Jihad in the U.S. -- Oh, yes, it's underway here too...

[Snowden]

Michigan: Hizballah defendant rejects Jewish judge


...but is rebuffed, I'm happy to say. "Mich. man: Judge can't be fair because he's Jewish," from AP, June 24 (thanks to all who sent this in):

DETROIT (AP) — A judge rejected a Lebanese-born defendant's request that he remove himself from a case involving terrorism because the judge is Jewish.

Fawzi Mustapha Assi, 48, has pleaded guilty to providing support for a terrorist group. He addressed the court Monday against the advice of his attorney, saying he heard rumors that U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen is a Zionist and might have pro-Israel sympathies.

Assi said he was concerned the judge could not be impartial when sentencing him for supporting "one of the most hated enemies of the state of Israel."

Rosen said Assi's request was "a little late" and that the court "has bent over backwards" to ensure fairness.

Assi, a former resident of Dearborn, was arrested in 1998 when he tried to board a plane to Lebanon with visual and navigational equipment for Hezbollah. He pleaded guilty in November 2007....

Dhimmi Watch: Michigan: Hizballah defendant rejects Jewish judge

[Snowden]

Lawyer for JFK Airport jihadist says charges "exaggerated"


Grossly exaggerated. See, they really only intended to blow up half of the airport.

"Three deny JFK terror plot claims," from the BBC, June 26 (thanks to Charles Martel):

Three men from the Caribbean have appeared in court in the United States, accused of plotting an attack on New York's John F Kennedy airport.

Kareem Ibrahim, 62, Abdel Nur, 57, and Abdul Kadir, 59, who all pleaded not guilty, were extradited from Trinidad on Wednesday.

A fourth man, Russell De Freitas, is awaiting trial. He denies conspiracy.

Prosecutors say the four men plotted to blow up buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at the airport last year.

'Exaggerated claims'

Abdul Nur's lawyer, Daniel Nobel, said the charges were completely unsubstantiated and a trial would prove his client's innocence.
"I'm confident that we'll be able to demonstrate that this is one more in a significant chain of cases in which charges of this nature have been grossly exaggerated," he said.

Abdul Kadir's lawyer, Kafahni Nkrumah, said that the men were victims of post-9/11 hysteria.

"I think that if you see what has occurred since 9/11 and what's happening to the detainees in Cuba and the like, I would characterise this in that vein," he said....

Jihad Watch: Lawyer for JFK Airport jihadist says charges "exaggerated"

[Snowden]

Supporters urge passage of the national version of New York State's "Rachel's Law" -- The Free Speech Protection Act


A national version of New York State's "Rachel's Law" is gaining bipartisan support:

Please - SUPPORT passage of the NATIONAL version of New York State's "Rachel's Law"---THE FREE SPEECH PROTECTION ACT (S-2977 & H.R. 5814)----

The "Free Speech Protection Act" was introduced by Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

Like NYS's "Rachel's Law" this federal bill would protect American journalists from libel suits brought in foreign jurisdictions lacking the same free speech protections found in the U.S. Constitution.

The bill has been assigned to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

If free speech is important to you, PLEASE contact the House and Senate Judiciary Committees' Members and staff (contacts below) and urge them to approve the bill and vote for its passage as soon as possible.

"Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of expression of ideas, opinions, and research, and freedom of exchange of information are all essential to the functioning of a democracy, and the fight against terrorism," Senator Specter said. "There is a real danger that American writers and researchers will be afraid to address the crucial subject of terror funding and other important matters without these protections."

"Discovering the truth requires full and open debate, which is not possible when courts are used to chill inquiry and research," Senator Lieberman said. "The freedom of American journalists should not be threatened by foreign courts that do not adhere to America's principles of free speech."

"Our journalists provide us with insight on issues that affect all Americans, such as war and terrorism," Rep. King said. "We cannot allow their voices to be silenced by those who prefer to keep secret the inner details of these issues. American authors and journalists should be able to practice their first amendment right without the fear of a lawsuit."

This legislation will create federal jurisdiction and a federal cause of action allowing federal courts to determine---when foreigners sue U.S. journalists, speakers, or academics in foreign courts for their U.S. speeches or publications---whether defamation has occurred under U.S. law. The bill will authorize a U.S. court to bar enforcement in the U.S. of a foreign judgment or damage awards.

