Sheik Rahman.

Ahmed Abdul Sattar, a resident of Staten Island, New York and an
active Islamic Group leader, whom the indictment describes as a
surrogate for Rahman.

And also indicated is Yasser al-Sirri, the former head of the
London-based Islamic observation center. He is currently in custody in
the United Kingdom. He is charged with facilitating communications
among Islamic Group members and providing financing for their
activities.

The indictment charges that these defendants worked in concert with
Sheik Abdel-Rahman in violation of special administrative measures
restricting Rahman's communications with the outside world, to provide
material support and resources the Islamic Group.

ASHCROFT: The indictment charges that Rahman used communications with
Stewart, translated by Yousry to pass messages to and receive messages
from Sattar, al-Sirri and other Islamic group members.

The terrorist movement at the center of the facts alleged in this
indictment is the Islamic group which has as its credo a message of
hate that is now tragically familiar to Americans, to oppose by
whatever means necessary the nations, governments, and individuals who
do not share its radical interpretations of Islamic law.

The Islamic Group is a global terrorist organization that has forged
alliances with other terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda. It has an
active membership in the United States, concentrated in the New York
City metropolitan area.

According to the indictment, since at least the early 1990s, Sheik
Abdel-Rahman has been one of the principal leaders of the Islamic
group and has directed its terrorist operations.

He has defined its goals, has recruited its membership in the United
States. In 1997, following his 1995 imprisonment, the Bureau of
Prisons implemented special administrative measures that defined the
conditions of his imprisonment. Among these restrictions, these
measures prohibited Rahman from, and I quote, "from passing or
receiving any written or recorded communications to or from other
inmates, visitors, attorneys, prison staff, or anyone else."

According to the indictment, in 1999, these restrictions were amended
to prohibit Rahman from communicating with any member of the news
media in person or through his attorneys. Before being allowed access
to Rahman, his attorneys, including Lynne Stewart, were required to
sign and did sign an affirmation acknowledging that they would abide
by these measures and they would be accompanied by a translator only
to communicate with Sheik Rahman according to and regarding legal
matters. ASHCROFT: Today's indictment charges that Lynne Stewart and
Mohammed Yousry repeatedly and willfully violated these order in order
to maintain Sheik Abdel-Rahman's influence over the terrorist
activities of the Islamic group.

Among other overt acts, the indictment charges that, during a May 2000
visit to Sheik Abdel-Rahman, Stewart allowed Yousry to read letters
from Ahmed Abdul Sattar regarding whether the Islamic group should
continue to comply with a cease-fire in terrorist activities against
Egyptian authorities that had been in place following the shooting and
stabbing of 58 tourists and four Egyptians visiting an archaeological
site in Luxor, Egypt in 1997. That's a terrorist attack for which the
Islamic group claimed credit.

The indictment charges that because these special
communications--pardon me. The indictment charges that because these
communications violated the special administrative measures placed on
Sheik Rahman, Stewart took affirmative steps to conceal the
conversation from prison guards, making extraneous comments in English
to mask the Arabic conversation between Rahman and Yousry. Following
the meeting, and in further violation of the special administrative
measures to which she had agreed, Stewart is charged with announcing
to the news media that Rahman had withdrawn his support for the
cease-fire.

The indictment further alleges that in a January 2001 phone call,
Ahmed Abdul Sattar informed Stewart that prison administrators had
pleaded with Rahman's wife to tell Rahman to take his medicine. The
indictment charges that although they knew Rahman was voluntarily
refusing to take insulin for his diabetes, Sattar and Stewart agreed
to issue a public statement falsely claiming that Rahman was being
denied medical treatment.

The indictment charges that Stewart stated that this misrepresentation
was, quote, "safe," because no one on the, quote, "outside," would
know the truth. Shortly after terrorists attacked the United States on
September 11, 2001, the Department of Justice promulgated a rule
creating the authority to monitor the attorney-client communications
of federal inmates whom we suspected of facilitating acts of
terrorism.

ASHCROFT: At the time, we attempted to make clear of the 158,000
inmates in the federal system, this authority would apply to only 16
inmates who, like Sheik Abdel-Rahman, were already under special
administrative measures, a definition of the conditions of their
custody. The authority was carefully circumscribed to protect inmates'
rights while preventing acts of terrorism.

Each prisoner would be told in advance his conversations would be
monitored.

None of the information that is protected by the attorney-client
privilege would be used for prosecution. Information would only be
used to stop impending terrorist attacks and save American lives.

The Department of Justice announced this authority back in October,
with the knowledge, which could not be publicly shared for fear of
exposing Americans to greater risk, that inmates such as Sheik
Abdel-Rahman were attempting to subvert our system of justice for
terrorist ends. In fact, the training manual for Al Qaeda terrorists
offers detailed constructions to recruits on how to continue their
terrorist operations in the event they get caught.

Imprisoned terrorists are instructed to take advantage of any contact
with the outside world to, quote--and now I'm quoting from the
terrorist manual--"communicate with brothers outside prison and
exchange information that may be helpful to them in their work. The
importance of mastering the art of hiding messages is self-evident
here." And I'm closing now the quotation from the Al Qaeda training
manual.

As today's indictment sets forth, Sheik Abdel-Rahman has learned the
lessons of the Al Qaeda manual well. Sheik Rahman is determined to
exploit the rights guaranteed to him under the United States system of
justice.

The United States cannot and will not stand by and allow this to
happen. Accordingly, today, I am announcing that the Department of
Justice is invoking for the first time to monitor the communications
between Sheik Abdel-Rahman and his attorneys under the new Justice
Department regulations.

Since America was attacked over six months ago, I have sought to
reassure the American people that the acts of the Department of
Justice are carefully designed to target terrorists and to protect the
rights of Americans and their freedom. Today's actions pursue the same
objectives with the same protections in mind. We will not look the
other way when our institutions of justice are subverted.

