freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose

[realthog]

I cannot help feeling there's something appallingly wrong. Here are extracts from a story that's been posted tonight by the Beeb:

Hamas backers jailed in Texas

Two founder members of what was once the biggest Muslim charity in the US have each been jailed for 65 years.

Shukri Abu Baker, 50, and Ghassan Elashi, 55, were convicted of channelling funds to the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.Three other members of the Holy Land Foundation were jailed for between 15 and 20 years by a Dallas court. [. . . ]

Hamas was designated a terrorist organisation by the US government 14 years ago, making it illegal to give the group money or other support.

The defendants said they were only interested in helping the needy.

Their supporters said no money had been used to fund violence, and the case was a by-product of what it called the anti-Islamic sentiment following the 11 September attacks of 2001.

Shukri Abu Baker told the judge in Dallas on Wednesday: "I did it because I cared, not at the behest of Hamas." [. . .]

The indictment against the group said it sponsored Palestinian orphans and families in the West Bank and Gaza whose relatives had died or been imprisoned as a result of Hamas attacks on Israel.

I am no fan of Hamas. I'm a great fan, though, of freedom. Also, I very much approve of charities that help war orphans. In addition, I have these old-fashioned notions that children should not be punished for the crimes of their parents, and that human life should be preserved.

As far as can be established, Shukri Abu Baker, 50, and Ghassan Elash have been sentenced to what might as well be death for the crime of trying to help widows and children.

Am I the only one to see the shadow of Stalin here?

Who next? The Red Cross? Medecins Sans Frontieres? Both organizations offer humanitarian help regardless of the political or religious affiliation of the recipient. Are their leaders going to be prosecuted in Texas?

Comments

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Aside from anything else, the savagery of the sentencing is beyond all rational comprehension. The judge must be seriously sociopathic to believe his behaviour is other than barbarian.

[nballingrud.livejournal.com]

I agree. (Incidentally I think there are far more sociopaths among us than we dare suspect.) I see that they plan to appeal, though, so there is still hope. Though from the reading I've been doing since reading your post last night, it appears the US government has a real hard-on for this organization, so it's hard to be optimistic.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

(Incidentally I think there are far more sociopaths among us than we dare suspect.)

Couldn't agree more.

Though from the reading I've been doing since reading your post last night, it appears the US government has a real hard-on for this organization, so it's hard to be optimistic.

Hm. I wonder if Amnesty International will take up the case?