The impetus for this legislation is litigation involving Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, a U.S. citizen and Director of the American Center for Democracy. Dr. Ehrenfeld's 2003 book, Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It, which was published solely in the United States by a U. S. publisher, alleged that a Saudi Arabian and his family financially supported Al Qaeda in the years preceding the attacks of September 11. Although only 23 books were sold in the United Kingdom, the Saudi sued Ehrenfeld for libel there.

Defamation plaintiffs around the world have made the U.K. a popular venue for libel suits since English law does not require a libel plaintiff to prove falsity or actual malice as is does U.S. law. Until now, U.S. journalists or publications named as defendants in such cases were not protected by the First Amendment in the U.S. Rather, they were forced either to take on the massive expense, inconvenience and distress of fighting a foreign libel case, or of accepting the defamation inveighed on them by the courts otherwise certain to rule against them by default.

To protect U.S. writers, publishers and free speech rights against frivolous foreign libel suits---and a bedrock foundation of U.S. Democracy---it is critical that all Americans urge members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to support this measure.

Below is a sample letter---and links to websites of the House and Senate Judiciary Committee Members and their staffs.

Thank you.

Dear....

PLEASE SUPPORT THE FREE SPEECH PROTECTION ACT (S-2977 & H.R. 5814),
aka "Rachel's Law"

"Rachel's Law" was introduced to provide legal protections from "libel terrorism" to New York authors and publishers. In a tremendous victory for free speech rights, the bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate and was signed by Governor Patterson on May 1, 2008.

Legislation to protect authors and publishers in all states has now been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (bill number H.R. 5814) and Senate (bill number S-2977). Entitled the "Free Speech Protection Act," introduced by Representatives Peter King (R-NY) and Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

This bill would protect American journalists from libel suits brought in foreign courts that do not have the same protections for free speech that are found in the U.S. Constitution.

I urge you to support efforts to approve the bill and vote for its passage as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Below is contact information for the Senatorial Judiciary Committee, the Congressional Judiciary Committee, and Staff.

<BLOCKQUOTE>General Judiciary Committee - Contact Judiciary

Staff Majority Communications Director Jonathan Godfrey -
(202) 225-3951

Majority Press Secretary/Spokesperson Melanie Roussell - (202) 225-3951
Majority Staff Director/Chief Counsel Perry Apelbaum -
(202) 225-3951
Minority Chief of Staff/General Counselor - (202) 226-0002
Minority Communications Director Kim Smith - (202) 225-6906

Senators on Committee

NY Charles Schumer -
Contact Senator Schumer
Press Secretary Brian Fallon - (202) 224-7433
VT Patrick J. Leahy - Senator Patrick Leahy
Press Secretary Erica Chabot - (202) 224-2154

MA Edward Kennedy - Contact Senator Kennedy
Press Secretary Melissa Wagoner - (202) 224-2633

DE Joseph Biden - Senator Joe Biden — Senator for Delaware: Services - Contact the Senator
Press Secreatary Elizabeth Alexander - (202) 224-2154

WI Herbert Kohl - Senator Herb Kohl (WI) : General Information
Press Secretary Lynn Becker - (202) 224-2240

WI Russ Feingold - Russ Feingold
Press Secretary Zach Lowe - (202) 224-8657

CA Dianne Feinstein -
.: United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, California :: Contact Us :.
Press Secretary Scott Gerber - (202) 224-8657

IL Richard Durbin - U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin
Press Secretary Joe Shoemaker - (202) 224-7028

MD Benjamin Cardin - Senator Benjamin L. Cardin : Maryland
Press Secretary Sue Walitsky - (202) 224-7433

RI Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse -
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: Rhode Island
Press Secretary Alex Swartsel - (202) 224-7433

PA Arlen Specter -
.: United States Senator Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania :: Contact :.
Press Secretary Chris Gindlesperger - (202) 224-5225

UT Orrin Hatch -
Email Sen. Orrin Hatch
Press Secretary Mark Eddington (202) 224-5251

IA Charles Grassley -
United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Press Secretary Beth Levine - (202) 224-6197

AZ Jon Kyl - Contact Senator Kyl
Press Secretary Andrew Wilder - (202) 224-4521

AL Jeff Sessions -
http://sessions.senate.gov/public/in...ices.ContactMe
Press Secretary Michael Brumas - (202) 224-4124

