Header Graphic

 

 

UNITED STATES v. LYNNE STEWART, ANNOTATED

 

 

Sometimes it’s not a pleasant experience to read an indictment. Other times, it’s very satisfying. It depends, of course, on who’s been indicted, and for what.

 

Reading the recent indictment of self-described "radical human rights attorney" Lynne Stewart – who’s half-correct: she’s a radical lawyer, but not a human rights attorney – is a terrifically satisfying experience.

 

It’s about time the United States Department of Justice came down on one of the fifth column lawyers who abuse the American legal system to harm our country by providing aid and comfort to its enemies. While Stewart has been doing just that for years, not until now has the government moved against her.

 

There is much to be revealed about these lawyers – Michael Ratner, Stanley Cohen, Susan Tipograph, among others, and about those who have come to Stewart’s defense. Soon those stories will be told. But for now, I want to discuss only the indictment against Stewart. I intend to dispel any notion that, as she claims, the criminal charges against her are "an obvious attempt by the U.S. government to silence dissent and install fear in those who would fight against the U.S. government’s racism, seek to help Arabs and Muslims being prosecuted for free speech and defend the rights of all oppressed people." BS. That is not what Lynne Stewart has been indicted for.

 

An indictment is a criminal charge, nothing more. It is a syllogism, setting out as one premise the facts, and as another the law. The named defendant is alleged to have done X, which violates law Y. Let’s translate that process into the Stewart indictment, which follows verbatim as it appears on www.lynnestewart.org. (My comments are in bold face).

 

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -X

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

         v.

LYNNE STEWART, and others.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - - X

 

 

There are four defendants. One with two aliases, one with one, one with none, and Lynne Stewart:

INTRODUCTION

The Grand Jury Charges:

Background: The Islamic Group

            1. At all relevant times described herein, the Islamic Group, a/k/a "Gama’a Islamiyya," a/k/a "Gama’a al-Islamiyya," a/k/a/ "IG," a/k/a "al-Gama at," a/k/a "Islamic Gama ‘at," a/k/a/ "Egyptian al-Gama’at al-Islamiyya," (hereinafter, "IG") existed as an international terrorist group dedicated to opposing nations, governments; institutions, and individuals that did not share "IG’s radical interpretation of Islamic law. IG considered such nations, governments, institutions and individuals as "infidels," and interpreted the concept of "jihad" (struggle) as waging opposition against infidels by whatever means necessary, including force and violence.

      The Islamic Group (IG) was and is a terrorist organization.

            2.  IG opposed the United States for three primary reasons. First, IG regarded the United States as in "infidel" because the United States was not governed in a manner consistent with IG’s radical interpretation of Islam. Second, IG viewed the United States as providing essential support to other "infidel" governments and institutions, particularly the nation of Israel and the government of Egypt, both of which IG regarded as its enemies. Third, the United States has taken action to thwart IG, including the arrest, conviction and continued imprisonment of IG spiritual leader Omar Ahmad Ali Abdel Rahman, a/k/a "Omar Ahmed Ali," a/k/a "Omar Abdel Al-Rahman," a/k/a "The Sheikh," a/k/a/ "Sheikh Omar" (hereinafter, "Sheikh Abdel Rahman"), a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein.


             IG opposes the United States because it was and is an infidel nation, which supports other infidel governments – and because the United States sent Sheikh Rahman ("Rahman") to jail.

             3. IG has forged alliances with other terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad for the purpose of working together against their perceived common enemies, including, in particular, the United States.

             IG is in league with other terrorists, against the United States.

                                       
Role of Sheikh Abdel Rahman           

             4. From at least the early 1990s until the date of  the filing of this Indictment, Sheikh Abdel Rahman has been one of the principal leaders of IG, and a high-ranking member of jihad organizations based in Egypt and elsewhere. As a result of that background, Sheikh Abdel Rahman became an "emir," or leader, of IG in the United States. While Sheikh Abdel Rahman exercised leadership, subordinates in IG carried out the details of specific jihad operations and sought to shield Sheikh Abdel Rahman from prosecution. Sheikh Abdel Rahman played a key role in both defining and articulating the goals of IG. Sheikh Abdel Rahman provided necessary guidance regarding whether particular jihad actions, including acts of terrorism, were permissible or forbidden under his extremist interpretation of Islamic law, and at times provided strategic advice concerning whether such actions would be an effective means of achieving IG’s goals. Sheikh Abdel Rahman also recruited persons to IG and solicited them to commit violent jihad actions. Additionally, Sheikh Abdel Rahman served as a mediator of disputes among members/associates of IG and undertook to protect the organization from infiltration by law enforcement.

