Ashland Daily Tidings :: Former Islamic charity group in Ore. sues to get off terror list :: August 6, 2007
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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Featured Galleries: August 6, 2007 Former Islamic charity group in Oregon sues to get off terror list By TIM FOUGHT The Associated Press PORTLAND — A former Islamic charity in Southern Oregon sued Monday to get itself off the federal government’s list of groups suspected of supporting terrorism. The government has not given the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation of Ashland “any formal statement of reasons,” nor specified the conduct for which the group’s operations were effectively shut down, said the group’s suit filed in U.S. District Court in Portland. In February 2004, the Treasury Department ordered banks to freeze assets and property of the Ashland group, saying it was a branch of a large Saudi charity accused of funneling money to al-Qaida. In September 2004, the Treasury Department formally designated the group as suspected of supporting terrorism, saying a federal investigation “shows direct links between the U.S. branch and Osama bin Laden.” At the time, the department said humanitarian contributions were diverted to Chechen rebel leaders affiliated with al-Qaida. The Al-Haramain suit said the group had shown that its participation in a Chechnya project “was undertaken exclusively for humanitarian purposes, and had nothing to do with terrorist or violent activities.” Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us