SC Lindsey Graham -
.: United States Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina :: Contact :.
Press Secretary Wes Hickman - (202) 224-5972

TX John Cornyn -
.: United States Senator John Cornyn, Texas :: Contact :.
Press Secretary Brian Walsh - (202) 224-2934

KS Sam Brownback - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback -- E-mail Sam
Press Secretary John Rankin - (202) 224-6521

OK Tom Coburn -
.: United States Senator Tom Coburn :: Contact Senator Coburn :.
Press Secretary John Hart - (202) 224-5754

Congressional Representatives

NY-9th Anthony Weiner - Anthony Weiner - New York's 9th District

NY-8th Jerrold Nadler –
Representative Jerrold Nadler, New York's Eighth Congressional District

CA-24th Elton Gallegly -
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml


CA-3rd Dan Lungren -
https://forms.house.gov/lungren/forms/email.shtml

CA-29th Adam Schiff -
Congressman Adam Schiff - Representing California's 29th District - Contact Form

CA-28th Howard Berman -
Congressman Howard Berman :: Representing the 28th District of California :: Contact

CA-16th Zoe Lofgren - Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren

CA-35th Maxine Waters - Write to Representative Maxine Waters

CA-39th Linda Sanchez -
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez - Contact Form

CA-27th Brad Sherman -
Congressman Brad Sherman :: Representing the 27th District of California :: Contact Brad

CA-49th Darrell Issa -
United States Congressman Darrell Issa, 49th District of California

MI 14th John Conyers (Chair) -
American Israel Public Affairs Committee

VA-9th Rick Boucher -
The Online Office of Congressman Rick Boucher=

VA-3rd Bobby Scott –
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

VA-6th Bob Goodlatte - Congressman Bob Goodlatte - Representing Virginia's 6th Congressional District

VA-4th Randy Forbes - Representative Randy Forbes

NC-12th Rep. Melvin Watt -
Write to Representative Mel Watt


MA-10th William Delahunt -

[Snowden]

Jailed jihadist professor indicted for refusal to testify about Islamic charities


CAIR is in his corner, of course, and everyone is working hard to make him seem to be a martyr. But what does he have to hide? What would he be able to reveal about the IIIT, which was listed in a 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum as one of the organizations involved in a "grand jihad" to destroy Western civilization?

Al-Arian Update: "Former Professor Indicted In Muslim Charities Case," by Jerry Markon for the Washington Post, June 27 (thanks to Writer Mom):

A former Florida professor who had pleaded guilty to aiding a terror organization was indicted yesterday on criminal charges that he refused to testify before a grand jury investigating whether Islamic charities in Northern Virginia were financing terrorists.

The indictment of Sami al-Arian triggered outrage from his family and Muslim groups that have mounted a national campaign to secure his release from prison. Arian had already been jailed for a year on civil contempt charges. Legal experts said it is rare for the government to then add criminal counts.

"This is a really dirty game the government is playing," said Arian's daughter, Laila. "They've already put him through enough. Enough is enough. This will have repercussions in the American Muslim community and throughout the world."

Arian was accused in Tampa in 2003 of conspiracy to commit racketeering and murder and to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, but his trial ended two years later in an acquittal on some charges and a mistrial on others. He later pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy in one of the nation's highest-profile terrorism cases. He was sentenced to 57 months in prison, which he finished serving in April. He was expected to be deported, but prosecutors in Alexandria are seeking his testimony.

He was charged again yesterday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria with two counts of criminal contempt. He could face additional jail time if convicted, but there is no maximum or minimum penalty. [...]

Prosecutors in Alexandria want Arian to reveal what they think are his ties to the International Institute of Islamic Thought, or IIIT, a Herndon think tank that is one of the key organizations under investigation, according to Arian's lawyers and court documents. The six-year-old probe, which federal officials have called the nation's largest terrorism-financing investigation, is focused on a Herndon-based network of Muslim charities, businesses and think tanks. They have denied any terrorist ties.

The Northern Virginia investigation burst into public view in March 2002, when federal agents raided homes and businesses in Herndon and elsewhere in the region. Muslim groups have labeled the probe a fishing expedition, but law enforcement officials have defended it as highly complicated, involving a complex trail of international transactions among corporations and charitable entities.

Arian, who taught computer science at the University of South Florida, twice refused to testify before the grand jury in Alexandria, on Oct. 16, 2007, and on March 20, according to yesterday's two-page indictment. His daughter said that he views it "as a matter of conscience" and that "he has nothing to offer."

