Brooklyn, NY – Three men from Somalia, Ali Yasin Ahmed, Madhi Hashi and Mohamed Yusuf, appeared in Federal District Court here, Dec. 21, on charges of violating U.S. “material support for terrorism” and gun laws. What makes this case different from the dozens of U.S. cases involving Somali men and women in Minnesota, California and other states is that there is no indication the men are U.S. residents or citizens, or that they have ever traveled to the U.S.

The conspiracy to provide “material support to a foreign terrorist organization” stems from their alleged membership in the Somali resistance organization, al Shabaab. Al Shabaab is an Islamic political movement that is fighting the U.S.-backed foreign intervention in Somalia.

The gun charge, according to a Dec. 21 press release form the New York Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, involves the “unlawful use of machine guns” in Somalia.

The case against the three men rests on the dubious legal theory that U.S. laws can be applied anywhere in the world. The New York Times states, “Court documents show no connection between the alleged crimes and the United States.”

Two of the men, Mohamed Yusuf and Ali Yasin Ahmed, lived in Sweden for a time. Madhi Hashi was born in Somalia and grew up in England. The British newspaper, The Independent reported on Dec. 23 that when Hashi lived in London, he was one of a group of young people who said they were pressured by the UK intelligence agency, MI5, to become informants. After his return to Somalia, Hashi’s UK citizenship was revoked.

The Independent says of Hashi, “His family had no idea where he was for five months until he appeared in a New York court on Friday accused of terrorism. Last night, his British lawyer, Saghir Hussain, said: ‘This has all the hallmarks of rendition. It appears the withdrawal of citizenship and the kidnapping by the Americans may have been co-ordinated.’”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims, “In early August 2012, the defendants were apprehended in Africa by local authorities while on their way to Yemen.” On Oct. 18, 2012, a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned a sealed indictment against the defendants. On Nov. 14, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation took custody of the defendants and brought them to the Eastern District of New York.”

The Independent quotes Hashi’s father, Mohamed, “’We are not some slaves who can be passed around from one owner to another,’ he said. ‘Why was our son sent to the U.S.? He has been a British citizen for 15 years but then his citizenship was taken away suddenly and now we find out that he's in New York? Our family had to find out this news from public news sources as no one has contacted us until now. We are very worried about his condition as we have no information. The U.S. have not given our son any rights – we don't know where he's being held, how to contact him or how he's being treated. It is shocking that something like this can be done to someone based on accusations and suspicion only.’”

Among those who announced the charges against the three men Dec. 21 was Raymond Kelly, the Commissioner of New York City Police Department. The NYPD has built a massive intelligence network that spys on Arabs and Muslims around the U.S. It is also setting up satellite offices in other countries.

#BrooklynNY #InJusticeSystem #Somalia #alShabab #materialSupport #Africa

At issue was the accusation that Yusuf helped out friends in Somalia, who were also said to be members of al-Shabab.

The courtroom was packed with family, friends and supporters when Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz handed down the sentence.

A statement from Yusef’s defense committee refers to her as a hero and notes, “Nimo Yusuf is a daughter with great heart. She will go beyond her ability to help others. She is highly beloved in the Somali Community. She has touched the lives of so many of us here in the twin cities. She translated, provided transportation, cared for the sick and the widows. She loved her faith and followed its commandments of giving, helping, and caring. She carried the burden of others, solved their problems, counseled the youth, cried and cared for many of us who are struggling and adjusting to the new life in America.”

The FBI made use of wiretaps against Yusuf and, according to court records, intercepted and recorded 35,000 calls made by her.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop Repression, states, “A good person who did good things is being sent to prison for a very long time. The government wants to criminalize people who support a Somalia that is independent of foreign domination. She should be released at once.”

#SanDiegoCA #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalPrisoners #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #politicalRepression #alShabab #InjusticeSystem #NimaAliYusuf

Lacking evidence of legal wrongdoing on Omar’s part, the prosecution concentrated on portraying the Somali resistance as “terrorism.”

“Mahamud Said Omar did nothing wrong. The prosecution and the FBI agents who organized this frame-up are the real criminals in this case,” stated Mick Kelly of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

#MinneapolisMN #Somalia #MahamudSaidOmar #alShabab

Many of the prosecution witnesses rarely mentioned Omar. Instead they concentrated on trying to criminalize the resistance to the U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia.