                   Rahman was a leader of IG.


               5. In October 1995, Sheikh Abdel Rahman was convicted of engaging in a seditious conspiracy to wage a war of urban terrorism against the United States, which included the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks, including the United Nations, the FBI building in New York and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. Sheikh Abdel Rahman was also found guilty of soliciting crimes of violence against the United States military and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In January 1996, Sheikh Abdel Rahman was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 65 years. On August 16, 1000, Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s conviction was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and, on January 10, 2000, his petition for certiorari was denied by the United States Supreme court. Since in or about 1997, Sheikh Abdel Rahman has been incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

                    Rahman was convicted of complicity in the bombing of American targets and solicitation of violence against United States interests. He was put away for so long that he will never be released.

              6. Beginning in 1997, the Bureau of Prisons (at the direction of the Attorney General) pursuant to 28 C.F.R. 501.3, imposed Special Administrative Measures ("SAM") upon Sheikh Abdel Rahman. Among other things, the SAM limited certain of his privileges, including his access to the mail, the media, the telephone, and visitors, for the purpose of protecting "persons against the risk of death or serous bodily injury" that might otherwise result. In particular, those restrictions prohibited Sheikh Abdel Rahman "from having contact with other inmates and others . . . that could reasonably foreseeably result in the inmate communicating information (sending or receiving) that could circumvent the SAM’s intent of significantly limiting the inmates’ ability to communicate (send or receive) terrorist information." Moreover, the restrictions prohibited Sheikh Abdel Rahman "from passing or receiving any written or recorded communications to or from any other inmate, visitor, attorney, or anyone else" except as authorized by the SAM. In addition, the restrictions prohibited communication with any member, or representative of, the news media. More specifically, as of April 7, 1999, the restrictions provided that "[t]he inmate will not be permitted to talk with, meet with, correspond with, or otherwise communicate with any member, or representative, of the news media, in person, by telephone, by furnishing a recorded message, through the mails, through his attorney(s), or otherwise."

                        The government, fearful that Rahman might enable or direct terrorist operations from his prison, imposed a virtual quarantine on his contact with the outside world.

                7. Al[l] counsel for Sheikh Abdel Rahman were obliged to sign an affirmation, acknowledging that they and their staff would abide fully by the SAM, before being allowed access to Sheikh Abdel Rahman. Counsel [a]greed in these affirmations, among other things, to "only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters." Moreover, since at least in or about May of 1998, counsel also agreed not to "use my meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman."

                        Rahman’s lawyers agreed to the quarantine.

                                             IG Efforts to Secure Rahman’s Release

                 8. In or about 1996, IG responded to Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s life sentence by issuing a statement that warned that "[a]ll American interests will be legitimate targets for our struggle until the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman and his brothers" and that IG "swears by God to its irreversible vow to take an eye for an eye."

                        IG threatened terrorism against "American interests" unless Rahman was released.

                 9. On or about November 17, 1997, six assassins methodically shot and stabbed a group of tourists visiting an archeological site in Luxor, Egypt. Fifty-eight tourists were killed along with four Egyptians, some of whom were police officers. Before making their exit, the terrorists scattered leaflets espousing their support for IG and calling for release of Sheikh Abdel Rahman. Also, the torso of one victim was slit by the terrorists and a leaflet calling for Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s release was inserted. In a subsequent claim of responsibility, IG stated that the attack was designed to obtain Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s release.

                          In furtherance of that threat and to obtain Rahman’s release, IG murdered tourists in Egypt.

