US judge quashes convictions of charity leaders accused of pro-jihad acts

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A federal judge on Tuesday threw out the government's case against a former Islamic charity leader and partially overturned the convictions of two others, ruling prosecutors failed to prove all the charges. The charity leader, Samir Al-Monla, was cleared of all charges and immediately released. The two others - Emadeddin Muntasser and Muhammed Mubayyid - remain in custody pending sentencing next week on the remaining counts. The three were convicted in January of duping the US government into awarding their Boston-based organization, Care International Inc., tax-exempt status by hiding its pro-jihad activities. Care International, which is now defunct, described its mission as helping war orphans, widows and refugees in Muslim nations. But prosecutors said the organization also distributed a newsletter promoting jihad and supported Muslim militants involved in armed conflicts around the world.