We will not ignore those who claim rights for themselves, while they
seek to destroy the rights of others. We will in the president's words
"defend freedom and justice no matter what the cost."

Thank you. Now we'd be happy to respond to your questions.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) Is there any information pertaining to the
September 11 attacks that is not contained in these documents but
might be forthcoming later?

ASHCROFT: I don't want to try and discuss all the evidence, but I
think it's clear that the indictment does not indicate that there's
any information regarding the September 11 attacks, and I think it's
safe to assume that there is not any that would be likely to be
forthcoming.

QUESTION: Do you know what, if anything, is the consequence of the
letters that you allege were read to the Sheik, and if you read
letters back in addition to (inaudible) which you say was issued under
his name in the year 2000? What, if any, are the consequences of these
communications?

ASHCROFT: Well, the first consequence is that the agreement and that
the rules relating to his incarceration have been broken.

The second is that the communication, in accordance with the items
mentioned in the indictment, that he had lifted his approval of the
cease-fire is a very important signal to members of the Islamic group.

Yes, sir?

QUESTION: How did these people provide financial support (inaudible)
and other things, including sending money to Sheik Rahman's son in
Afghanistan?

ASHCROFT: The indictment alleges that money was transferred, but
frankly, for us to go beyond the indictment at this time would be
improper.

QUESTION: Can you describe (inaudible) listing his son as, I believe,
a co-conspirator but not a defendant, can you explain that?

ASHCROFT: Well, we're talking about Rahman...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... Rahman's son.

ASHCROFT: His son?

Let me just call upon Jim (ph) to make a comment on (OFF-MIKE)

(UNKNOWN): I can't comment other than to say the investigation is
continuing. The people we've indicted are the people we've indicted.
So I'm sorry I can't give you more than that.

QUESTION: All right. Just to be clear, you said that you're announcing
for the first time that the attorney--that Sheik Rahman's
conversations will be monitored, his conversations with the attorney.
Is this the first instance in which attorney-client conversations will
be monitored under the new provisions?

ASHCROFT: Under the new provisions, that's correct.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

ASHCROFT: We've had about a dozen and a half people who have been
subject to special administrative measures. But under the new
regulations promulgated last fall, this is the first time we'll be
imposing those regulations as a means of monitoring conversations.

Yes, ma'am?

QUESTION: Do you have information beyond September 11 (inaudible) do
you have any information that these particular communications
(inaudible)

ASHCROFT: We're not going to go beyond the information in the
indictment at this time.

QUESTION: Can you characterize the relationship between the Islamic
group and Al Qaeda? What is the nature of that? How close did they
work together (inaudible)

ASHCROFT: I don't want to get into the facts that we're likely to
develop at one time or another. The indictment alleges a formal
relationship, that there's an allied relationship between the two. And
at this time, we wouldn't go further.

Yes?

QUESTION: Could you talk about the Luxor attack and the taking of the
tourists as hostages? Did the sheik--the information that got
out--what were the repercussions, that they encouraged these gentlemen
to take the hostages?

ASHCROFT: Well, you know that dozens of people died in Luxor.

QUESTION: Right.

ASHCROFT: And the sheik is a person whose leadership is substantial in
the community of terrorists. Scattered on the bodies of those who died
in Luxor were the pamphlets saying, "Release the sheik from his
imprisonment in the United States," just to indicate that his
influence in the Islamic group as a terrorist organization was a
profound influence, and so that signaling from him would be important.

QUESTION: To encourage other attacks? But this is one instance that
you're suggesting occurred, where they actually did kill people...
ASHCROFT: Well, I think that instance occurred prior to the time in
which we...

QUESTION: OK.

ASHCROFT: We're not going to go beyond the indictment at this time and
provide other information. Yes, sir?

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) what is your concern about what would happen if
you didn't take this action that you're announcing today?

ASHCROFT: Well, I've stated on repeated occasions that we will not
allow individuals to continue to perpetrate criminal acts or terrorist
acts from their prison cells. And we will take whatever steps are
necessary to make sure that that opportunity, either to direct or
otherwise guide or plan or executive acts of terrorism or criminality
is restrained.

ASHCROFT: And the regulations which we are now imposing on this
particular individual provide for us to be able to monitor his
conversations very thoroughly.

QUESTION: And how seriously do you think (inaudible)?

ASHCROFT: I'm not in a position to comment on those things at this
time.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

ASHCROFT: I think that's a good question, yes. For a number of years,
the conversations have been monitored, pursuant to court order,
monitor these conversations, and with judicial authority and
authorization.

In order to be able to respond aggressively in a timely fashion, I
promulgated regulations last fall that allow to do so with a different
set of safeguards and a framework that could provide more expeditious
opportunities for surveillance. So, for the first time, we are
imposing the ability to surveil a conversation under this new
framework.

But for several years now, this office of the United States attorney
and the office of the Department of Justice, aided by the FBI and law
enforcement authorities, has been taking the steps necessary to
assemble this case. And frankly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
its local officials in this office, deserve credit for an
investigation which is extending over several years to culminate in
the action which is taken today.

QUESTION: How would you characterize the relationship between Sheik
Rahman and Lynne Stewart?

ASHCROFT: I think for me to go beyond the indictment today would be
inappropriate. We've alleged in the indictment that Sheik's attorney
has gone outside the confines of the agreement to which she had come
with the officials, and the fact that she has done so has resulted in
charges being brought.

QUESTION: When did you start monitoring conversations? Can somebody
answer that question?

ASHCROFT: 1998, I believe, is it? December of 1998.

Thank you very much.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
 
MIM: For the complete text of the transcripts below go to "The Smoking Gun" archives.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/sheikhfour1.html 

 

< 1 2 3 >

 
 
MIM: Indictment of Stewart, Yousry and Abdel Sattar.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

- v. -

AHMED ABDEL SATTAR,
a/k/a "Abu Omar,"
a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed,"
LYNNE STEWART, and
MOHAMMED YOUSRY,

Defendants.


:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Terror-Related Case


Superseding Indictment


SI 02 Cr. 395 (JGK)

INTRODUCTION

The Grand Jury charges:

1. From at least the early 1990's until in or about April 2002, Omar Ahmad Ali Abdel Rahman, a/k/a "the Sheikh," a/k/a "Sheikh Omar" (hereinafter, "Abdel Rahman"), who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein, was an influential and high-ranking member of terrorist organizations based in Egypt and elsewhere. Abdel Rahman considered nations, governments, institutions, and individuals that did not share his radical interpretation of Islamic law to be "infidels" and interpreted the concept of "jihad" ("struggle") to compel the waging of opposition against such infidels by whatever means necessary, including force and violence.

The Federal Prosecutors

  • The U.S. Attorney's Office
  • Robin Baker
  • Joseph F. Bianco
  • Christopher Jude Morvillo
  • 2. According to Abdel Rahman's public remarks in 1990, "Jihad … there is no such thing as commerce, industry and science in jihad. This is calling things … other than by its own names. If God …says do jihad, it means do ‘jihad with the sword, with the cannon, with the grenades and with the missile' this is jihad. Jihad against God's enemies for God's cause and His word."

    3. Abdel Rahman supported and advocated jihad to, among other things: (1) overthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic state; (2) destroy the nation of Israel and give the land to the Palestinians; and (3) oppose those governments, nations, institutions, and individuals, including the United States and its citizens, whom he perceived as enemies of Islam and supporters of Egypt and Israel.

    4. Abdel Rahman endorsed terrorism to accomplish his goals. In a speech he gave prior to May 2, 1994, Abdel Rahman said: "Why do we fear the word ‘terrorist?' If the terrorist is the person who defends his right; so we are terrorists. And if the terrorist is the one who struggles for the sake of God, [then] we are terrorists. We … have been ordered with terrorism because we must prepare what power we can to terrorize the enemy of God and yours. The Quran [the Islamic holy book] mentioned the word ‘to strike terror,' therefore we don't fear to be described with ‘terrorism'… They may say ‘he is a terrorist, he uses violence, he uses force.' Let them say that.

    - 2 -


    We are ordered to "prepare whatever we can of power to terrorize the enemies of Islam.'"

    Defense Lawyers for Stewart

  • Lynne Stewart
  • Michael Tigar
  • Daniel Habib
  • Jill Shellow-Levine
  • Stephen Somerstein
  • Steven P. Ragland
  • Susan P. Tipograph
  • Gerald Niewoehner
  • 5. Abdel Rahman exercised leadership while subordinates carried out the details of specific terrorist operations. Abde1 Rahman, who was viewed by his followers and associates as a religious scholar, provided necessary guidance regarding whether particular terrorist activities were permissible or forbidden under his extremist interpretation of Islamic law, and at times provided strategic advice concerning whether such activities would be an effective means of achieving their goals. Abdel Rahman also solicited persons to commit violent terrorist actions. Additionally, Abdel Rahman served as a mediator of disputes among his followers and associates.

    6. On or about July 2, 1993, Abdel Rahman was arrested in the United States. In October 1995, a jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York convicted Abdel Rahman of engaging in a seditious conspiracy to wage a war of urban terrorism against the United States, which included the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks, including the United Nations, the FBI building in New York, and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. The jury also found Abdel Rahman guilty of soliciting crimes of violence against the United States military and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In January 1996, Abdel

    - 3 -


    Rahman was sentenced to life imprisonment. On August 16, 1999, Abdel Rahman's conviction was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and; on January 10, 2000, the United States Supreme Court refused to hear his case and his conviction thus became final. Since on or about 1997, Abdel Rahman has been incarcerated in various facilities operated by the United States Bureau of Prisons, including the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

    Lawyers for Abdel Sattar

  • Barry M. Fallick
  • Kenneth Paul
  • Steven P. Ragland
  • 7. Following his arrest, Abdel Rahman urged his followers to wage jihad to obtain his release from custody. For instance, in a message to his followers recorded while he was in prison, Abdel Rahman stated that it was the duty of all Muslims to set free any imprisoned fellow Muslims, and that "[t]he Sheikh is calling on you, morning and evening. Oh Muslims! Oh Muslims! And he finds no respondents. It is a duty upon all the Muslims around the world to come to free the Sheikh, and to rescue him from his jail." Referring to the United States, Abdel Rahman implored, "Muslims everywhere, dismember their nation, tear them apart, ruin their economy, provoke their corporations, destroy their embassies, attack their interests, sink their ships, and shoot down their planes, kill them on land, at sea, and in the air. Kill them wherever you find them."

    8. Both prior to and after his arrest and imprisonment, Abdel Rahman was a spiritual leader of an

    - 4 -


    international terrorist group based in Egypt and known as the Islamic Group, a/k/a "Gama'a al-Islamiyya," a/k/a "IG," a/k/a "al-Gama'at," a/k/a "Islamic Gama'at," a/k/a "Egyptian al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya" (hereinafter, the "Islamic Group"). Abdel Rahman played a key role in defining and articulating the goals, policies, and tactics of the Islamic Group.

    Yousry's Defense Lawyer

  • David Stern
  • 9. According to Abdel Rahman's public remarks in 1990, Egyptian youths in the 1970's "established what is called Al Gama'a al-Islamiyya…, reviving [it] for the sake of Allah . . . . The Islamic group . . . started simple, few, little, then it spread and now has mosques and has presence in the governorates of Egypt … [M]any of them were killed for the cause of God as they had sacrificed their own souls; they carried out many jihad operations against those tyrants. The most famous and the most successful operation was fighting the atheist,. the oppressor and the profligate by killing him, Anwar Al-Sadat [the Egyptian president who was assassinated in 1981]… and now, it is hoping for another operation, God willing."

