thanks to JihadWatch for this,,
Not wasting a second to claim victim status. "Somali reaction to al-Shabab sentences mixed," by Amy Forliti for the
Associated Press, May 19 (thanks to all who sent this in):
MINNEAPOLIS - Wide-ranging sentences handed down in the
yearslong federal investigation into recruiting and financing for the
terrorist group al-Shabab have kindled a mix of outrage, confusion and relief among members of Minnesota's large Somali community.
Some say the 10- and 20-year prison sentences for two Minnesota women
who sent money to the group were too harsh, especially since two men
who traveled to Somalia and joined al-Shabab got three years. The
attorney for one man sentenced to 20 years in prison has already filed a
notice of appeal; more are expected.
But others say justice has been served, and authorities said the nine
penalties doled out last week show that those who support terrorism
will be held accountable....
Prosecutors have said the men and women were part of a "deadly
pipeline," sending money and men to al-Shabab, which the U.S. government
has designated a terrorist organization for its links to al-Qaida and
its tactics that include suicide bombings and assassinations. At least
22 men left Minnesota for Somalia since 2007 in what has been called one
of the largest efforts to recruit U.S. fighters for a foreign terrorist
organization.
Authorities say the conspiracy began in 2007, when small groups of
Somali men began holding secret meetings about returning to their
homeland to wage jihad against Ethiopians. Ethiopian troops had been
brought into Somalia a year earlier by its U.N.-backed government, but
many Somalis viewed them as invaders.
That sentiment came up often during the hearings, as Chief U.S.
District Judge Michael Davis gave each defendant unlimited time to say
whatever he or she wanted. Davis also asked family and community members
to speak, and asked defendants about their time in Somalia and refugee
camps.
Hassan Mohamud, the imam at a St. Paul mosque, commended Davis for that approach.
But Mohamud was among several people outraged after
two women — Amina Farah Ali and Hawo Mohamed Hassan — received sentences
of 20 and 10 years. Ali and Hassan had gone door-to-door, saying they
were raising money for charity; they were convicted of funneling funds
to al-Shabab.
"They didn't go back home. They didn't kill anyone. They just helped
with the poor people," said Abdiwali Warsame, a St. Paul Somali who was
interviewed outside the courthouse. He called the women's sentences an
"injustice."
They were funding jihad terror, but Warsame hopes you forget about that inconvenient fact.
Three men who traveled to Somalia and pleaded guilty to
terror-related charges received lower sentences after cooperating with
authorities. Two received three-year prison stints; a third who stayed
and fought alongside al-Shabab then lied to the FBI got 10 years. One
man who admitted helping recruits obtain plane tickets — but was later
characterized as a leader in recruitment efforts — received 12 years.
Last week's sentences are in line with other al-Shabab-related cases.
In New Jersey, two men arrested while trying to board flights to
Somalia for a jihad were sentenced to 22 and 20 years in prison. A
southern California woman received eight years for sending money to
Minnesota men in Somalia, while a Missouri man received more than 11
years for funding al-Shabab....
Others raised concerns about potential bias after
Davis questioned Ali and Hassan about whether they supported suicide
bombings and Sharia law, and asked Hassan about her traditional dress.
That led some Somalis to say Islam was under attack.
It also prompted the [Hamas-linked] Council on
American-Islamic Relations to announce Friday that it will file a
complaint against Davis, for allegedly linking mainstream Islamic
principles with terrorism. Davis does not speak about court cases. His office referred The Associated Press to the court record....
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