Abdifatah Yusuf Isse testified against Omar. Isse admitted he was facing a life sentence for ‘terrorism’ charges, and had made a plea agreement which includes a promise to provide the prosecution with “substantial assistance.” This means that that the sentence that Isse ultimately gets is based on how well he does in testifying against others in the Somali community.

Joint Terrorism Task Force officer Martin Siebenaler testified against Omar. Siebenaler opened up a gun case and pulled out an AK-47 machine gun. Siebenaler then proceeded to say that the gun, which came from an ATF collection, was “most similar to” the weapons used by young resistance fighters in Somalia. The gun had nothing to do with the case. It was an attempt to bias the jury.

Kamal Said Hassan, a man who admits to lying during other federal court proceedings, also testified.

A number of the prosecution witnesses in the trial were connected to the Sept. 24, 2010 FBI raids on Midwest anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “What the government proved is that they have no case. In essence the FBI admits they mistreated Omar, when they placed a sack over his head, and later interrogated him while he was ill. The real crime here is that Omar is sitting in jail and on trial. He has done nothing wrong.”

#MinneapolisMN #Somalia #MahamudSaidOmar #alShabab #PoliticalRepression

Minneapolis, MN – About 100 people gathered for a “Speak Out in Support of the Somali Community” Dec. 3. The organizers were inspired to do the forum after the Oct. 20 conviction of Amina Ali and Hawo Hassan, two Somali American women who raised money for charities assisting Somalia’s poor. The women’s conviction was related to providing “material support to foreign terrorist organizations.” During jury deliberations, supporters of the women made it clear that the situation for people in Somalia was dire and that people required help for basic survival.

“We feel it is important to educate people on the situation in Somalia that the women were trying to address,” said Jess Sundin, one of the event organizers, “but also to make this a call to people of conscience to work to stop the U.S. intervention in that country.”

Sponsored by the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression and the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, the event brought together a broad cross section of the peace and justice movement, along with many Somali Americans.

Hassan Ali Mohamud, Director and Imam of the Minnesota Dawa Institute, condemned the unjust treatment of Ali and Hawo. He also warned of recent government moves to curtail the ability of Somalis in the U.S. to send money to their relatives in their homeland. He noted that about 3 million Somalis depend on these remittances for their survival. There will be local actions soon to save the Somali money transfer establishments, called hawalas.

Faysal Mohamed, the husband of Amina Ali, told of the hardships faced by his family with his wife in jail. Mohamed, who cares for the family’s two young daughters and bedridden mother-in-law, spoke movingly about taking his daughters to visit Ali in the Ramsey County jail, where the family could only communicate via closed circuit camera.

Attorney Bruce Nestor talked about the repression that is being unleashed on the Somali community and urged participants not to talk to the FBI. He brought out the fact that the government case was around the fundraising of a little over $8000 over the course of years, but that the feds spent millions of dollars, did hundreds of hours of wiretapping and involved many thousands of hours agents’ time in prosecuting the two women.

Nestor also made the point that if these laws were in effect in the 1980s and 90s, there could have been no anti-apartheid, Irish republican or Central America solidarity movements.

Mel Reeves, of the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, spoke against U.S. intervention in Somali and in support of self-determination for the Somali people. He put out a clear call to resist cowing down to the government when they pass unjust laws and try to tell people what to think.

Both women were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization. In addition, Ali was convicted of 12 counts of providing material support and Hassan was convicted of two counts of lying to FBI agents. Each count of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization carries a 15-year sentence. On the day of the conviction, there were huge protests in Somalia over the women’s cases.

The women were accused of helping al-Shabab, an Islamist organization that fights to free Somalia from foreign domination.

Participants at the forum were urged to pack the courtroom for the sentencing of Amina Ali and Hawo Hassan. The sentencing is expected to happen in the early spring. Before that, there will be other actions and campaigns around the case. Donations to the legal defense fund for both women can be made and sent to: Amina Ali Legal Fund, 1860 Quarry Ridge Pl NW, Suite 126, Rochester, MN 55901.

