San Diego, CA – Four men from Somalia – Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, Issa Doreh and Ahmed Nasiri Taalil Mohamud – accused of raising money to help the Somali resistance group al Shabaab, were convicted of material support for terrorism-related charges here, Feb. 22. The defendants are facing maximum sentences that range from between 65 to 80 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 16.

During the course of the trial, members of the Somali community packed the court room to support the men. One of the defendants, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, is a well known religious leader.

The government’s case relied on its interpretations of wiretaps and attempts to inflame the jury.

At issue is the fact that many in the community strongly opposed the U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia and attempts to install a Western-backed puppet government. The indictment of the four men explicitly equates fighting the Ethiopian invasion with terrorism.

This case is the latest of many targeting Somali immigrants who are working to help their homeland.

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