DATE=9/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238305
TITLE= CHICAGO / HAMAS (L-O)
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN (THE MIDWEST U-S CITY OF) CHICAGO 
ARE INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN SEVERAL SUBURBAN HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS AND THE ISLAMIC MILITANT GROUP HAMAS.  CORRESPONDENT
MICHAEL LELAND REPORTS OFFICIALS SAY THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE A PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE IN THEIR NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION OF FUNDING FOR 
MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST GROUPS.

TEXT:  FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY FOUR SUBURBAN CHICAGO RESIDENTIAL 
DEVELOPMENTS ARE OWNED OR FINANCED BY TWO NON-PROFIT ISLAMIC 
ORGANIZATIONS, AND OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER MONEY 
GENERATED BY THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES MADE ITS WAY TO HAMAS TO 
BUY WEAPONS.

A STORY IN TUESDAY'S EDITION OF "THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SAYS THE 
INVESTIGATION INITIALLY FOCUSED ON THE CHICAGO-BASED "QURANIC 
LITERACY INSTITUTE", WHICH TRANSLATES THE KORAN INTO ENGLISH.  
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALLEGE MONEY GENERATED BY RESIDENTIAL 
PROPERTIES THE INSTITUTE OWNED, UNTIL 1994, WAS USED IN 1992 TO 
BUY GUNS FOR A TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE ISRAELI CITY OF HEBRON.

IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THE U-S GOVERNMENT SEIZED ONE-POINT-FOUR 
MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH FROM INSTITUTE VOLUNTEER MOHAMMED SALAH, 
SAYING HE USED THE QURANIC INSTITUTE AS A COVER TO SEND MONEY TO 
HAMAS.  MR. SALAH DENIES ANY SUCH INVOLVEMENT. 

THE PAPER SAYS THE INVESTIGATION NOW INCLUDES THREE SUBURBAN 
CHICAGO DEVELOPMENTS FINANCED BY AN ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION IN THE 
NEIGHBORING STATE OF INDIANA.  "THE NORTH AMERICAN ISLAMIC TRUST"
WAS FOUNDED IN 1973 TO BUILD MOSQUES AND SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED 
STATES, BUT IT ALSO HAS FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN THREE RESIDENTIAL 
DEVELOPMENTS BUILT NEAR CHICAGO BETWEEN 1988 AND 1990.

THOSE THREE PROJECTS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THEY, ALONG 
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE QURANIC INSTITUTE, 
WERE ALL BUILT BY CHICAGO SURGEON AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER TAMER
AL-RAFAI.  THEY WANT TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY MONEY FROM THOSE 
DEVELOPMENTS MADE ITS WAY INTO THE HANDS OF MIDDLE EASTERN 
TERRORISTS.

THE INVESTIGATION HAS INFURIATED CHICAGO-AREA MUSLIMS, WHO SAY IT
IS AIMED AT TARNISHING THEM AND THE QURANIC LITERACY INSTITUTE.  
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ASKED THE INSTITUTE TO RESPOND TO ALLEGATIONS
OF FINANCING TERRORISM BY SEPTEMBER 18TH.   (SIGNED)

NEB/MJL/RAE 

08-Sep-98 3:00 PM EDT (1900 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.