    10. Abdel Rahman's followers, including those associated with the Islamic Group, shared his views about the reasons for jihad, including the goal of obtaining Abdel Rahman's release from United States custody.

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    Efforts to Secure Abdel Rahman's Release

    11. After Abdel Rahman's arrest, a coalition of terrorists, supporters, and followers, including leaders and as.sociates of the Islamic Group, al Qaeda, the Egyptian Islamic Jim [sic], and the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines threatened and committed acts of terrorism directed at obtaining the release of Abdel Rahman from prison.

    Related Links

  • War On Terrorism
  • Criminal Law Center
  • Stages of a Criminal Case
  • 12. On or about July 4, 1993, the defendant, AHMED AHDEL SATTAR, a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," spoke to the media regarding Abdel Rahman's arrest and stated that "we haven't decided the time or place, but our Muslim community will definitely demonstrate its outrage at the arrest of the Sheikh," and that, "if anything happens to the Sheikh, we will hold the American administration responsible … Something very bad could happen."

    13. On or about January 21, 1996, a statement, issued in the name of the Islamic Group, responded to the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on Abdel Rahman by threatening, "All American interests will be legitimate targets for our struggle until the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and his brothers. As the American Government has opted for open confrontation with the Islamic movement and the Islamic symbols of struggle, al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya swears by God to its irreversible vow to take an eye for an eye."

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    14. On or about April 21, 1996, an Islamic Group leader, who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein ("CC-1"), stated during an interview that "the question of kidnapping Americans as a ransom for [Abdel Rahman] is in the cards, not ruled out, and under consideration."

    15. On or about February 12, 1997, a statement issued in the name of the Islamic Group threatened, "The Islamic Group declares all American interests legitimate targets to its legitimate jihad until the release of all prisoners, on top of whom" is Abdel Rahman.

    16. On or about May 5, 1997, a statement issued in the name of the Islamic Group threatened, "If any harm comes to the [S]heikh … al-Gama al-IsIalamiy[y]a will target … all of those Americans who participated in subjecting his life to danger." The statement also said that "A1-Gamaa al-Islamiyya considers every American official, starting with the American president to the despicable jailer … partners endangering the Sheikh's life," and that the Islamic Group would do "everything in its power" to free Abdel Rahman. This statement by the Islamic Group followed a statement released to the media on May 2, 1997, by one of Abdel Rahman's attorneys that "[i]t sounds like the Sheikh's condition is deteriorating and obviously could be life-threatening."

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    17. On or about November 17, 1997, six assassins shot and stabbed a group of tourists visiting an archeological site in Luxor,. Egypt. Fifty-eight foreign tourists were killed along with four Egyptians, some of whom were police officers. Before making their exit, the terrorists scattered leaflets espousing their support for the Islamic Group and calling for the release of Abdel Rahman. Also, the torso of one victim was slit by the terrorists and a leaflet calling for Abdel Rahman's release was inserted.

    18. On or about November 18, 1997, a statement issued in the name of the Islamic Group said, "A Gama'a unit tried to take prisoner the largest number of foreign tourists possible … with the aim of securing the release of the general emir. (commander) of the Gama'a al-Islamiyya, Dr. Abdel-Rahman." The statement continued, "But the rash behavior and irresponsibility of government security forces with regard to tourist and civilian lives led to the high number of fatalities." The statement aIso warned that the Islamic Group "will continue its military operations as long as the regime does not respond to our demands." The statement listed the most important demands as "the establishment of God's law, cutting relations with the Zionist entity (Israel) … and the return of our sheik[h] and emir to his land."

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    19. On or about October 13, 1999, a statement in the name of Islamic Group leader Rifa'i Ahmad Taha Musa, a/k/a "Abu Yasir" (hereinafter, "Taha"), who is a co-conspirator not named. as a defendant herein, vowed to rescue Abdel Rahman and said that the United States' "hostile strategy to the Islamic movemehtn would drive it to "unify its efforts to confront America's piracy."

    20. In or about March 2000, individuals claiming association with the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group kidnapped approximately 29 hostages in the Philippines, demanded the release from prison of Abdel Rahman and two other convicted terrorists in exchange for the release of those hostages, and threatened to behead hostages if their demands were not met. Philippine authorities later found two decomposed, beheaded bodies in an area where the hostages had been held, and four hostages were ‘unaccounted for.'

    21. On or about September 21, 2000, an Arabic television station, Al Jazeera, televised a meeting of Usama Bin Laden (leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization), Ayman al Zawahiri (former leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jiha organization and one of Bin Laden's top lieutenants), and Taha. Sitting under a banner which read, "Convention to Support Honorable Omar Abdel Rahman," the three terrorist leaders pledged "mad to free Abdel Rahman from incarceration in the United

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    States. During the meeting, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, a/k/a "Asadallah," who is a son of Abdel Rahman, was heard encouraging others to "avenge your Sheikh" and "go to the spilling of blood."

    Other Relevant Events

    22. At various times starting in or about July 1997, certain Islamic Group leaders and factions called for an "initiative" (or cease-fire,) in which the Islamic Group would suspend terrorist operations in Egypt in a tactical effort to persuade the Egyptian government to release Islamic Group leaders, members, and associates who were in prison in Egypt.

    23. In or about February 1998, Usama Bin Laden and Taha, among others, issued a fatw (a legal ruling issued by an Islamic scholar) that stated, among other things, "We, in the name of God, call on every Muslim who believes in God and desires to be rewarded, to follow God's order to kill Americans and plunder their wealth wherever and whenever they find it."

