Sunday, October 02, 2011
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Two women accused of funneling money to a terrorist group in Somalia are the first to go on trial in Minnesota's years-long federal investigation into the recruiting and financing of al-Shabab.
The trial begins Monday in Minneapolis for 35-year-old Amina Farah Ali and 64-year-old Hawo Mohamed Hassan.
Prosecutors say the women were part of a "deadly pipeline" routing money and young men from the U.S. to fight in war-torn Somalia with al-Shabab, which the U.S. considers a terror group with ties to al-Qaida.
Investigators say the women went door-to-door and held teleconferences to solicit donations. They say Ali told potential donors to ignore charities and join "the jihad."
The women maintain their innocence. U.S. citizens of Somali descent, they say they were collecting money and clothing for refugees.