                 10. On or about September 21, 2000, an Arabic television station, Al Jazeera, televised an interview with Usama Bin Laden (leader of the al Qaeda terrorist organization), Ayman Al-Zawahiri (former leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization and one of Bin Laden’s top lieutenants), IG leader Rifa’i Taha Musa, a/k/a/ "Abu Yasser al Masri" (hereinafter, "Musa"), and Mohammed Abdel Rahman, a/k/a/ "Asadallah," who is a son of Sheikh Abdel Rahman and is closely associated with al Qaeda, during which they pledged jihad to free Sheikh Abdel Rahman from incarceration in the United States, and that included a statement by Mohammed Abdel Rahman encouraging others to "avenge your Sheikh" and "go to the spilling of blood."

                        Leading terrorists, including bin Laden, repeated the threat of terrorism unless Rahman was released.

                 11. On or about April 24, 2001, an IG representative in Egypt stated in a press conference that the Islamic world "will not accept the continuation of the insult" to Sheikh Abdel Rahman and "[w]hile the Sheikh’s lawyers want to deal with his case legally, and Islamic Group leaders are displaying self-restraint, it is not ruled out that one or more of the Sheikh’s followers may resort to carrying out operations against U.S. interests in the world to avenge what is happening to this revered scholar."

                          An IG representative then repeated the threat.

IG in the United States

                 12. From at least the early 1990s until the date of the filing of this Indictment, IG has operated in the United States, particularly in the New York City metropolitan area. As IG developed, it pursued various objectives in the United States, including the following: the establishment of the United States as a staging ground fro violent actions against targets (both persons and structures) located in the United States and abroad; the recruitment and training, including paramilitary training, of new members; and fund-raising for jihad actions in the United States and abroad. A principal objective of IG was to carry out, and conspire to carry out, acts of terrorism – including bombings, murders and the taking of hostages – against various governments and government officials, including the United States government and its officials. Since Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s imprisonment, another primary objective of IG representatives in the United States has been to function as a communications hub for IG leaders, members and associates located around the world. As part of that communication network, IG in the United States has facilitated communications between IG leaders and the imprisoned Sheikh Abdel Rahman, in circumvention of the SAM designed by the Bureau of Prisons to prevent such communications, in order to continue to receive guidance and direction from Sheikh Abdel Rahman on IG activities.

                           In furtherance of its terrorist mission, IG managed to violate the quarantine of Rahman in federal prison and received "guidance and direction" from him.     

                           To sum up: IG is a terrorist organization; IG is in league with other terrorist organizations against the United States, IG hates the United States, especially because it sent Rahman to prison; Rahman is a leader of IG; IG and other terrorists threatened and engaged in violence, in an effort to secure Rahman’s release; in prison, Rahman was quarantined, a treatment with which his lawyers agreed; in furtherance of its terrorism mission, IG was able to break the prison quarantine of Rahman, and obtain assistance from him.
                            
                              These are facts, which can and will be easily proved by the government when Lynne Stewart goes to trial.
                              
                               But what do they have to do with any of the defendants, especially Lynne Stewart?
                              The indictment continues.

The Defendants

                     13. Defendant AHMED ABDEL SAAR, a/k/a/ "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," is an active IG leader and surrogate for Sheikh Abdel Rahman. SATTAR is a vital link between the incarcerated Sheikh Abdel Rahman and the world-wide IG membership. More specifically, SATTAR, through his frequent telephonic contact with IG leaders around the world, operates from New York City as a communications center for IG. In this capacity, SATTAR provides material support and resources to IG by coordinating the communication and dissemination of information relating to IG activities. In furtherance of the goals of IG, SATTAR performs this communications role by utilizing a variety of methods, including the following: (1) relaying messages between IG leaders abroad and the imprisoned Sheikh Abdel Rahman through visits and telephone calls by Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s interpreter and attorneys; (2) arranging and participating in three-way telephone calls connecting IG leaders around the world with one another to facilitate discussion and coordination of IG activities; and (3) obtaining messages and information from one IG leader and conveying such messages and information to other IG leaders and membership located in nations around the world. In addition, SATTAR provides other material support and resources to IG, including financial support.