Arian's attorney, Jonathan Turley, said his client has given prosecutors two detailed affidavits saying that he knows of no criminal activity involving IIIT and that the government has acknowledged he is a "minor witness." Turley said the indictment "is a continuation of a long campaign of abuse that has drawn international criticism."

After Arian was found guilty of civil contempt by a federal judge in Alexandria in 2006, he drew the strong backing of Muslim organizations, which held a news conference at Justice Department headquarters in Washington and called for a worldwide fast in support. Arian has gone on at least two hunger strikes in prison.

Ahmed Rehab, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called yesterday's indictment a "ludicrous decision" that is "growing evidence that the kangaroo prosecution of Professor Al-Arian in fact extends beyond the pursuit of justice and into the realm of vindictive political persecution."

Jihad Watch: Jailed jihadist professor indicted for refusal to testify about Islamic charities

[Snowden]

Virginia Islamic Academy had its corporate charter revoked and never filled out IRS forms

Surprise, surprise. But will their Saudi connection bail them out? I would guess that it probably will. "Virginia’s Islamic Academy on Shaky Legal Ground," by Patrick Poole for Pajamas Media, June 27:

An investigation by Pajamas Media has found that more trouble may be on the horizon for the Islamic Saudi Academy and the Saudi Embassy.

PJM first reported on the academy, a school sponsored by the Saudi Embassy, two weeks ago when law enforcement authorities raided it, looking for evidence that the school’s director, Abdullah Al-Shabnan, had covered up sex abuse allegations by a 5-year old student. The raid occurred just three days after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors had renewed the school’s lease despite evidence that the school continued to use textbooks promoting violence and religious hatred.

Since then Abdullah Al-Shabnan has been charged with failing to report the child abuse allegations and obstruction of justice. A protest was held last week in front of the academy and it received considerable local media coverage, including from the Washington Post. That coverage no doubt played a role earlier this week when in a stunning about-face the Fairfax Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the State Department asking them to determine whether the lease should be renewed or not in light of the report earlier this month by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that reviewed the academy’s textbooks and found that incendiary and hateful passages had not been removed.

The school has issued a press release claiming that the passages have been “mistranslated and misinterpreted,” and saying that the “textbooks are no longer at use at the Academy.” That contradicts statements made last week by school officials to the media that textbooks will be rewritten and reissued before the beginning of school. Why would the textbooks need to be rewritten if those under scrutiny are no longer in use?

The textbooks are not the only elements of the school that don’t hold up under scrutiny.

Virtually all of the establishment media press reports have wrongly claimed that the school operates independently of the embassy as a private entity. Even Tom Casey, the State Department’s deputy spokesman, made this error during his June 24 daily press briefing:

QUESTION: I understand that you’ve received a letter from the — from Fairfax County asking you whether you could give an opinion on the lease of the Saudi school in Alexandria and whether the county should extend that lease, which I am told it’s worth $2.2 million a year. But — just, I mean, do you expect to pronounce yourselves on that? Is that something that you –

MR. CASEY: Well, I think it’s something we’ve just gotten. We’ll certainly take a look at it and see what kind of response would be appropriate, but I — you know, it’s not something we’ve had a chance to really look through. As you know, this is a school that is incorporated and overseen through the county there. It’s not an institution that we have any sort of formal role in accrediting or managing. But certainly, we’ll take a look at the letter and if there’s some thoughts or advice that we can offer, we’ll certainly do it.

And State Department spokesman Nichole Thompson has also said:

This is a private school. It is not a part of the Saudi embassy. It is not part of a diplomatic mission.

These claims by State Department officials make clear their position that the Islamic Saudi Academy has maintained a separate corporate identity from the Saudi Embassy. But a review of the corporate records on file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission finds that the Islamic Saudi Academy’s corporate charter was terminated by the state on December 27, 2004. There is no indication from state records that the incorporation has been revived or renewed, and the last corporate report the school has filed with the state of Virginia that we could find was 2004 — the same year its corporate charter was terminated. A check of corporations in neighboring District of Columbia and Maryland found nothing for the academy.

Shocked? Don't be. Why should they have to obey kaffir laws?

Read it all.



Jihad Watch: Virginia Islamic Academy had its corporate charter revoked and never filled out IRS forms