    24. On or about October 12, 2000, in Aden Harbor, Yemen, two terrorists piloted a bomb-laden boat alongside the United States Navy vessel the U.S.S. Cole and detonated a bomb that ripped a hole in the side of the U.S.S. Cole approximately 40 feet in diameter, murdering seventeen crew members, and wounding at least forty other crew members.

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    The Special Administrative Measures zmnosed on Abdel Rahman

    25. Beginning in or about April 1997, United States authorities, in order to protect the national security, limited certain of Ab.del Rahman's privileges in prison, including his access to the mail, the media, the telephone, and visitors. At that time, the Bureau of Prisons (at the direction of the Attorney General) imposed Special Administrative Measures ("SAMs") upon Abdel Rahman, pursuant to a federal_regulation (28 C.F.R. § 501.3). The stated purpose of the SAMs was to protect "persons against the risk of death or serious bodily injury" that could result if Abdel Rahman were free "to communicate (send or receive) terrorist information." Under the SAMs, Abdel Rahman could only call his wife or his attorneys and their translator, could only be visited by his immediate family members or his attorneys and their translator, and could only receive mail after it was screened by federal authorities. In addition, the SAMs prohibited communication with any member or representative news media. More specifically, as of April 7, 1999, the SAMs provided that "[t]he inmate will not be permitted to talk with, meet with, correspond with, or otherwise communicate with any member, or representative, of the news media, in person, by telephone, by furnishing a recorded message, through the mails, through his attorney(s), or otherwise."

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    26. The SAMS specifically provided that attorneys for Abdel Rahman were obliged to sign an affirmation, acknowledging that they and their staff would abide fully by the SAMs, before being allowed access to Abdel Rahman. The attorneys agreed in these affirmations, among other things, to "only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters." Moreover, since at least in or about May 1998, the attorneys also agreed not to "use [their] meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman."

    The Defendants

    27. Defendant AHMED ABDEL SATTAR, a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," is a longtime associate of and surrogate for Abdel Rahman. SATTAR negotiated Abdel Rahman's surrender and was present at Abdel Rahman's arrest on July 2, 1993. Upon Abdel Rahman's arrest, and continuing through his conviction, sentencing, and the imposition of the SAMS, SATTAR coordinated efforts to keep Abdel Rahman in contact with his co-conspirators' and followers. Defendant LYNNE STEWART was one of Abdel Rahman's attorneys during his 1995 criminal trial in New York and, following his conviction, continued to act as one of his attorneys. Notwithstanding the SAMS and her agreement to abide by their provisions, STEWART, through her continued access to

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    Abdel Rahman, enabled him to remain in contact with his co conspirators and followers. Defendant MOHAMMED YOUSRY testified as a defense witness at Abdel Rahman's 1995 criminal trial and, starting in or about 1997, acted as an Arabic interpreter for communications between Abdel Rahman and his attorneys. Notwithstanding the SAMs and YOUSRY's knowledge of their provisions, YOUSRY, through his continued access to Abdel Rahlnan and facilitated by STEWART, enabled Abdel Rahman.to remain in contact with his co-conspirators and followers.

    COUNT ONE

    The Grand Jury further charges:

    28. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27 of this indictment are realleged and incorporated by,reference as though fully set forth herein.

    29. From in or about June 1997 through in or about April 2002, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ASDEL SATTAR, a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," LYNNE STEWART, and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, Abdel Rahman, and Taha, together with others known and unknown, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, arid agreed together and with each other to defraud the United States and an agency thereof, to wit, to hamper, hinder, impede, and obstruct by trickery, deceit, and dishonest means, the lawful and

    - 13 -


    legitimate functions of the United States Department of Justice and its agency, the Bureau of Prisons, in the administration and enforcement of the Special Administrative Measures for inmate Abdel Rahman.

    Overt Acts

    30. In furtherance of the conspiracy, and to effect the illegal object thereof, the following overt acts,. among others, were committed in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere:

      a. On or about January 26, 1999, SATTAR spoke by telephone with CC-1, an Islamic Group leader, and discussed getting messages to Abdel Rahman in prison. SATTAR stated that they had to be careful in passing messages to Abdel Rahman because the Government could stop even his attorney visits and calls if "the attorney said that [Abdel Rahman] said so and so." SATTAR stated that there was a very small window that was opened to Abdel Rahman and that he did not want to close it, because"it--' would take years to reopen."

      The March 1999 Prison Visit and Abdel Rahman's March 1999 Message Regarrding The Islamic Group's initiative:

      b. On or about March 1 and 2, 7.999, STEWART and YOUSRY visited Abdel Rahman in prison.

      c. On or about March 9, 1999, following the prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, SATTAR disseminated to CC-1, an Islamic Group leader, a statement issued by Abdel

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      Rahman and directed to Islamic Group leader Taha. In that statement, Abdel Rahman instructed Taha to adhere to the initiative and directed, "No new charter, and nothing should happen or be done. without consulting me, or informing me."

      Abdel Rahman's March 1999 Message Regarding the Formation of a Political Party

      d. Abdel Rahman's September On or about March Abdel Rahman's September9, 1999, following the prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, SATTAR disseminated fo CC-1, an Islamic Group leader, a statement issued by Abdel Rahman and directed to Islamic Group members. In that. statement, Abdel Rahman rejected a proposal that the Islamic Group form a political party in Egypt.

