------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 9, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BUFFALO,NY: YEMENIS ARRESTED IN ANTI-ARAB WITCHHUNT By Bev Hiestand Buffalo, N.Y. Federal authorities on Dec. 18 arrested three prominent members of the Yemeni-American community in Lackawanna, N.Y. These arrests are part of a continuing attack on this community by the Joint Terrorism Task Force of Western New York. Mohamed T. Albanna, his brother, Ali A. Albanna, and his nephew, Ali Taher Elbaneh, are accused of illegally sending nearly $500,000 to Yemen between October and December. The media is trying to link this case with the arrest of six Lackawanna men in September who were accused of being part of an al Qaeda "sleeper cell." According to the government, the six acknowledge that they attended camps in Afghanistan that the U.S. calls "al Qaeda training camps." But the defendants say it was only for religious schooling. They say they were unaware that the camps' purpose was to train participants for "terrorist activities," that they are not a sleeper cell, and have never participated in or planned any terrorist actions. (Buffalo News, Dec. 16). Agents from the Customs Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration claim to have been investigating a "money trail" to Yemen that may be linked to funding terrorism. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Battle has stated, however, that none of the money allegedly sent to Yemen by the three people just arrested was used to fund terrorism. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch has admitted it is not illegal to send money abroad, and that the three men are accused only of failing to follow government regulations requiring special licensing. (Buffalo News, Dec. 18) Nevertheless, the arrests have prompted scare headlines and an atmosphere of intimidation in this area. 'MAN OF THE PEOPLE' CHARGED Mohamed Albanna is vice president of the American Muslim Council of Western New York and has been a prominent spokesperson supporting the rights of the "Lackawanna Six." As a wholesale food broker, he provides goods to about 120 mostly Arab- owned delicatessens in Buffalo, Lackawanna and surrounding areas. He has been described as a "man of the people" for his untiring work in his community. Albanna is a leader in the Muslim and Yemeni communities and a community activist who has spoken at countless School Board and City Council meetings. A bridge builder between cultures, Albanna is highly regarded for his willingness to speak out on behalf of children and the needs of area residents. He has pleaded for better education, better city governance and a higher quality of living. He has worked to break down the barrier of silence surrounding Arab immigrants who have made a home in the First Ward of Buffalo, an area surrounding the now mostly closed Bethlehem Steel complex. "He's just sending money to his family; that is all," said Ali Selh, a resident of Albanna's Lackawanna neighborhood for 48 years. Friends and community members have complained that the government has targeted the three for the very common practice of sending money back home, a century- old tradition called "hawala." American Muslim Council President Khalid J. Qazi says that "recent immigrants and first-generation Americans throughout history have sent money back to the home country. This is not unique to Yemen." (Buffalo News, Dec. 18) U.S. regulations make it very difficult for families in the U.S. who come from poor countries to transfer money home legally, as there are often no banks near where their families live. Neighbors have complained about the way police and agency officials swarmed through the defendants' homes and neighborhoods, calling it propaganda to make the U.S. government look good. Many were enraged at the manner in which the raids took place, endangering children on their way to school. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
