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WFAA-TV Dallas Fort Worth – July 3, 2006
Irving charity leader on bail facing terrorism charges
By Gary Reaves
IRVING - The founder of an Irving-based charity is out of Israeli custody but stands accused of diverting donations to terrorism.
Hasan Hajmohamed is free on bail, after being locked up for 90 days, but he is not free to return to Texas.
The Irving-based charity, Baitumaal, raised $20,000 to buy animals for the annual feast following Ramadan, and claims it has receipts and witnesses that can prove the money was wired to respected and approved charities.
His supporters say the fact that his bond is just $3,500 indicates Israel doesn't think he's been funding terrorists.
"The exact charge is that the money went to a charity that was associated with a terrorist group," said Anthony Bond, a spokesman for Baitumaal.
Hajmohamed spent part of the spring visiting his charity's feeding projects in Pakistan and Africa.
In April, he crossed into the Israeli-controlled West Bank to visit his mother. Authorities detained him for questioning, in part, because other charities have funded terrorism.
Baitumaal supporters fear being lumped in with the Holy Land Foundation, a completely different North Texas charity that the FBI has charged with supporting terrorism.
We asked the local FBI office if it also suspected Baitumaal, and were told the agency could not comment.
"We've been in constant contact with the IRS we tried to reach out to the FBI," said Bond.
Baitumaal requires its foreign partners to sign statements that they reject terrorism.
Now they have to convince the government of Israel to get their founder free.
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa060703_lj_charity.21048c03.html
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