Washington: The United States has indicted a Muslim charity on charges of providing material support to the Palestinian Terrorist Organisation Hamas.

According to the indictment, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), based in Dallas, Texas, was created to provide financial and material support to Hamas.

It is also said that, since 1995, HLF and its members have illegally sent $ 12.4 million to support the outfit and its goal of creating an Islamic Palestinian State by eliminating Israel.

In addition to the charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation, the 42-count indictment also alleged that the defendants engaged in prohibited financial transactions with a specially designated global terrorist, money laundering, conspiracy and filing false tax returns. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $ 12.4 million in Hamas assets.

The indictment, unsealed yesterday (July 27, 2004), names the foundation along with its President, Shukri Abu Baker, chairman, Ghassan Elashi, Executive Director, Haitham Maghawri, and four others.

The indictment alleges that the Holy Land Foundation intentionally cloaked their financial support for Hamas behind the mantle of charity.

The defendants provided financial support to the families of Hamas martyrs, detainees, and activists knowing and intending that such assistance would support their terrorist infrastructure.