Holy Land Foundation Sentencing: It's About Terrorism, Not Islam

The Holy Land Foundation used to be America's largest Muslim charity. They had a good thing going, asking Muslims for money to help Palestinian Muslims who were being oppressed something fierce by the Jews.

Then, the federal government started looking at who was getting the money. Hamas was on the list. Hamas is on the American government's list of terrorist organizations - and it's illegal to knowingly give financial support to terrorist organizations.

What Didn't Happen - For Which I'm Thankful

The first trial of Holy Land Foundation leaders ended in 2007 with a mistrial. The Board Chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) had his own version of what was going on:

"...'After 19 days of deliberation, the jurors did not return even a single guilty verdict on any of the almost 200 charges against these men, whose only "crime" was providing food, clothing and shelter to Palestinian women and children. It seems clear that the majority of the jury agreed with many observers of the trial who believe the charges were built on fear, not facts. This is a stunning defeat for prosecutors and a victory for America's legal system.'..." (October 22, 2007)

I haven't read anything about CAIR in the rather low-key news coverage of the Holy Land Foundation verdict and sentencing.

In a way, I miss CAIR's colorful, energetic, and imaginative responses to what they considered islamophobia.

A couple years ago, CAIR quickly changed a page on their website: one calling people "bigots," when they didn't properly appreciate New York City's "Muslim Day" being celebrated a few days before the anniversary of 9/11.

That sort of goofy chauvinism reminds me of the 'good old days' when some 'real Americans' felt that anything they didn't like or understand was a commie plot.

On the other hand, I'm just as glad that we're not hearing so much about "islamophobia" - as perceived by groups like CAIR. There's enough real bigotry toward Muslims and Islam, without calling people "bigots" when they don't appreciate the timing of New York City's "Muslim Day."

I mean to say: insisting that people cheer Muslims, right before the anniversary of an attack by Muslims that killed around 3,000 New Yorkers?!

Holy Land Foundation Sentencing: Texophobia??

I'm sure that alternative realities will be presented for years - probably decades - to come, about what 'really' happened. However, it looks like a 15 year investigation and two trials have stopped a fairly lucrative source of cash for Hamas.

The five defendants were convicted of giving financial support to a terrorist organization. Particularly since 9/11, that sort of thing doesn't go over too well in America. Their sentences seem to reflect this:

• Shukri Abu Baker (Garland, Texas)
  65 years
• Ghassan Elashi (Richardson, Texas)
  65 years
• Mufid Abdulqader (Richardson, Texas)
  20 years
• Mohammad El-Mezain (San Diego, California)
  15 years
• Abdulrahman Odeh (Patterson, New Jersey)
  15 years

Baker and Elashi were convicted on tax fraud charges, too.

With three of the five defendants being Texans, I suppose one could argue that the trial and sentencing reflected texophobia: but that would be silly, wouldn't it?

The Defunct Holy Land Foundation Isn't Islam

I've written this before, and probably will again: not all Muslims are terrorists, and not all terrorists are Muslims.

Every group has its crazies and its charlatans. Christians in America had an opportunity to re-evaluate how they decided who and what to support years ago, in the televangelist meltdown.

I think Muslims in America have an opportunity now, to consider being a trifle more careful about who - and what - they support.

Related posts:

• "Sounds of Silence: 2009"
  (March 31, 2009)
• "Canadian Mosque's 'Specialized De-Radicalization Intervention Program' - Sounds Good"
  (February 26, 2009)
• "FBI, CAIR, and Hamas - This is Interesting, but Not News"
  (January 30, 2009)
• "ISNA, Hamas, Obama's Inaugural, and the Usual Suspects"
  (January 19, 2009)
• "Pro-Life? You May be a Dangerous Domestic Terrorist! MIAC Says So"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (March 23, 2009)
• " 'Towelhead,' 'Retard,' and Talking Sense in a Global Society"
  (February 24, 2009)
• "Muslim Founder of Islamic Network Beheads Wife: But it's No Big Deal?"
  (February 16, 2009)
• "Emotions, the Frontal Cortex, The War on Terror, Anarchists, and the Illuminati"
  (December 23, 2008)
• "Pro-Islamic Ads Coming to New York City Subways: There's a Real Danger Here, of Becoming Informed"
  (July 21, 2008)
• "Liberty City Seven / Liberty City 6"
  Multiple posts (starting March 27, 2008)
• "United States of America: 232 Years in the Freedom Business"
  (July 3, 2008)
• "Empire State Building Shines Green for Eid"
  (October 13, 2007)
  • Good news, I think. A comment shows that not everyone agrees.
• "Rep. Ellison's Misconstrued Reichstag Remarks"
  (July 17, 2007)
• "Muslims, Money-Laundering, and a Mistrial"
  (October 22, 2007)
• "Celebrate Today, or You're a Bigot!"
  (September 9, 2007)

In the news:

• "5 men from defunct Muslim charity get long sentences"
  CNN (May 27, 2009)
• "Supporters Rally Behind Holy Land 5"
  cbs11tv.com (May 25, 2009)