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New York Times - February 20, 2004 Islamic charity is under investigation ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) -- While a Saudi charity with an office here is under investigation for allegedly funneling money to international terrorists, neighbors who know its founder say the man is a peace-loving patriot who became a U.S. citizen and community activist before moving to Dubai a year ago. FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents searched the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation Inc. office this week, seizing financial records, other documents and computers, officials said Thursday. No criminal charges have been filed against the organization or its founder, Pirouz Sedaghaty, also known as Perouz Seda Ghaty or Pete Seda. His lawyer, Larry Matasar, said federal officials told him the investigation is tax-related, and not of a criminal nature. In a statement released by Matasar, Seda said: ``I am a man of peace, and have consistently and actively opposed terrorism. I am certain that once all the facts come out, it will be clear that neither Al Haramain Oregon nor I have engaged in any criminal activities.'' But the 47-page search warrant, served Wednesday, and supporting IRS affidavit allege that Seda, listed as secretary of the foundation, and Soliman H.S. Al-Buthe, the treasurer, attempted to conceal the transfer of $130,000 in American Express traveler's checks and a $21,000 cashier's check intended for aid to Muslims in Chechnya in mid-March of 2000. The IRS affidavit also says Seda, who moved to Dubai about a year ago to study Islam, tried to mislead the IRS about where the money went. Residents who knew Seda, who came to Ashland from Iran in the 1970s, said they found it impossible to believe he would be involved in anything sinister: A regular fixture in town, Seda appeared in the Fourth of July Parade with his pet camel, taught schoolchildren about Islam and used the arborist business he built to relocate trees caught in the path of development, free of charge. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Terror-Financing.html |