      Abdel Rahman's September 1999 Statement Calling for an End to the Initiative

      e. On or about September 20, 1999, following a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by YOUSRY and another of Abdel Rahman's attorneys, SATTAR told Taha that Abdel Rahman had issued a statement from jail calling for an end to the initiative in response to reports that a raid in Egypt, by Egyptian law enforcement on or about September 7, 1999, resulted in four Islamic Group members being killed. SATTAR told Taha that Abdel Rahman stated, "The Islamic Group has committed itself to the suspension of military-operations Initiative which was launched two years ago by the Brothers from their jails, in spite of the Egyptian government's continued killing of the innocent people

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      and conducting unjust military trials.- SATTAR further stated that Abdel Rahman "demand[ed] that [his] brothers, the sons of the Islamic Group, do a comprehensive review of the Initiative and its results. [He] also demand[edl that they consider themselves absolved from it."

      f. On or about September 20, 1999, during a telephone conversation with Taha, SATTAR stated that the initiative should be canceled it necessary to accomplish the Islamic Group's goals.

      g. On or about November 14, 1999, during a telephone conversation with another individual, SATTAR stated that the initiative was not working because it had not succeeded in obtaining the release of Islamic Group leaders from prison.

      The February 2000 Attempte Delivery of a Message to Abdel Rahman

      h. In or about February 2000, with the assistance of SATTAR, YOUSRY, and others known and unknown, Taha attempted to have a message regarding Islamic Group activities conveyed to Abdel Rahman during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by one o his attorneys and YOUSRY, but the message was not delivered due to Abdel Rahman's apparent distrust of that attorney.

      Stewart's May 16, 2000 Signing of an Agreement to Abide by the Terms of the Special Administrative Measures

      i. On or about May 16, 2000, STEWART signed an affirmation in which she agreed "to abide by [the] terms" of the SAMs then in effect on Abdel Rahman. In particular, STEWART agreed that she would "only be accompanied by translators for the

      - 16 -


      purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters" and that she would not "use [her] meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman."

      The May 2000 Prison Visit

      j. On or about May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, YOUSRY told Abdel Rahman and. STEWART about the kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines and Abu Sayyaf's demand to free Abdel Rahman, to which STEWART replied, "Good for them." STEWART then told Abdel Rahman that she believed he could be released from prison if the government in Egypt were changed. STEWART also told Abdel Rahman that events like the Abu Sayyaf kidnappings in the Philippines are important, although they "may be futile," because it is "very, very crucial" that Abdel Rahman not be forgotten as a hero of the "Muiahadeen" (Jihad warriors).

      k. On or about May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, YOUSRY read Abdel Rahman an inflammatory statement by Taha that had recently been published in an Egyptian newspaper.

      l. On or about May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, YOUSRY, at STEWART's urging, read Abdel Rahman a letter from SATTAR. Among other things,

      - 17 -


      SATTAR's letter informed Abdel Rahman that SATTAR's communications with specified Islamic Group leaders had become "semi-constant" over.the past year, arid asked Abdel Rahman, "If there is anything, please notify." In addition, SATTAR's letter asked Abdel Rahman to endorse "the formation of a team that calls for cancellation of the peace initiative or makes threats escalates things."

      m. On or about May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, while YOUSRY read Taha's statement and SATTAR's letter to Abdel Rahman, STEWART actively concealed that fact from the prison guards. At one point, STEWART and YOUSRY explicitly discussed the fact that the guards were patrolling close to the prison conference room and might notice that STEWART was not involved in the conversation between YOUSRY and Abdel Rahman. To conceal the fact that STEWART was not participating in the meeting, among other things, STEWART instructed YOUSRY to make it look as if STEWART were communicating with Abdel Rahman and YOUSRY were merely translating, by having YOUSRY look periodically at STEWART and Abdel Rahman in turn, even though YOUSRY was in fact reading. STEWART also pretended to be participating in the conversation with Abdel Rahman by making extraneous comments such as "chocolate" and "heart attack." STEWART contemporaneously observed to YOUSRY that she could "get an award for" her acts of

      - 18 -


      concealment, and YOUSRY agreed that STEWART should "get an award in acting." Following the comments about STEWART's acting ability, STEWART, YOUSRY, and Abdel Rahman all laughed.

      n. On or about. May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, while YOUSRY read SATTAR's letter to Abdel Rahman, STEWART and YOUSRY laughed while . acknowledging that if the prison guards discovered that they, were reading Abdel Rahman a letter from SATTAR they would get "in trouble."

      o. On or about May 20, 2000, during the second day of a prison visit to Abdel Rahman by STEWART and YOUSRY, Abdel Rahman dictated letters to YOUSRY indicating that he did not support the cease-fire and calling for the Islamic Group, to reevaluate the cease-fire, while STEWART again actively concealed the conversation between YOUSRY and Abdel Rahman from the prison guards. Among other things, STEWART periodically interrupted the dictation with extraneous comments, and stated explicitly that she would do so from time to time in order to keep the guards from realizing that she was not participating in the conversation.

      p. In or about late May 2000, after STEWART and YOUSRY's visit to AbdSteStewart's M&y 26. 2000 Submission of Her Agreement the Terms of the pecial Administrative Measureswart's M&y 26. 2000 Submission of Her Agreement the Terms of the pecial Administrative MeasureseStewart's M&y 26. 2000 Submission of Her Agreement the Terms of the pecial Administrative Measuresl Rahman on May 19 and 20, 2000, SATTAR had telephone conversations with Islamic Group leaders in which he stated that Abdel Rahman: (1) did not object to a return to

      - 19 -


      "work" (terrorist operations); (2) agreed that the Islamic Group should escalate the issues in the media; (3) advised the Islamic Group to avoid division in the Islamic Group's leadership; and (4) instructed the Islamic Group to hint at a military operation even if the Islamic Group was not ready for military action.

      Stewart's May 26. 2000 Submission of Her Agreement to Abide by the Terms of the Special Administrative Measures

      q. On or about May 26, 2000, STEWART submitted to the United States Attorney's Oftice for the Southern District of New York the affirmation that she signed on May 16, 2000, in which she agreed to abide by the terms of the SAMs then in effect on Abdel Rahman.

