Mosque Leader Pleads Guilty to Aiding Terrorists

The leader of a mosque in Rome, Ga., has pleaded guilty to providing “material support” for the terrorist group Hamas through a charity shut down by the federal government in 2001, reports The New York Times.

Prosecutors charge that from 1997 to 2001 Mohamed Shorbagi donated money to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, an Islamic group with ties to Hamas. Because Hamas had been designated a terrorist group by the federal government, it is illegal to provide money or other support to it.

In addition, Mr. Shorbagi served as the Georgia representative of the Holy Land Foundation, attending meetings with high-level Hamas officials, according to the federal government. Over all, seven former officials of the group have been charged with supporting terrorist causes. Six of them are American citizens, as is Mr. Shorbagi.

In pleading guilty, Mr. Shorbagi will serve up to 15 years in prison and pay $240,000 in restitution to victims of Hamas. Read The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s report about support for Islamic charities.

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