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58 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, March 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 19, 2004 Feds search Islamic charity Ashland property is the former residence of peace activist Pete Seda Ghaty By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Authorities armed with a federal search warrant Wednesday searched a rural property near Ashland owned by an Islamic charity that has been linked to terrorist networks. The search warrant for 3800 S. Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland — the former residence of peace activist Pete Seda Ghaty — was filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday afternoon, but the case file remained sealed, a court clerk said. County records show that the property is owned by Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation. The foundation provides private, charitable and educational funding to promote Islamic teaching, but internationally has been linked to al-Qaida and other terrorist networks. The charity is based in Saudi Arabia, with branches around the world. Past media reports indicated that the Ashland branch is only loosely affiliated with the Saudi Arabian organization. Messages left with answering services for Al-Haramain’s Ashland number and for Seda’s arborist business in Ashland weren’t returned Wednesday. Calls to a Saudi Arabia-based cell phone number Seda used last fall — while reportedly living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates — went unanswered. Advertisement U.S. and Saudi officials have cracked down on other international branches in 2003. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department in cooperation with the government of Saudi Arabia added four branches — in Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Pakistan — to the list of those involved in supporting terrorism. The Ashland branch hasn’t been named in any of the documents listing Al-Haramain offices targeted for suspected terrorist links. Last fall, when the link between Seda’s work and Al-Haramain attracted public attention, he said he had received money from Saudi Arabia to buy copies of the Quran that were sent to prisoners and had two Saudis serving on the board of the local organization. He said he planned to remove them from their posts to help erase any possible taint to his group. In Portland, Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele referred questions about the search in Ashland to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eugene. The attorney handling the case wasn’t available Wednesday evening. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times