      The June 2000 Press Release Regarding Abdel Rahman's Withdrawal of Support for the Initiative

      r. On or about June 14, 2000, STEWART released a statement to the press that quoted Abdel Rahman as stating that he "is withdrawing his support for the cease-fire that currently exists."

      s. On or about June 15, 2000, during a telephone conversation with'another person, STEWART stated her concern that she would not be able to "hide" from the United States Attorney's office the fact that she had issued the press release.

      Abdel Rahman's Second June 2000 Statement Regarding the Initiative

      t. On or about June 19, 2000, SATTAR spoke by telephone with CC-1, an Islamic Group leader, regarding Abdel

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      Rahman's withdrawal of support for the initiative and the confusion the statement supposedly caused within the Islamic Group.

      u. On or about June 19, 2000, one of Abdel Rahman's sons, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, spoke by telephone with SATTAR and asked SATTAR to convey to Abdel Rahman the fierceness of the debate within the Islamic Group about the initiative, and said that "even if the other side is right," SATTAR should tell Abdel Rahman to calm the situation by supporting "the general line of the Group."

      v. On or about June 20, 2000, SATTAR spoke by telephone with Mohammed Abdel Rahman and advised him that a conference call had taken place that morning between Abdel Pahman and some of his attorneys and that Abdel Rahman had issued a new statement containing additional points which made clear, among other things, that Abdel Rahman was not unilaterally ending the initiative, but rather, was withdrawing his support for it and "stating that it was up" to the "brothers" in the Islamic Group now to reconsider the issue.

      The October 2000 Fatwah

      w. On or about October 3, 2000, Taha called SATTAR and discussed a fatwah Taha had written under Abdel Rahman's name in response to recent events in the Middle East, to which SATTAR had made revisions.

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      x. On or about October 4, 2000, SATTAR called Yassir A1-Sirri, a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein, and read to him a fatwa to be issued under Abdel Rahman's name entitled, "Fatwah Mandating the Killing of Israelis Everywhere," which A1-Sirri agreed to revise and disseminate.

      y. On or about October 5, 2000, the fatwa appeared on the web-site operated by A1-Sirri. The fatwah called on "brother scholars everywhere in the Muslim world to do their part and issue a unanimous atwah that urges the Muslim nation to fight the Jews, and to kill them wherever they are." The fatwah further urged "the Muslim nation" to "fight the Jews by all possible means of Jihad, either by killing them as individuals or by targeting their interests, and the interests of those who support them, as much as they can."

      z. On or about October 11, 2000, during a telephone conversation, YOUSRY told STEWART that Abdel Rahman did not want his attorneys to deny that he had issued the fatwah urging the killing of Jews around the world and the targeting of the interests of those who support them.

      aa. On or about October 11, 2000, during a telephone conversation, STEWART told YOUSRY that she could not deny that she had issued the press release in June 2000, and that her position was that Abdel Rahman "is going to get his message out no matter what."

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      bb. On or about October 20, 2000, during an attorney telephone call to Abdel Rahman, YOUSRY was told by Abdel Rahman that he did not personally issue the fatwah, but did not want anyone to deny he had made it because "it is good."

      The Bombing of the U.S.S. Cole and the Conspiracv to Threaten Similar Acts Unless Abdel Rahman is Freed

      cc. On or about October 2S, 2000, SATTAR spoke by telephone to Taha, and Taha told SATTAR that "an Egyptian male" was involved in the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole and that SATTAR should assist in delivering a message to the United States government suggesting that similar attacks would occur unless Abdel Rahman were freed from prison.

      Stewart's May 7. 2001 Signing and,Submission of an Agreement to Abide by the Terms of the Special Administrative Measures

      dd. On or about May 7, 2001, STEWART signed and faxed to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York an affirmation in which she agreed "to abide by [the] terms" of the SAMs then in effect on Abdel Rahman: in particular, STEWART agreed that, during any visits to Abdel Rahman, she would "only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters," that she would only allow such meetings "to be used for legal discussion between Abdel Rahman and [her]," and that she would not "use [her] meetings, correspondence, or phone

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      calls with Abdel Rahman to pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman."

      The July 2001 Prison Visit and the Conspiracy to Threaten Acts Similar to the Bombing of the U.S.S. Cole Unless Abdel Rahman is Freed

      ee. On or about July 13, 2001, during a prison visit to Abdel Rahman in Minnesota by STEWART and YOUSRY, YOUSRY told Abdel Rahman that SATTAR had been informed that the U.S.S. Cole was bombed on Abdel Rahman's behalf and that SATTAR was asked to convey to the United States government that more terrorist acts would follow if the United States government did not free Abdel Rahman. While YOUSRY was informing Abdel Rahman about this scheme, STEWART actively concealed the conversation between YOUSRY and Abdel Rahman from the prison guards by, among other things, shaking a water jar and tapping on the table while stating that she was "just doing covering noise."

      ff. On or about July 14, 2001, during the second day of a prison visit to Abdel Rahman in Minnesota by STEWART and YOUSRY, YOUSRY read Abdel Rahman letters and Abdel Rahman dictated responsive letters to YOUSRY.

      Dissemination of a False Claim Regarding Abdel Rahman's Prison Conditions

      gg. On or about January 8, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with STEWART. During this call, SATTAR informed STEWART that the prison administrator where Abdel Rahman was incarcerated had pleaded with Abdel Rahman's wife to tell Abdel

      - 24 -


      Rahman to take insulin for his diabetes. Although SATTAR and STEWART knew that Abdel Rahman was voluntarily refusing to take insulin for his diabetes, they agreed that SATTAR should issue a public statement falsely claiming that the Bureau of Prisons was denying medical treatment to Abdel Rahman. STEWART expressed the opinion that this misrepresentation was "safe" because no one on the "outside" would know the truth.

      hh. On or about January 8, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with A1-Sirri and together they wrote a statement regarding Abdel Rahman's prison conditions, which included, among other things, a false claim that Abdel Rahman was.being denied insulin by the United States government. A1-Sirri instructed SATTAR to send the statement to Reuters and any other news agencies he could contact.

      ii. Between on or about January 8, 2001, and on or about January 10, 2001, SATTAR and Al-Sirri disseminated to several news organizations and on a website the false claim that United States authorities were withholding insulin from Abdel Rahman.