                               Defendant Ahmed, a communications center for IG worldwide, is a bridge between Rahman and terrorists, which he accomplished by, among other means, relaying messages to and from Rahman through his interpreter and attorneys. Defendant Ahmed also provided financial and other support to IG. Now, we begin to get closer to Stewart.

                      14. Defendant YASSIR AL-SIRRI, a/k/a "Abu Ammar," until his arrest in the United Kingdom in October 2001, resided in London and was the head of the London-based Islamic Observation Center. Like SATTAR, AL-SIRRI functioned as a facilitator of communications for IG members world-wide. More specifically, AL-SIRRI was in frequent telephonic contact with SATTAR and other IG leaders regarding ongoing activities within IG, including the dissemination of IG statements on various issues. In addition, AL-SIRRI provided other material support and resources to IG, including financial support.

                                 Defendant Yassir, like defendant Ahmed, was a communications facilitator for IG communications, and also provided financial and other support to IG.

                    15. Defendant MOHAMMED YOUSRY has acted as the Arabic interpreted for communications between the imprisoned Sheikh Abdel Rahman and his attorneys and, thus, is one of a very limited number of people who has any means of communicating directly with Sheikh Abdel Rahman. While acting in his capacity as the interpreter for communications between Sheikh Abdel Rahman and his attorneys during telephone calls and prison visits, YOUSRY has provided material support and resources to IG by covertly passing messages between IG representatives and Sheikh Abdel Rahman relating to IG’s activities.

                                 Defendant Mohammed has been the interpreter between Rahman and his attorneys. That is, between the terrorist prisoner – supposedly quarantined – and Stewart. He is charged with providing assistance to the terrorist IG by acting as a communications bridge between the IG network and Rahman. Which now brings us to the fourth defendant, Lynne Stewart, Esq.

                    16. Defendant LYNNE STEWART was Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s attorney during his 1995 criminal trial in New York and, following the conviction, has continued to act as one of his attorneys. Over the past several years, STEWART, in violation of the SAM in place to limit Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s communication in jail, has facilitated and concealed communications between Sheikh Abdel Rahman and IG leaders around the world. For example, during her May 2000 visit to Sheikh Abdel Rahman at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, STEWART allowed YOUSRY to read letters from SATTAR and others regarding IG matters and to conduct a discussion with Sheikh Abdel Rahman regarding whether IG should continue to comply with a cease-fire that had been supported by factions within IG since in or about 1998. Moreover, because these discussions violated SAM, STEWART took affirmative steps to conceal those discussions from prison guards. Following this meeting, STEWART announced to the media, in violation of the SAM, that Sheikh Abdel Rahman had withdrawn his support for a cease-fire.

                                   Stewart violated the quarantine to which she had agreed, and in so doing enabled Rahman to communicate with IG terrorists around the world, by, among other ways, allowing defendant Mohammed to convey information to, and receive information from Rahman about terrorist tactics. Stewart also acted to conceal defendant Mohammed’s discussions with Rahman from prison guards, and publicly announced information from Rahman in further violation of the quarantine.

                                  These are facts alleged by the United States Department of Justice against the four defendants. Presumably, the government can prove who these defendants are, and what they did. It is inconceivable that the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York can’t prove that in violation of the quarantine information flowed from Rahman to IG, and that it was facilitated by the defendants, including Stewart. If the government does prove these facts, then what?

COUNT ONE

(Conspiracy to provide Material Support to IG)

                       17. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 16 of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

                                      All the allegations above are as good as being here.

                       18. On or about October 8, 1997, IG was designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1189, was redesignated as such on October 8, 1999, and was redesignated as such again on October 5, 2001. As a result, at all times material to this Indictment, IG has been designated as a "foreign terrorist organization."

                                       No need to explain this.

                      19. From on or about October 1997, through the date of the filing of this Indictment, in the Southern District of New York and the filing of this Indictment, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR a/k/a "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," YASSIR AL-SIRRI, a/k/a "Abu Ammar," LYNNE STEWART, and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, within the United States and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other to knowingly provide material support and resources, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A(b), to a foreign terrorist organization, to wit, IG.

