Mariane Pearl Sues "Al-Qaeda" Over Husband's Killing

[Gold9472]

Mariane Pearl sues al Qaeda over husband's killing

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1829247020070718

(Gold9472: Such a Reuter's write-up.)

7/18/2007

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against al Qaeda, other radical groups and Pakistan-based Habib Bank Ltd over the 2002 abduction, torture and murder of her husband.

Mariane Pearl, whose story is told in the recently released movie "A Mighty Heart" starring Angelina Jolie, filed the suit at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, according to her lawyers.

"Plaintiffs seek to hold responsible those terrorists, terrorist organizations and the supporting charitable and banking organizations for the senseless kidnapping, torture and murder of Daniel Pearl," the suit said.

It seeks an unspecified amount of money, whatever the court "deems appropriate", to prevent the defendants from committing similar acts.

Pearl was the South Asia bureau chief of the Journal when he was kidnapped in Karachi in January 2002 while seeking an interview with suspected Islamist militants. After several days in captivity he was beheaded on video.

Among those sued is Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, or Sheikh Omar, who was convicted and sentenced to death in a Pakistani court for his role in the abduction and murder. Three others were jailed for life.

Another defendant is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a suspected high-ranking al Qaeda leader and September 11 mastermind who is in U.S. custody. Mohammed admitted to a U.S. military tribunal that he beheaded Pearl, the U.S. military said.

Habib Bank Limited is one of Pakistan's biggest banks. The lawsuit alleges the bank and its subsidiaries knowingly conducted financial transactions on behalf of charities linked to extremist groups.

"In doing so Habib and its subsidiaries aided, abetted and provided material support in the form of financial services for the terrorist support organizations," the suit said.

Habib Bank could not be immediately reached for comment.

[Gold9472]

Pearl widow sues Pakistani bank over husband's murder

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2103205.ece

Michael Herman and agencies in New York
7/19/2007

The widow of the murdered American journalist Daniel Pearl is suing a Pakistani Government-backed bank alleged of helping channel funds to the terror group, in a bid to uncover more information about her husband’s death.

Mariane Pearl filed the lawsuit, that names more than a dozen alleged al-Qaeda members and Habib Bank, in New York last night.

“I am looking for the truth about what happened to Daniel, for our family, our friends, and the public record," Mrs Pearl said.

"This process allows us to delve deeper into the investigation, and to bring accountability and punishment to those involved with his kidnapping, torture and murder."

The lawsuit accuses Habib Bank, in which the Pakistani Government owns a 49 per cent stake, of knowingly providing bank accounts and other financial services to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Pearl, South East Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped and murdered by suspected al-Qaeda terrorists in 2002. Images of the 38-year old being beheaded were subsequently released and broadcast around the world.

As well as information about her former husband’s last days, Mrs Pearl is seeking unspecified compensation for acts she alleges were meant to "emotionally destroy the Pearl family and terrorise, appal and frighten American citizens".

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - the imprisoned al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 - and the al-Rashid Trust, a banned Islamic charity are also named as defendants in the case.

The lawsuit claims that the trust, which banked with Habib, was a front for Mohammed and al-Qaeda that "abetted and conspired" in Pearl’s murder.

Habib Bank could not be reached for comment this morning although a senior executive at the Karachi-based group told Reuters that Ms Pearl’s accusations were “totally wrong”.

“We have never been involved in supporting any terrorist organisation,” the official added.

Pakistani authorities have already convicted several men in the case. The British-born former public schoolboy, Ahmed Omar Saeed Shaikh, was sentenced to death in July 2002, and his three accomplices were given life prison terms. Their appeals are pending before Pakistan’s High Court.

Mohammed was caught in Pakistan and is now being held at Guantanamo Bay He claimed that he personally beheaded Pearl, according to a partial Pentagon transcript of his testimony at a military tribunal.

Pakistani banned the al-Rashid charity earlier this year as part of an effort to curb terrorist financing. The lawsuit was filed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.