Posted on 11/08/2005 8:12:30 PM PST by NormsRevenge
TAMPA, Fla. - A former professor was described by his attorneys Tuesday as a crusader for the Palestinian cause whose inflammatory words have been twisted by federal prosecutors intent on proving he is a terrorist.
In shared closing arguments, attorneys Linda Moreno and William Moffitt said Sami Al-Arian did nothing but speak, write and publish strong words critical of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and advocate a better life for its people.
"It has been a prosecution of his ideas and his beliefs, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is un-American," Moreno told the jury.
Al-Arian, 47, and three co-defendants are accused of being key figures in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group blamed for hundreds of deaths in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza strip.
Prosecutors say Al-Arian and others used an academic think tank, a Palestinian charity and school founded by Al-Arian in Tampa as fundraising fronts and covers for the PIJ.
The Tampa cell acted as the communications arm of the organization, the government contends, spreading the word and raising money. Prosecutors built their case around hundreds of pages of transcripts of wiretapped phone calls and faxes.
The conversations and correspondence, intercepted from the mid-1990s to about 2003, included discussions about the direction and financing of the PIJ. Other times, the participants appear to celebrate suicide attacks.
Earlier Tuesday, prosecutor Cherie Krigsman wrapped up her closing arguments by telling jurors that the defendants were as much a part of the PIJ as those who strapped on bombs and blew themselves up in crowds.
But Moreno told the jury there is no evidence Al-Arian supported or knew of violent acts. He and the others raised money and sent it overseas for charitable causes and were not associated with the militant wing of the PIJ that carried out attacks, she said.
Al-Arian's speeches at conferences and his writings about the Palestinian condition have been taken out of context by prosecutors, Moreno said, urging jurors to "reject the government's cruel and cynical interpretation."
Moffitt said the First Amendment protects the former professor's right to express those unpopular views.
Al-Arian was fired by the University of South Florida after he was indicted in 2003.
The defendants are charged with, among other things, operating a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to murder and maim people outside the United States, and conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
If convicted, they could each face up to life in prison.
Well, duh!
Since 911, we are actively targeting terrorists and their enablers.
"Targeting" is not a problem; "entrapment" is a problem.
No giving aid, comfort, support etc. to those who would destroy us is Un-American...nice try...
It is illegal to raise and distribute funds for terrorist organizations.
Mr. Arian was the undisputed leader in fund raising for Palestinian terrorist causes.
The real crime as I see it is that President Castor when in charge of the University of South Florida allowed this cancer to remain at the institution for as long as she did.
Probably had a negative affect on her run for high office.
LOL! I'm fairly certain I've seen video of this guy screeching "Death to Israel, Death to America" on Jihadi home video the media had. Damn right he was targeted.
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