                                     All four defendants conspired to “provide material support and resources” to terrorists. That is, all four defendants agreed that they would do so, and at least one of them did an act in furtherance of that agreement, even a lawful act. It’s important to understand that this count of the indictment does not charge that “material support and resources” were actually given – only that there was a conspiracy to do so.

The Means and Methods of the Conspiracy

                                         How did they implement the conspiracy?

                         20. Among the means and methods by which the defendants and unindicted co-conspirators, who are both known and unknown, carried out the object of the conspiracy, were the following:

a.      The defendants and the unindicted co-conspirators provided communications equipment and other physical assets, including telephones, computers and telefax machines, owned, operated and possessed by themselves and others, to IG, in order to transmit, pass and disseminate messages, communications and information between and among IG leaders and members in the United States and elsewhere around the world.

b.      The defendants and the unindicted co-conspirators provided personnel, including themselves, to IG, in order to assist IG leaders and members in the United States and elsewhere around the world, in communicating with each other;

c.      the defendants and the unindicted co-conspirators provided currency, financial securities and financial services to IG, so that IG leaders and members could pursue and attain IG’s objectives; and

d.      the defendants and the unindicted co-conspirators provided transportation to IG, in order to pass and disseminate oral and written communications and information between and among IG leaders and members in the United States and elsewhere around the world.

Overt Acts

                  21. In furtherance of the conspiracy, and to effect the illegal object thereof, the following overt acts, among others, were committed in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere:

 

Efforts to Expand IG in the United States

 

a.      On or about January 26, 1999, an IG leader, who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein ("CC-1"), spoke with SATTAR and asked for SATTAR’s assistance in expanding IG’s presence in the United States.

 

Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s March 1999 Message Regarding Cease-Fire

 

b.      In or about March 1999, with the assistance of SATTAR, STEWART, and YOUSRY, Sheikh Abdel Rahman issued a statement from jail, directed to IG leader Musa, who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein, in which Sheikh Abdel Rahman advised adherence to the cease-fire and warned "[n]o new agreement (or charter), and nothing should be done without my consultation, or without my knowledge."

 

Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s March 1999 Message Regarding the Formation of a Political Party

 

c.      In or about March 1999, with the assistance of SATTAR, STEWART, and YOUSRY, Sheikh Abdel Rahman issued a statement from jail to IG members rejecting a proposal that IG form a political party in Egypt.

 

Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s September 1999 Statement Calling for End to Cease-Fire

 

d.      In or about September 1999, with the assistance of SATTAR, YOUSRY, and others known and unknown, Sheikh Abdel Rahman issued a statement from jail calling for an end to the cease-fire in response to a raid in Cairo, Egypt by Egyptian law enforcement on or about September 8, 1999 that resulted in four IG members being killed. In this statement, Sheikh Abdel Rahman noted, "The Islamic Group committed itself to suspend military operations which were initiated by the brothers in jail, two years ago, but the Egyptian Government continued killing the innocent, and having oppressive military trials." Thus, Sheikh Abdel Rahman stated, "I call on my brothers of the Islamic Group to do a comprehensive review of the initiative, and its results" and "I also call on them to absolve themselves from it."

 

e.      On or about September 20, 1999, during a telephone conversation with Musa, SATTAR stated that the cease-fire should be canceled if necessary to accomplish IG’s goals.

 

f.      On or about November 14, 1999, during a telephone conversation with another individual, SATTAR stated that the cease-fire was not working because it had not succeeded in obtaining the release of IG leaders in prison.

 

February 2000 Attempted Delivery of Message to Sheikh Abdel Rahman

 

g.      In or about February 2000, with the assistance of SATTAR, YOUSRY, and others known and unknown, Musa attempted to have a message regarding IG activities conveyed to Sheikh Abdel Rahman during a prison visit, but the message was not delivered due to security concerns.

 

The June 2000 Public Statement Regarding Withdrawal of Support for Cease-Fire

 

h.      On or about May 19, 2000, during a prison visit to Sheikh Abdel Rahman in Minnesota by STEWART and YOUSRY. YOUSRY read letters to Sheikh Abdel Rahman from SATTAR and Musa addressing, among other things, the issue of the cease-fire, while STEWART actively concealed the conversation between YOUSRY and Sheikh Abdel Rahman from the prison guards by, among other things, making extraneous comments in English to mask the Arabic conversation between Sheikh Abdel Rahman and YOUSRY.

