Ex-prof indicted in Hamas probe

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | October 11, 2003 | JANET RAUSA FULLER AND ANA MENDIETA

[sarcasm]

A Palestinian activist and former college professor who has been in federal custody in Chicago since September has been indicted on a single criminal contempt charge for refusing to cooperate with a grand jury investigating the terrorist group Hamas.

Federal prosecutors in Chicago announced the indictment Friday against Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar, the same day U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and Chicago FBI Agent-in-Charge Tom Kneir paid a visit to the heavily Palestinian Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview.

Ashqar, 45, a Palestinian native and former adjunct business professor at Howard University, had been granted immunity from prosecution for his testimony by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Charles Kocoras on June 25.

But after refusing to answer any questions before the grand jury, he was held in civil contempt. Ashqar unsuccessfully challenged the ruling before a federal appeals court last week.

Prosecutors said Ashqar was asked about Hamas, its members, his own work and personal background and whether he was a member of Hamas.

"Individuals who obstruct the grand jury's ability to seek the truth, particularly those who have been granted immunity in an investigation related to terrorism or any other crime, will be prosecuted fully," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Ashqar's attorney in New York, Stanley Cohen, said his client has never answered any questions having to do with the investigation "as a matter of religious, personal and political convictions.

"He believes the grand jury is politically motivated. It is a witch hunt designed to penalize and deter legitimate Palestinian resistance," Cohen said.

Ashqar, who lives with his wife in Alexandria, Va., has been on a hunger strike in jail since Sept. 5 and does not plan on ending it, according to Zuhair Nubani, his attorney in Chicago. He is being fed intravenously.

In 1998, Ashqar was jailed for refusing to testify before a New York grand jury investigating terrorism. He was released after a six-month hunger strike.

His wife, Asma Muhanna, said she has not been allowed to visit or even talk by phone to her husband. She said he is being singled out by the government for his beliefs.

"They want somebody to be a traitor or collaborator with them," she said. "They know he doesn't have anything."

Nubani called allegations that Ashqar has ties to Hamas as "all talk and hearsay," adding, "He is an activist for the Palestinian cause, there's no doubt about that."

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald and Kneir met with members of the Muslim community in response to published reports last month that alleged the mosque was under investigation. About 500 people attended the meeting, which was closed to the media, mosque officials said.

While the officials did not confirm or deny an investigation, Fitzgerald said, "We thought it was particularly important that we come down ... and have a frank discussion."

"There were things we agreed on, things we disagreed on, but that's part of the American system," Fitzgerald said.

"We want people to understand that we only investigate if we believe there is evidence of something wrong," Fitzgerald said. "We don't target, we don't pick people to investigate because of their religion ... or what they pray."

Ausaama Jammal, president of the Mosque Foundation, described the meeting as "very productive."

"We have been able to very frankly and very openly discuss various issues," he said.

[aardvark1]

This is obviously a case of racial profiling. I think just to show we're really the good guys, the FBI should investigate the 80 year old grandmother who has lived in Dubuque all her life.

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[Prince Charles]

Ashqar, who lives with his wife in Alexandria, Va., has been on a hunger strike in jail since Sept. 5 and does not plan on ending it...

---

In 1998, Ashqar was jailed for refusing to testify before a New York grand jury investigating terrorism. He was released after a six-month hunger strike.

Let's finish the job correctly this time.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"He believes the grand jury is politically motivated. It is a witch hunt designed to penalize and deter legitimate Palestinian resistance," Cohen said.

That may sound good to the boys in the Muslim hood but it matters not one whit before a grand jury.

[Valin]

Bump for later

[VOA]

She said he is being singled out by the government for his beliefs.

I'd tell this lady what Samuel L. Jackson said to Bruce Willis in one of the Die Hard movies:
"I don't like you because you're gonna' get me killed!"

Well, at least her husband and his buddies would love to kill lots of Non-Muslims...

[piasa]

Ashqar's attorney in New York, Stanley Cohen, said his client has never answered any questions having to do with the investigation "as a matter of religious, personal and political convictions.
"He believes the grand jury is politically motivated. It is a witch hunt designed to penalize and deter legitimate Palestinian resistance," Cohen said.

Of course, I must point out that Ashraq's attorney in NY, Stanley Cohen, is partnered with Lynn Stewart, the lawyer convicted in relation to the blind Shiekh Omar Abdel Rahman's NY Landmark plot case where she aided the SOB in getting his orders out to his terrorist followers in Rgypt.