More of this Feature • Statement from Enaam Arnaout

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Elsewhere on the Web • Benevolence Int'l Foundation • Text of Plea Agreement (PDF file, 12 pages)

Date: February 11, 2003

A Syrian-born U.S. citizen, Enaam Arnaout, pleaded guilty Monday to a single racketeering charge, for using charitable funds partially to support fighters in Chechnya and Bosnia.  Arnaout is the head of Benevolence International Foundation (BIF), a Chicago-based Islamic charity that has raised millions of dollars to support humanitarian efforts throughout the world.

In his plea agreement, Arnaout admitted to having spent some of that money on material support of fighters in Bosnia and Chechnya, without the knowledge of the Muslims who generously donated to the organization.  In his statement, he acknowledged illegally giving money to buy boots, uniforms, tents, and an ambulance in those regions.  His lawyers indicated that the amount totaled no more than $300,000 to $400,000 out of $20 million in donations.

There has been much speculation that Arnaout had close relations with the Al-Qaida network, based primarily on photographs of him and Osama bin Laden together in the 1980's.  However, defense lawyers and supporters point out that the photos date back to the 1980's, when bin Laden was engaged (with U.S. government support) in liberating Afghanistan from the Soviet Union.  Arnaout continues to maintain that there are no recent links to bin Laden, nor any at all to Al-Qaida.

BIF offices, and those of other Islamic charities, were raided by federal officials in December 2001.  All assets of the organization were frozen.  The raid prompted an outcry from the American Muslim community, as it occurred at the end of the month of Ramadan, when most Muslims make their annual contributions to charity.  BIF filed a lawsuit against the government; court proceedings against the charity itself are ongoing.

Arnaout has reportedly been assisting the government with their investigations.  In return for his cooperation and plea agreement, all other charges against him have been dropped.  According to his lawyers, Arnaout agreed to plead guilty to the single racketeering charge, rather than face a possibly biased jury as an Arab-American on terrorism-related charges.

No sentencing date has been scheduled.  Arnaout had originally faced a possible 90-year sentence on all charges; he now faces a maximum of 20 years.  Prosecutors may ask for a reduced sentence, depending on his continued cooperation with authorities.

More information and background:

Chicago Tribune coverage (free registration required)

CNN Report

BBC Report

U.S. v. Benevolence International Foundation and Enaam M. Arnaout (PDF file)

Benevolence International Foundation v. John Ashcroft et.al. (PDF file)

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