 

i.      On or about May 20, 2000, the second day of the prison visit, Sheikh Abdel Rahman dictated letters to YOUSRY and issued his decision to withdraw support for the cease-fire, while STEWART actively concealed the conversation between YOUSRY and Sheikh Abdel Rahman from the prison guards.

 

j.      In or about late May 2000, SATTAR had telephone conversations with IG leaders in which he relayed Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s instructions: (1) escalate the issues in the media; (2) avoid division in the Group’s leadership; and (3) hint at military escalation even if the Group is not ready for military action.

 

k.     On or about June 14, 2000, STEWART released Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s statement to the press and quoted the Sheikh as stating that he "is withdrawing his support for the cease-fire that currently exists."

 

Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s June 2000 Clarification Regarding Cease-Fire

 

               l. On or about June 19, 2000, SATTAR spoke by telephone with CC-1 regarding Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s withdrawal of support for the cease-fire and the confusion the statement could create.

 

m.     On or about June 19, 2000, one of Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s sons, Mohammed Abdel Rahman, who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein, spoke by telephone with SATTAR and asked SATTAR to convey to Sheikh Abdel Rahman the fierceness of the IG debate about the cease-fire and to ask sheikh Abdel Rahman to calm the situation by supporting the "general group side."

 

n.      On or about June 20, 2000, SATTAR spoke by telephone with Mohammed Abdel Rahman and advised him that a conference call had taken place that morning between Sheikh Abdel Rahman had issued a new statement containing additional points which made clear, among other things, that Sheikh Abdel Rahman was not unilaterally ending the cease-fire, but rather, was withdrawing his support of it and stating that it was up to the brothers in the Group to now reconsider the issue.

 

October 2000 Ghost-Written Fatwah from Sheikh Abdel Rahman

 

o.      On or about October 3, 2000, Musa called SATTAR and discussed a fatwah Musa had written under Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s name regarding Muslim reaction to recent events in the Middle East, to which SATTAR had made revisions.

 

p.      On or about October 4, 2000, SATTAR called AL-SIRRI and read to him a fatwah to be issued under sheikh Abdel Rahman’s name entitled, "Fatwah Mandating the Bloodshed of Israelis Everywhere," which AL-SIRRI agreed to revise and disseminate.

 

q.      On or about October 4, 2000, SATTAR called AL-SIRRI and called on "brother scholars everywhere in the Muslim world to do their part and issue a unanimous fatwah that urges the Muslim nation to fight the Jews and to kill them wherever they are."

 

r.       On or about October 11, 2000, during a telephone conversation, YOUSRY told STEWART that SATTAR did not want sheikh Abdel Rahman’s attorneys to deny that Sheikh Abdel Rahman had issued a fatwah urging the killing of Jews around the world.

 

s.       On or about October 20, 12000, during an attorney telephone call from Manhattan to Sheikh Abdel Rahman, YOUSRY was told by Sheikh Abdel Rahman that he did not issue the fatwah, but did not want anyone to deny he had made it because "it is good."

 

Facilitation of Travel by IG Terrorist in Egypt and Discussion About Possible IG Military Action

 

t.       In or about September and October 2000, SATTAR had several telephone calls where he attempted to facilitate the travel in Egypt of Alaa Abdul Raziq Atia ("Atia"), an IG member wanted in connection with the 1997 Luxor terrorist attack in Egypt and was a fugitive.

 

u.       On or about September 4, 2000, in a telephone call arranged by SATTAR, Musa told an associate of Atia ("CC-2") that IG’s use of military actions was "subject to capability and nothing else."

 

v.       On or about September 18, 2000, SATTAR arranged a telephone call between Musa and CC-2 during which, in connection with a discussion of jihad and prior military actions, CC-2 stated that Atia wanted to meet secretly with Musa "for the sake of the work."

