This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3587
September 3, 2008
Hamas Mouthpiece CAIR Rejoices Over Temporary Release Of Admitted Terrorist Sami Al-Arian
By WILLIAM MAYER and BEILA RABINOWITZ
September 3, 2008 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - The Council on American Islamic Relations [CAIR, named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the ongoing Holy Land Foundation prosecution] has been a defender of admitted Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist, Dr. Sami Al-Arian even before he was arrested in 2003, subsequently pleading guilty to "conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad."
About the case, a press release issued on April 17, 2006, the DOJ stated:
"...Former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to provide services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad [PIJ], a specially designated terrorist organization, in violation of U.S. law, the Department of Justice announced today...Al-Arian pleaded guilty to Count Four of the indictment against him - a charge of conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad...Al-Arian's agreement with the government calls for a recommended prison sentence of 46 to 57 months in prison, based on a five-year maximum statutory sentence. Al-Arian, 48, who has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 20, 2003, has agreed to stipulate to deportation to another country by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement once his prison sentence has ended..."
Al-Arian was under detention by immigration authorities, facing a charge of contempt because of his refusal to testify in a federal grand jury investigation involving the infamous "Virginia jihad network."
Activist, judge Leonie Brinkema, a 1993 Clinton appointee [who notoriously chastised federal prosecutors, taking the death penalty off the table in the case of Zacarias Moussaoui - the so-called "20th hijacker" - who is now serving a life term] started the process that led to the release of Al-Arian.
Al-Arian awaits deportation proceedings as a result of his terrorist activities.
A statement issued yesterday by CAIR reads in part:
"We welcome Dr. Al-Arian's release and hope that it is an indication that justice may ultimately be served in this disturbing case," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "After so many years of anguish, the Al-Arian children will finally be able to spend Ramadan with their father."
CAIR's failure to reject Hamas, its close identification with Al-Arian, and its designation as an unindicted co-conspirator in U.S. vs Holy Land Foundation should serve as additional pieces of evidence, bolstering claims by counter-terrorism experts that the organization operates as a fifth column terrorist support group.
Government and private agencies should take note and reject any dealings with CAIR at any level. http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=arianid=9.3.08%2Ehtm
This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3587