Charitable Society for Social Welfare
Encyclopedia
The Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW) was founded by Abdul Majeed al-Zindani, whom the US Treasury Department identified as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist
", citing his "long history of working with bin Laden" (and whose name also appears on the UN 1267 Committee
's list of individuals belonging to or associated with Al-Qaida).
During a terrorism trial, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) agent Brian Murphy testified that CSSW was a “front organization
to funnel money to terrorists,” and US federal prosecutors have described it as being used to support Osama bin Laden
and al-Qaeda.
In 1998 and 1999 in San Diego, Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki
served as Vice President for CSSW. Al-Awlaki would later be suspected of radicalizing Major Nidal Hasan before his 2009 attack on Fort Hood, and reportedly blessed and participated in planning and training for the Al-Qaeda sponsored attempt to blow up an airliner Christmas Day 2009 in Detroit.
In July 2004 Numan Maflahi, a Yemen
i-born U.S. citizen, was sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison for lying to FBI agents about his ties to a Yemeni sheik who prosecutors say raised money for al-Qaida through CSSW . He told agents that he had limited contact with Sheik Abdullah Satar and no involvement in Satar’s fund raising for al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. But prosecutors said Maflahi “spent almost every waking hour” with Satar during a 1999 trip to New York, arranging his speaking engagements at mosques, driving him to appointments, and helping collect and hold money. After Satar left Brooklyn, he continued raising money in Italy, where he met with Al Qaeda's top operative in that country, according to court papers. “The proof here is overwhelming that the defendant was lying about facts relevant to the investigation of a federal crime of terrorism,” U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon
said.
Specially Designated Global Terrorist
Specially Designated Global Terrorist is a designation authorized under U.S. Executive Order 13224 , among other executive orders, and Title 31, Parts 595, 596, and 597 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, among other U.S. laws and regulations. SDGT designations are administered and enforced...
", citing his "long history of working with bin Laden" (and whose name also appears on the UN 1267 Committee
United Nations Security Council Committee 1267
The 1267 Committee , was established on 15 October 1999, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1267 concerning Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and/or the Taliban and associated individuals and entities. The 1267 Committee is one of three Security Council committees dealing with counter-terrorism...
's list of individuals belonging to or associated with Al-Qaida).
During a terrorism trial, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI) agent Brian Murphy testified that CSSW was a “front organization
Front organization
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations...
to funnel money to terrorists,” and US federal prosecutors have described it as being used to support Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
and al-Qaeda.
In 1998 and 1999 in San Diego, Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki
Anwar al-Awlaki
Anwar al-Awlaki was an American and Yemeni imam who was an engineer and educator by training. According to U.S. government officials, he was a senior talent recruiter and motivator who was involved with planning operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda...
served as Vice President for CSSW. Al-Awlaki would later be suspected of radicalizing Major Nidal Hasan before his 2009 attack on Fort Hood, and reportedly blessed and participated in planning and training for the Al-Qaeda sponsored attempt to blow up an airliner Christmas Day 2009 in Detroit.
In July 2004 Numan Maflahi, a Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
i-born U.S. citizen, was sentenced to the maximum of five years in prison for lying to FBI agents about his ties to a Yemeni sheik who prosecutors say raised money for al-Qaida through CSSW . He told agents that he had limited contact with Sheik Abdullah Satar and no involvement in Satar’s fund raising for al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. But prosecutors said Maflahi “spent almost every waking hour” with Satar during a 1999 trip to New York, arranging his speaking engagements at mosques, driving him to appointments, and helping collect and hold money. After Satar left Brooklyn, he continued raising money in Italy, where he met with Al Qaeda's top operative in that country, according to court papers. “The proof here is overwhelming that the defendant was lying about facts relevant to the investigation of a federal crime of terrorism,” U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon
Nina Gershon
Nina Gershon is a federal district judge in the Eastern District of New York. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 at the recommendation of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan...
said.
External links
- Terrorism and Money Laundering: Illegal Purposes and Activities, Bjorklund, Victoria B.; Reynoso, Jenni I.; Hazlett, Abbey, 25 Pace L. Rev. 233 (2004–05)
- http://books.google.com/books?id=CG-AjU3rraQC&pg=PA197&dq=%22charitable+society+for+social+welfare%22&num=100&cd=6#v=onepage&q=%22charitable%20society%20for%20social%20welfare%22&f=falseHamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad, Matthew Levitt, Dennis Ross, Yale University PressYale University PressYale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
, 2007, ISBN 0300122586, 9780300122589]