 

w.      On or about September 30, 2000, SATTAR arranged a telephone call between Musa and another IG leader, who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein ("CC-3"), during which Musa told CC-3 that CC-3 "needed a second Luxor."

 

x.       On or about October 5, 2000, SATTAR arranged a telephone call between Musa and CC-2 to discuss Musa’s upcoming meeting with Atia, during which CC-2 acknowledged his understanding that there would be "action," but requested that it be delayed until Musa met with Atia.

 

y.       On or about October 11, 2000, SATTAR told Musa during a telephone conversation that he had spoken with Atia and believed that Atia was eager, ready and able "to do things," and that he had to repeatedly warn Atia during their telephone call that his telephone was "not safe."

 

z.       On or about November 2, 2000, during a telephone conversation, Musa told SATTAR that he was afraid that Atia had been killed during a raid by Egyptian law enforcement on October 19th, and noted that he had asked Atia about his "capacity" and discussed with Atia whether they would have a chance to "do something."

 

Disseminating of False Claim Regarding Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s Prison Conditions

 

aa.      On or about January 8, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with STEWART. During this call SATTAR informed STEWART that the prison administrator where Sheikh Abdel Rahman was incarcerated had pleaded with Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s wife to tell Sheikh Abdel Rahman to take his medicine. SATTAR and STEWART agreed that, although they knew that sheikh Abdel Rahman was voluntarily refusing to take insulin for his diabetes rather than being denied medical treatment at the prison, SATTAR should issue a public statement falsely claiming that the Bureau of Prisons was denying medical treatment to Sheikh Abdel Rahman. To this end, STEWART conveyed that this misrepresentation was "safe" because n one on the "outside" world would know the truth.

 

bb.     On or about January 8, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with AL-SIRRI and together they wrote a statement regarding Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s prison conditions, which included, among other things, a false claim that sheikh Abdel Rahman was being denied insulin by the United States government. AL-SIRRI instructed SATTAR to send the statement to Reuters and any other news agencies he could contact.

 

Transfer of Money to IG members by SATTAR and AL-SIRRI

 

cc.      In or about December 2000, SATTAR spoke with one of Sheikh Abdel Rahman’s sons, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a/k/a "Sayfallah," who is a co-conspirator not named as a defendant herein, and was in Afghanistan with al Qaeda, regarding the need for SATTAR to transfer money to him.

 

dd.      On or about May 6, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with AL-SIRRI and agreed that, because SATTAR could not send the money to Ahmed Abdel Rahman directly in Afghanistan, AL-SIRRI would arrange for an individual to transport the money to Ahmed Abdel Rahman.

 

ee.      On or about May 8, 2001 SATTAR spoke with AL-SIRRI to finalize the money transfer to Ahmed Abdel Rahman through the director of a boys’ school in Afghanistan.

 

ff.      On or about May 14, 2001, SATTAR spoke by telephone with Ahmed Abdel Rahman who told SATTAR that there had been some confusion and that Mohammed Abdel Rahman had received the money sent by SATTAR.

 

gg.     On or about May 15, 2001, AL-SIRRI spoke by telephone with SATTAR to discuss a means of sending money to an IG member.

 

(Title 18, United States code, Section 2339B.)

                    There are at least 33 separate overt acts charged in this count (One) of the indictment. If the government can prove the agreement, and even one of these overt acts, they have proved the conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization.

COUNT TWO

(Providing Material Support to IG)

The Grand Jury further charges:

                    22. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 16, 18 and 20-21 of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

                    23. From on or about October 8, 1997, through the date of the filing of this Indictment, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR, a/k/a/ "Abu Omar," a/k/a/ "Dr. Ahmed," YASSIR AL-SIRRI, a/k/a "Abu Ammar," LYNNE STEWART, and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, and others known and unknown, within the United States and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly provided and attempted to provide, material support and resources, as that term is defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A(b), to a foreign terrorist organization, to wit, IG.

(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2339B and 2.)

                  This count charges the four defendants not with the conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization (Count One), but with actually providing it. Given the 33 or so overt acts charged in support of the conspiracy count, if any of them are proved they should carry the government’s burden of proving this count.

