Judge Bars Discussion of Mideast Conflict
Associated Press
Date: 05-10-05
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
TAMPA, Fla. - Attorneys for a former college professor accused of raising money for a Palestinian terrorist group may not introduce the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of their defense at his upcoming trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Sami Al-Arian, 47, and three other men face a 53-count indictment charging them with support of a foreign terrorist organization, racketeering, conspiracy and extortion. They face life in prison if convicted.
Attorneys for the former University of South Florida professor had argued that jurors must understand the 50-year conflict to put Al-Arian's public statements and some of his activities into context.
"Trying to explain Dr. Al-Arian without some understanding of what is happening here is like attempting to explain Nelson Mandela without knowing what apartheid is about," defense attorney William Moffitt said.
But Judge James Moody Jr. agreed with prosecutors, who filed motions to block political and religious issues relating to the conflict that would serve as explanations for the defendants' motives.
However, Moody said, if prosecutors initiate discussion of issues related to the conflict while questioning witnesses, defense attorneys will be allowed to pursue it.
"Until they open that door, it is an irrelevant area for you to go into," Moody said.
Prosecutors allege the four men used an Islamic academic think tank and a Palestinian charity that Al-Arian founded as fund-raising fronts for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The terrorist group is blamed for more than 100 deaths in attacks in Israel.
Jury selection in the trial begins Monday, with testimony scheduled to begin June 6. Moody said he would reserve a ruling on moving the trial out of Tampa until after attorneys begin questioning jurors. Defense attorneys have argued that the jury pool has been tainted by politics and publicity.
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