“The witch hunt that the FBI is waging against the Somali community is very disturbing. They are using coercive tactics to scare people into talking, and then twisting words in a way that puts many in danger of persecution. Across the country, their tactics against the Arab and Muslim communities are unconscionable and it’s time we all get together to put a stop to this FBI abuse,” according to Steff Yorek, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. Yorek is a Minneapolis activist whose home was raided on Sept. 24, 2010, and who was served with a subpoena for a grand jury fishing expedition for ‘material support for foreign terrorist organizations.’

“The material support law is unjust and an attempt to criminalize people who support resistance to U.S. domination. We should never accept the idea that solidarity is some sort of crime,” states Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

The repression in the Somali community comes in the context of growing U.S. intervention in Somalia.

“The U.S. attacks on Somalia are ramping up in a big way,” says Joe Callahan of the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition. “The U.S. is sending in robot-drones to bomb and kill hundreds of people. Tens of thousands of troops, acting on the behalf of the U.S., from the African Union, Kenya and now Ethiopia are moving in to kill more.”

#MinneapolisMN #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition #MinnesotaCommitteeToStopFBIRepression #Somalia #HawoMohamedHassan #alShabab #AminaAli

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott refuses to allow Ali to wear a scarf, or hijab, to cover her head, a common religious practice for many Muslim women.

Ali, who is awaiting sentencing, is accused of helping al-Shabab, an Islamist organization that fights to free Somalia from foreign domination. In addition to a conspiracy charge, she was convicted of 12 material support charges. Each charge carries up to a 15 year sentence.

A friend of Ali’s, Hawo Mohamed Hassan, was convicted of 2 counts of lying to an FBI agent and is also awaiting sentencing.

On the day of their conviction, Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression stated, “These women have done nothing wrong. They care about the people of Somalia and worked to make the country a better place. The U.S. government has no business dictating what political party, religion or social movements that the Somali people chose to support. The laws on ‘material support for terrorism’ should be scrapped.”

#MinneapolisMN #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #discriminacion #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #HawoMohamedHassan #AminaFarahAli #alShabab #SherburneCountyJail

Minneapolis, MN – There were tears and anger at the Federal Courthouse here, Oct. 20, after Hawo Mohamed Hassan and Amina Farah Ali, two Somali American women who raised money for charities assisting Somalia’s poor, were found guilty of providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.

Supporters of Ali and Hassan, mainly women, packed the courtroom as the all white jury returned with the guilty verdict. An overflow crowd of Somali women and men filled the plaza outdoors, along with members of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR). After the verdict, everyone gathered outside, where many cried, prayed and expressed anger at the injustice.

Steff Yorek of the CSFR said, “We showed up to the Federal Courthouse this morning to wait with the women – and that was the right thing to do. All of the women were very welcoming. Amina took time from her prayers to thank us for being there.”

Both women were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization. In addition, Ali was convicted of 12 counts of providing material support and Hassan was convicted of two counts of lying to FBI agents. Each count of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization carries a 15-year sentence.

The women were accused of helping al-Shabab, an Islamist organization that fights to free Somalia from foreign domination.

Amina Farah Ali, 35, is taking care of her paralyzed mother and two children. Hawo Mohamed Hassan is 64 and is battling many health problems. Both women were taken into custody and are now in jail. Sentencing will take place sometime in the next few months.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression stated, “These women have done nothing wrong. They care about the people of Somalia and worked to make the country a better place. The U.S. government has no business dictating what political party, religion or social movements that the Somali people chose to support. The laws on ‘material support for terrorism’ should be scrapped.”

The Committee to Stop FBI Repression will help to mobilize activities around the sentencing and the appeals.

#MinneapolisMN #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #Somalia #HawoMohamedHassan #AminaFarahAli #alShabab #materialSupport

Minneapolis, MN – More than 60 Somali women assembled outside the Federal Courthouse here, Oct. 19, in support of Hawo Mohamed Hassan and Amina Farah Ali, two Somali humanitarian workers who are charged with providing ‘material support for a foreign terrorist organization.’

The two women, who raised money to help destitute people in their homeland, are accused of helping al-Shabab, an Islamist organization that fights to free Somalia from foreign domination.

The jury is still out on the case.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “These women have done nothing wrong. They worked hard to help people in need. They deserve the support of everyone who cares about justice.”

#MinneapolisMN #MinneaplisMN #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #Somalia #HawoMohamedHassan #AminaFarahAli #alShabab