Posted on 10/12/2002 12:18:42 PM PDT by I_Love_My_Husband
Portland Muslim cleric released on bond
PORTLAND - A man arrested last month by an FBI terrorism task force was ordered released Friday by a federal judge after being held for more than a month on charges of Social Security fraud.
Sheik Mohamed Abdirahman Kariye was arrested on Sept. 8 at the Portland International Airport as he prepared to leave the country with his brother and children. He was on his way to the United Arab Emirates.
U.S. Customs officials initially said tests had found explosives residue in two of Kariye's bags; further tests conducted by the FBI ruled that out. Kariye has not been charged with terrorism-related crimes.
Kariye, an imam at the Islamic Center of Portland, was released on $250,000 bond which was posted by members of the Muslim community, said Stanley Cohen, Kariye's attorney. The bond package included a 401(k) account at Intel and two properties, one in Clark County, Wash., and one in Multnomah County, Cohen said.
Kariye will wear an electronic ankle bracelet to track his whereabouts. A Nov. 5 trial date was postponed and a new date will be set later.
Cohen, a high-profile civil rights attorney from New York, said in a press release earlier Friday that Cohen and federal prosecutors had reached an agreement that allowed for Kariye's release.
"There's not a shred of evidence against Sheik Mohamed," Cohen said after the Friday court hearing.
"There's zero connection between my client and anything political. The fact that the government stood up today and said he should be let go - that's better than a jury of 12."
About 200 members of the Muslim community gathered outside the courthouse celebrating Kariye's releases.
"The Muslim community has shown its tolerance, patience and trust in Allah. The government has shown their inability to use good judgment when arresting people for petty crime," said Khalid Elolaimi, one of Kariye's supporters.
Muslims also said they felt unfairly targeted by the FBI.
"If you are a Muslim, it doesn't matter what you do or what you did or what you will do.You are targeted by the Portland terrorism task force," Elolaimi said.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Lord, I hope so, especially when you put it like that, Elolaimi. Hope your poor Muslim cleric didn't have to bankrupt the mosque to post a quarter of million bail, and hire Stanley Cohen -- I doubt that he's working pro bono.
"...One hundred percent of the successful terrorist attacks on commercial airlines for 20 years have been committed by Arabs. When there is a 100 percent chance, it ceases to be a profile. It's called a 'description of the suspect'...." Ann Coulter
I see he has changed lawyers, or at least added the high-profile civil rights attorney from New York, Stanley Cohen. Perhaps my memory is faulty, but Mr. Cohen seems to be showing up in several of these cases--I'm going to have to start keeping track, I guess.
Kariye's attorney when he first arrested was reported as Charles Lewis. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/748421/posts
There never is, that't the point.
They are all just "moderate Muslims" until they push the button and explode.
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