Oral Arguments in Holy Land Foundation Appeal Scheduled

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Date: 
July 28, 2011

On Sept. 1, 2011, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Appeals Court in New Orleans, LA will hear oral arguments on behalf of five convicted Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) leaders. On Nov. 24, 2008 HLF and five of its top officials were found guilty on charges of supporting Hamas, despite the prosecution acknowledging that all funds went to local charities that are not on government watchlists. In 2001, the Department of the Treasury shut down HLF and seized approximately $5 million in charitable funds. 
Attorneys for the HLF principles filed an appeal on Oct. 19, 2010. The appeal was accompanied by an amicus brief that focused on the trial judge's failure to require a showing that HLF's leaders knew the unlisted charities were controlled by Hamas. The Carter Center, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Christian Peacemaker Teams were among the 20 organizations that signed the amicus brief.

The HLF leaders and their sentences:
  • President and CEO Shukri Abu Baker received  65 years in prison
  • Co-founder, Chairman and former Executive Director Ghassan Elashi received 65 years
  • Mohammed el-Mezain, former Chairman, Head of California Operation received 15 years
  • Top fundraiser Mufid Abdulqader received 20 years
  • Director of HLF East Abdulrahman Odeh received 15 years
 
Case information: 
 
No. 09-10560, United States of America vs. Mohammad El-Mezain; Ghassan Elashi; Shukri Abu Baker; Mufid Abdulqader; Abdulrahman Odeh; Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, aka HLF, Appellants (Cons.w/No. 08-10664, United States of America vs. Shukri Abu Baker; Mohammad El-Mezain; Ghassan Elashi; Mufid Abdulqader; Abulrahman Odeh, Appellants; No. 08-10774, United States of America vs. Mohammad El-Mezain, Appellant; No. 10-10590, United States of America vs. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, aka HLF, Appellant-Appellee; and No. 10-10586, United States of America vs. Shukri Abu Baker; Nancy Hollander, Appellant)