COUNT THREE

(Solicitation of Crimes of Violence)

The Grand Jury further charges:

                    24. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 14 of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

                    25. From in or about the early 1990s through the date of the filing of this Indictment, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR, a/k/a/ "Abu Omar," a/k/a/ "Dr. Ahmed," and YASSIR AL-SIRRI, a/k/a "Abu Ammar," the defendants, and others known and unknown, with the intent that other persons engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, and threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicited, commanded, induced and otherwise endeavored to persuade such other persons to engage in such conduct, to wit, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR and YASSIR AL-SIRRI solicited, commanded, induced and otherwise endeavored to persuade other persons to engage in violent terrorist operations worldwide to achieve IG’s objectives, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 956, 2332, and 2332b.

(Title 18, United States Code, Section 373.)

                   This count charges only defendants Ahmed and Yassir with soliciting crimes of violence.

COUNT FOUR

(Conspiracy to Defraud the United States)

The Grand Jury further charges:

                     26. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 13, 15 and 16 of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

                           27. From in or about February 1999 through the date of the filing of this Indictment, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, AHMED ABDEL SATTAR, a/k/a/ "Abu Omar," a/k/a "Dr. Ahmed," LYNNE STEWART and MOHAMMED YOUSRY, the defendants, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other to defraud the United States and an agency thereof, to wit, to hamper, hinder, impede, and obstruct by trickery, deceit and dishonest means, the lawful and legitimate functions of the United States Department of Justice and its agency, the Bureau of Prisons, in the administration and enforcement of Special Administrative Measures for inmate Sheikh Abdel Rahman.

OVERT ACTS

                    28. In furtherance of the conspiracy, and to effect the illegal object thereof, the following overt acts, among others, were committed in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere.

a.      The allegations contained in Overt Acts (b) through (n), (r) and (s), in Paragraph 20 of Count One of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

(Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.)

                  This count charges three of the defendants, including Stewart, with conspiring to defraud the government by violating the agreed-on quarantine (called "Special Administrative Measures") of Rahman. Remember, to prove the conspiracy, the government need only prove an agreement and an act in furtherance of that agreement. This count alleges over a dozen overt acts, any one of which is enough for a conviction if the government proves the existence of an agreement.

COUNT FIVE

(False Statements)

The Grand Jury further charges:

                    29. The allegations in Paragraphs 1 through 9, 12 and 16 of this Indictment are realleged and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

                    30. In or about May 2000, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, LYNNE STEWART, the defendant, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of government, to wit, the United States Department of Justice and its agency, the Bureau of Prisons, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly did make materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and did make and use a false writing and document knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, to wit, STEWART submitted an affirmation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York falsely stating, among other things, the following: (1) that STEWART "agree[s] to abide by [the] terms" of the Special Administrative Measures applicable to Sheikh Abdel Rahman; (2) that STEWART "shall only be accompanied by translators for the purpose of communicating with inmate Abdel Rahman concerning legal matters"; and (3) that STEWART shall not "use [her] meetings, correspondence, or phone calls with Abdel Rahman to pass messages between third parties (including, but not limited to, the media) and Abdel Rahman."

(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001 and 2.).

                   Stewart alone is charged in this count of the indictment, which makes it a federal felony to lie to the government. This charge, however, may be problematic for the Justice Department because no matter what she did after her sworn statement, at the time Stewart made the statement it was probably true.

From this indictment, it’s apparent that Lynne Stewart is not the victim of some government vendetta, aimed at silencing her for dissent, or for representing unpopular clients. On the contrary, she is charged, basically, with being a knowing non-lawyer principal and conspirator in a plot to assist international terrorism.

If the main charge again Stewart sounds familiar – material support to terrorists – it’s because of what Taliban John Walker Lindh was charged with. In that case, from the beginning I predicted that after all the bombast, when the smoke and mirrors had come and gone, Lindh would make a plea bargain with the government. So, too, will Lynne Stewart – unless she decides to throw the dice with a Manhattan jury, claiming that she’s just a lawyer wrapped in the Constitution zealously representing a client. That defense will fail, and Stewart will find herself in the same federal prison system that will hold for his entire life her Muslim client.