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Charity chairman seeks bail at detention hearing
From Kevin Bohn
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rabih Haddad, the chairman of the Muslim charity Global Relief Foundation, will ask an immigration judge Tuesday to release him on bail. Haddad will make the request in an open hearing, the first since the Justice Department ordered immigration hearings closed for "special interest" cases in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Officials said the order has closed hundreds of hearings and was intended to ensure terrorists could not find out information about those being held.
Prior to the hearing, the Immigration and Naturalization Service Monday filed a motion with the immigration court saying Haddad is a danger to the community and a flight risk. In its filing, the government laid out in detail allegations against Haddad and Global Relief. Haddad was arrested last December for overstaying a visa, and Global Relief's assets were frozen the same month for alleged involvement with known terrorist organizations. The government contends Global Relief has engaged in activities to assist terrorists, including providing money and equipment to terrorist groups and promoting propaganda from known terrorists. Lawyers for the group have denied any links between it and terrorists. Prosecutors cited as reasons for denial of bail that Haddad "has remained evasive or provided conflicting information regarding his sources of income" and whether he is paid a salary as foundation chairman. The government said Haddad could not provide details on how he was able to pay for trips to Lebanon and Pakistan for foundation projects. Among the allegations detailed in the government filing are that Global Relief "has ties and received substantial funding from Mohammed Galeb Kalaje Zouyadi, a suspected financier of al Qaeda worldwide efforts" who was arrested by Spanish authorities in April. The filing also alleges that the foundation maintained communications with Wadih el Hage, an al Qaeda operative convicted as part of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings and former personal secretary to Osama bin Laden. In addition, it alleges that the group's "own publications espouse and promote violence," and cited an article in a newsletter allegedly stating that "God equated martyrdom through JIHAD with supplying funds for the JIHAD effort ... All contributions should be mailed" to the foundation. After twice being denied bail by an immigration judge, Haddad sued, saying he was denied due process because his hearings were closed. A U.S. district judge agreed and ordered he be released or given a new hearing with a different judge. The Justice Department, while going ahead with Haddad's new hearing on Tuesday, said it plans to appeal the order.
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