3 witnesses supply mixed impressions
Witnesses in the Sami Al-Arian trial offer information that may be useful to both sides.
By MEG LAUGHLIN
Published June 14, 2005
TAMPA - Three witnesses called by prosecutors Monday in the federal trial of Sami Al-Arian appeared to bolster the defense as much as the prosecution.
Former FBI agent Manny Perez testified that he decided in 1992 that Al-Arian was an "active member" of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but hoped to develop him as an FBI source.
A University of South Florida official testified that World & Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), accused of being a front for terrorist fundraising, was instead an "academically worthwhile" think tank that fulfilled its intended purpose at USF.
And a former WISE secretary testified that Al-Arian seldom had anything to do with WISE. The secretary also said that former WISE member Ramadan Shallah, who left and became leader of the PIJ, was extremely secretive while at WISE and was an enemy of Al-Arian's brother-in-law, Mazen Al Najjar.
Monday's testimony marked the beginning of the second week in the trial of Al-Arian, accused by the government of heading a cell of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad that operated out of Tampa.
Prosecutors say Al-Arian and three other defendants led double lives while financially backing suicide bombers in Israel.
In testimony Monday morning, retired FBI agent Perez testified that after several meetings he decided in 1992 that Al-Arian was an active member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
He and Al-Arian met in law offices, USF offices and at the Olive Garden restaurant to talk about Al-Arian's role in what was happening in the occupied territories in Israel.
At their first meeting on Jan. 15, 1991, Perez said Al-Arian told him that he was opposed to terrorism and did not see it as a solution to Middle East problems. Six months later, Perez said Al-Arian told him he was not a member of the PIJ.
Perez said Al-Arian told him about a month later that he was anti-Zionist but not anti-Jewish. Perez said he thought Al-Arian meant by anti-Zionist that "he was opposed to the establishment of a Jewish presence" in the Gaza Strip.
Perez said he told Al-Arian he had reason to believe Al-Arian was raising money for the PIJ.
Al-Arian denied this, Perez said, insisting that his fundraising was "humanitarian" - to raise $35 a month for children of fathers in the occupied territories who were dead or incapacitated.
Perez said, nevertheless, he believed Al-Arian was involved with the PIJ.
He also said he decided to "develop Al-Arian as an FBI asset" in the following months, after Al-Arian gave Perez a book and brochure, which Perez said talked about the occupied territories from the Arab perspective.
In May 1992, Perez said Al-Arian talked about the WISE seminars at USF. Perez said he concluded "that WISE was more or less educational."
A few days later, Al-Arian called Perez and asked him whether he was being investigated. Perez said he was not, and Al-Arian asked him not to contact him again.
In testimony Monday afternoon, Mark Orr, USF's director of the International Affairs Center in the early '90s, testified about WISE, which was founded by Al-Arian.
He said that six WISE events seemed academically worthwhile and in keeping with "the very purpose WISE was to fulfill."
Orr said "the round tables stimulated debate ... never favored or encouraged any kind of terrorism ... and encouraged scholarly publication."
When Ramadan Shallah left USF and became the PIJ leader in November 1995, Orr said he felt "very shocked and ... betrayed."
WISE secretary Nahas Sahar Ramahi also testified Monday.
A prosecutor asked her what Sami Al-Arian did at WISE between 1992 and 1995.
"I never saw him working there," she said.