      (Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.)

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      COUNT TWO

      (Conspiracy to Kill and Kidnap Persons in a Foreign Country)

      The Grand Jury further charges:

      31. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27 and 30(a) through 30(ii) of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      32. From in or about September 1999 through in or about April 2002, within the jurisdiction of the United States, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED AHDEL SATTAR, a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," the defendant, Abdel Rahman, and Taha, together with others known and unknown, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to murder and kidnap persons in a foreign country.

      33. In furtherance of the conspiracy, and to effect the illegal object thereof, the following overt acts, among others, were committed in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere:

      COUNT THREE

      (Soliciation of Crimes of Violence)

      The Grand Jury further charges:

      34. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27, 30(a) through 30(ii), and 33 (b) through 33 (h) of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference a9 though fully set forth herein.

      35. From in or about September 1999 through in or1 about April 2002, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR, a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," the defendant, and others known and unknown, with the intent that other persons engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, and threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicited, commanded, induced, and otherwise endeavored to persuade such other persons to engage in such conduct, to wit, AHMED AHDEL SATTAR solicited, commanded, induced, and otherwise endeavored to persuade other persons to engage in violent terrorist operations worldwide to achieve the Islamic Group's objectives, in violation of Title 18,'United states Code, Sections 956, 2332, and 2332b.

      (Title 18, United States Code, Section 373)

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      COUNT FOUR

      (Conspiracy to Provide and Conceal
      Material Support to Terrorist Activity)

      The Grand Jury further charges:

      36. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27, 30(a) through 30 (ii) and 33.(b) through 33 (h) of this indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      37. From in or about September 1999 through in or about April 2002, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, LYNNE STEWART and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other to violate Section 2339A of Title 18, United States Code.

      38. It was a part and an object of said conspiracy that LYNNE STEWART and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, and others known and unknown, within the United States, would and did provide material support and resources, to wit, would and did provide personnel by making Abdel Rahman available as a coconspirator, and would and did conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, and ownership of material support and resources, to wit, would and did conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, and ownership of personnel by concealing and disguising that Abdel Rahman was a co-conspirator, knowing and

      - 30 -


      intending that such material support and resources were to be used in preparation for, and in carrying out, a violation of Section 956 of Title 18, United States Code, to wit, the conspiracy charged in Count Two of this Indictment, and in preparation for, and in carrying out, the concealment of such violation.

      39. In furtherance of the material-support conspiracy, and to effect the illegal object thereof, the following overt acts, among others, were committed in the Southern District~of New York and elsewhere:

        a. The allegations in Paragraphs 30(h) through 30(o), 30 (q) through 30 (s) , 30 (z) through 30 (bb) , and 30 (dd) through 30(ff) of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      (Title 18, United States Code, Section 371).

      COUNT FIVE

      (Providing and Concealing
      Material Support to Terrorist Activity)

      The Grand Jury further charges:

      40. The allegations in Paragraphs I through 27, 30(a), through 30(ii), and 33 (b) through 33(h) of this indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      41. From in or about September 1999 through in or about April 2002, in the Southern District of New York and

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      elsewhere, LYNNE STEWART and. MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, within the United States, provided material support and resources, to wit, provided personnel by making Abdel Rahman available as a co-conspirator, and concealed and disguised the nature, location, source, and ownership of material support and resources, to wit, concealed and disguised the nature, location, source, and ownership of personnel by concealing and disguising that Abdel Rahman was a co-conspirator, knowing and intending that such material support and resources were to be used in preparation for, and in carrying out, a violation of Section 956 of Title 18, United States Code, to wit, the conspiracy charged in Count Two of this Indictment, and in preparation for, and in carrying out, the concealment of such violation.

      COUNT SIX

      (False Statements>

      The Grand Jury further charges:

      42. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27, 30 (a) through 30 (ii), and 33 (b) through 33 (h) of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      43. in or about May 2000, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, LYNNE STEWART, the defendant, in a matter

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      within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of government, to wit, the United States Department of Justice and its agency, the Bureau of Prisons, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and made and used a false writing and document knowing the same to contain materially false., fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, to wit, STEWART submitted an affirmation to, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York falsely stating, among other things, the following: (1) that STEWART "agree [s] to-abide by [the] terms" of the Special Administrative Measures applicable to Abdel Rahman; (2) that STEWART "shall only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters"; and (3) that STEWART shall not "use [her] meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to pass-messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman:"

      (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.)

      COUNT SEVEN

      p (False Statements) <>

      44. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 27, 30 (a) through 30(ii), and 33 (b) through 33 (h) of this Indictment are

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      realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

      45. In or about May 2001; in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, LYNNE STEWART, the defendant, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of government, to wit, the United States Department of Justice and its agency, the Bureau of Prisons, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and made and used a false writing and document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, to wit, STEWART submitted an affirmation to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York falsely stating, among other things, the following: (1) that STEWART.`agree[s] to abide by [the] terms" of the special Administrative Measures applicable to Abdel Rahman; (2) that STEWART "shall only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdef Rahman concerning legal matters"; (3) that STEWART "will only allow the meetings to be used for legal discussion between Abdel Rahman and [her]"; and (4) that STEWART shall not "use [her] meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to

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      pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to the media) and Abdel Rahman.

      (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.)


      _______________________________
      FOREPERSON

      _______________________________
      JAMES H. COMEY
      United States Attorney

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      Sources: U.S. District Court, U.S. Attorney, LynneStewart.org
    http://news.lp.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/terrorism/uslstwrt111903sind.html

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