U.S. Government Wins a Terrorism-Related Criminal Case

By Andrew Cochran

The three leaders of Care International, Inc., a Muslim charity based in Boston, were convicted in federal court today in Boston. Emadeddin Muntasser, the founder; Muhammed Mubayyid, the former treasurer; and Samir Al-Monla, the president from 1996 to 1998, were charged with federal tax code violations and with making false statements and conspiracy to defraud the United States in order to obtain tax-exempt status. The jury found them guilty on all but one count, on which Al-Monla was acquitted. You can read the Justice Department press release on the conviction, with more details.

Two Counterterrorism Blog Contributing Experts served as expert witnesses at the trial. Evan Kohlman testified about the use of Muslim charities in the U.S. and Europe to funnel money into mujahedeen staging areas such as Zagreb, Croatia, and Peshawar, Pakistan. Matthew Levitt testified on the concept of "economic jihad," practiced by groups who encourage those who cannot fight holy wars to instead donate to others engaging in jihad and opined that Care International’s solicitations and support programs for widows and orphans were an example of economic jihad.

EDIT: The defunct Muslim charity Care International in Boston has no affiliation with the relief and development agency CARE. Founded after World War II to provide relief in Europe via the famous CARE Packages, CARE is today one of the world’s most prominent independent, nonsectarian humanitarian agencies. CARE USA is part of the CARE International federation, which fights poverty in nearly 70 countries.

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