Politics

Case Dismissed Against South Florida Muslim Cleric Accused of Funneling Money to Pakistani Terrorists

From NBC Miami:

Terrorism charges have been dismissed against a Muslim cleric in a trial where he and his father, both from South Florida, are accused of providing financial support to the Pakistani Taliban terrorist organization.

Izhar Khan, 26, the imam of a mosque in Margate, was expected to be a free man Thursday because U.S. District Judge Robert Scola issued a verdict of acquittal for him, according to The Miami Herald.

The prosecution didn’t provide sufficient evidence of wrongdoing against the younger imam, imam of Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen mosque off Sample Road, the newspaper reported.

“I do not believe in good conscience that I can allow the case to go forward against Izhar Khan,” Scola ruled Thursday.

Father and son have been held at a federal detention center since their 2011 arrests, accused of funneling about $50,000 to the Taliban to target U.S. interests in Pakistan. The Taliban allegedly used the funds for terrorist attacks against the Pakistan government, a U.S. ally.

Scola has denied 77-year-old Hafiz Khan’s request for an acquittal in the trial, saying Thursday that the government’s case against the imam of a Flagler Mosque is overwhelming.

I hope we don’t regret this later. On the other hand, why was he held in a detention center for more than a year without sufficient evidence?