DATE=05/04/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09862

TITLE=EDITORIAL: TERRORIST FRONT MAN CHARGED

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: United States authorities have charged the leader of a Chicago, Illinois,-based, charitable organization with perjury for allegedly lying in court documents about links to international terrorism. Enaam Arnaout [ee-nahm ahr-noot], executive director of the Benevolence International Foundation, or B-I-F, was arrested April 30th.

"The complaint alleges that the Benevolence International Foundation was supporting violence secretly," said Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. "It is important that those who support terrorism covertly and those who obstruct court proceedings will be investigated and prosecuted. It is just as important to recognize that the persons who gave money to B-I-F were victims, not criminals."

The U.S. has evidence that Arnaout has had a long-time relationship with al-Qaida and its operatives. On March 19th, authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina searched B-I-F offices and related facilities and recovered weapons, manuals on the use of explosives, and classified documents belonging to several governments concerning Islamic extremists. They found photographs of Arnaout handling rifles, a shoulder-fired rocket, and an anti-aircraft gun. Direct communications between Arnaout and Osama bin Laden were also discovered.

Al-Qaida terrorists shown to have been in contact with or helped by Arnaout and the B-I-F include Mamdouh Salim [mahm-doo sah-lim], a key bin Laden associate who authored fatwahs justifying murder of civilians. They also include Mohamed Bayazid [bigh-yah-zid], who tried to get uranium for an al-Qaida nuclear weapon; Mohammad Jamal Khalifa [hah-lee-fah], bin Laden's brother-in-law; and Wali Khan Amin Shah [whah-lee khan ah-meen shah], a key participant in the plot in the Philippines to bomb twelve airliners over American cities in 1994.

Al-Qaida and its terrorist affiliates have long used charities, including the Benevolence International Foundation, for terrorist purposes. For this reason, the U.S. blocked B-I-F assets last December.

The U.S. is determined to find and cut the financial lifelines of terrorist groups. Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th, the U.S. and other nations have seized more than one-hundred million dollars in terrorist assets. Those who support terrorist groups share in their crimes. The U.S. will make every effort to bring terrorist financiers to justice.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.