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October 18, 2005

US: Oregon Jihad

A report from the Oregon Mail Tribune. The Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation has produced a book called 'The Noble Quran', which has been distributed by Muslims in Oregon. The version of Islam's Holy book is more contentious than usual, so much so that the US government has decided it is "radical".

The part of the book which has been raising eyebrows is not from the main text, but from an Appendix, where readers are advised to "race to jihad" and in that race to include missiles, planes and ships against the enemies of Allah.

Tom Nelson is the Portland attorney licensed as the Al-Haraiman agent in Oregon. He has acknowledged on Saturday the controversial Appendix 3, and says the government has misinterpreted it to paint Al-Haramain as terrorists.

There was an active branch of Al-Haramain in Oregon, operating from Ashland. Nelson is quoted in the Oregon Mail Tribune as saying he believes Pete Seda (who was distributing the Al-Haramain Quran) and his Saudi Arabian partner Soliman AL-Buthe chose the version because it was a good translation, and not because of the addition of the appendix.

The US government has not been happy with the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation for some time. In June last year the Saudi government outlawed all Islamic charities, and set up the Saudi National Commission for Relief and Charity Work Abroad to act as a body which could monitor charitable enterprises. The Saudis and US were at that time trying to block assets of Al-Haramain's local branches in Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Netherlands. The organisation raised $40 to $50 million a year at its peak, said Adel Al-Jubeir, a Saudi Royal adviser.

Pete Seda (pictured), also known as Pirouz Sedaghaty, also known as Perouz Seda Ghaty, had been distributing copies of this Koran. The reason that the issue has become raised is that Saudi Arabian Soliman Al-Buthe who was Seda's partner in the Oregan Al-Haramain enterprises, is now challenging the Department of Treasury to remove his "specially designated global terrorist" label. Al-Buthe is wanted in America for tax fraud and money-laundering charges, according to an Oct 1 issue of the Oregon Mail Tribune.Seda has not challenged the ruling as he is believed to have returned to his native Iran.

A statement from the US Office of Public Affairs from Sept 9, 2004 states:

The U.S.-based branch of AHF was formally established in 1997. Documents naming Al-Buthe as the organization's attorney and providing him with broad legal authority were signed by Aqeel Abdul Aziz Al-Aqil, the former director of AFH. Aqil has been designated by the United States and the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee because of AHF's support for al Qaida while under his oversight.

The US report states that funds from AHF, originally aimed at helping Chechen refugees were distributed to mujahideen and also Chechen leaders with al Qaida affiliations.

Since March 2002, the United States and Saudi Arabia have jointly designated eleven branches of AHF based on evidence of financial, material and/or logistical support to the al Qaida network and affiliated organizations. These branches, Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Somalia, and Tanzania, along with the former director of AHF, Aqeel Abdul Aziz Al-Aqil, are named on the UN's 1267 Committee's consolidated list of terrorists associated with al Qaida, Usama bin Laden and the Taliban and are subject to international sanctions.

The Oregon branch has had its property frozen since it was raided by FBI agents in February 2003. The 157 square foot house sits in 4.13 acres and is valued at $464,970.

Nelson, who at the end of September was given license to become the registered agent of Ah Haraiman, has said the property has deteriorated in value. The house contains several Korans, and also some of Pete Seda's personal property, which Nelson wishes should be given to his two sons, who still live in Oregon.

A copy of the United States Indictment charges against Soliman Al-Buthe and Pete Seda (also known as Abu Yunus), can be found here: Indictment, along with a contemporary report from the Washington Post.

Keywords al Qaeda, al-Qaeda, al Qaida, al-Qaida Koran, Quran

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 18, 2005 8:13 AM

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