U.S. jury delivers mixed verdict in Hamas trial19 minutes ago
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A U.S. jury on Thursday found two Palestinian-born men not
guilty of the most serious charges facing them in what prosecutors said was a
15-year scheme to illegally finance Hamas terrorist activities in Israel.
Muhammad Salah, 53, of the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois, and co-defendant
Abdelhaleem Ashqar, 48, who taught at Howard University in Washington and lives in
Springfield, Virginia, were each found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy.
They were found guilty of lesser charges of obstructing justice.
A federal grand jury indictment said Salah was the point person for money transfers
that went to Hamas. Ashqar was described by prosecutors as a behind-the-scenes
operative who helped coordinate Hamas activities.
The indictment alleged that from 1988 to 2003 they helped fund Hamas, which leads
the Palestinian government, but which Israel, the United States and the European
Union regard as a terrorist group.
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