Gary Fitleberg, October 21, 2003

Libya is a state sponsor of terrorism that does not get the same attention as the "axis of evil" nations Iraq, Iran and North Korea but is nonetheless a spoke in the wheel of terrorism.

A Muslim activist, Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi is accused and has been arrested on charges of having illegal dealings with Libya. He was arrested at Washington Dulles Airport after a flight from London, according to government officials.

Al-Amoudi's home in Falls Church, VA was among those searched in March 2002 by Immigration and Naturalization Services and Customs Department agents as part of a federal probe into the financing of terrorist organization operations such as Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah.

A criminal complaint alleges that al-Amoudi violated U.S. law by accepting, either personally or through the American Muslim Foundation he heads, $10,700 from the Libyan mission to the United Nations and by failing to disclose numerous trips to Libya on his passport. Such actions are illegal under U.S. economic sanctions imposed in 1986 after terrorist bombings tied to Libya in Vienna and Rome.

A federal affidavit filed to support the complaint alleged numerous links between al-Amoudi and Libyan entities. Al-Amoudi contended that he was constantly looking for money for the Islamic advocacy group he heads and that he sought out Libya because it had renounced terrorism formally. The affidavit noted that in August, customs officials in Great Britain found $340,000 in sequentially numbered $100 bills in al-Amoudi's luggage. Al-Amoudi, who was not charged in that incident, told the officials that he received the money from an unknown individual at a London hotel after visiting the government-controlled Libyan Islamic Call Society based in Tripoli. The incident occurred after al-Amoudi had a "series of meetings with White House officials" about gaining access to Libyan assets frozen after the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, according to the affidavit. Al-Amoudi told officials "he felt obliged to 'bridge the gulf' between his adopted country and Libya."

The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and up to $250,00 in fines according to government officials.

Although the United Nations lifted its sanctions against Libya earlier this month, the U.S. sanctions still remain in effect because the government still considers Libya a state sponsor of terrorism.

Al-Amoudi is a founder of the American Muslim Council and the related American Foundation, currently serving as the latter groups President. The organizations have sought to be seen as mainstream Islamic groups, even though charities linked to the groups have had their assets frozen by the government for suspected terrorist ties.

During June 2002, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III prematurely spoke before the American Muslim Council to thank Muslims for helping in the "War on Terrorism" yet al-Amoudi has on several occasions exhibited support of terrorist groups. He spoke quite favorably in support of both Hamas and Hezbollah in their ongoing terrorist activities against Israel. In fact, he urged a October 2000 rally outside the White House to voice support of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Al-Amoudi also is co-founder of the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, which helps the U.S. military select Muslim chaplains for the armed forces, a system that has frequently drawn criticism from the U.S. Congress after the arrest of a Muslim chaplain on suspicion of spying. Captain James Y. Yee is being held without charge at a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C. amid an investigation into possible security breaches at the prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Michael A. Mason, chief of the FBI's Washington field office, said the authorities have developed a significant amount of information about al-Amoudi's activities and that more charges are being considered. Mason stated that he presently knew of no direct connection between al-Amoudi and Yee "at this time" but that the investigation is still underway.

America must key one eye on Libya to win the international "War on Terrorism."

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg