Subject:  Daniel Pearl's Widow Sues Terrorists |
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Gina
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Date Posted: 15:01:40 07/18/07 Wed
Daniel Pearl's Widow Sues Terrorists
By TOM HAYS,AP
Posted: 2007-07-18 17:12:05
Filed Under: Law, World
NEW YORK (July 18) - The widow of Daniel Pearl has sued more than a dozen reputed terrorists and Pakistan's largest bank, blaming them for the torture and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter in 2002.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images Mariane Pearl, widow of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, is suing Pakistan's largest bank, Habib Bank, for allegedly financially backing the terrorists who killed her husband.
A complaint filed Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court by Mariane Pearl and her husband's estate alleges Habib Bank Limited of Karachi knowingly provided financial services for al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.
Backed by the bank, terrorists "carried out the kidnapping, ransom, torture, execution and dismemberment of Daniel Pearl and broadcast those images nationwide," the lawsuit said. The suit seeks unspecified damages for acts it alleges were meant to "emotionally destroy the Pearl family and terrorize, appall and frighten American citizens."
Also named as a defendant in the suit is Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the imprisoned al-Qaida No. 3 leader and mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, along with an outlawed Islamic charity, the al-Rashid Trust.
The suit claims the trust, which banked with Habib, was a front for Mohammed and al-Qaeda that "abetted and conspired" in the Pearl slaying. Pakistan banned the charity earlier this year as part of an effort to dry up terrorist financing.
There was no immediate response to a message left with the bank's Manhattan office. Late last year, U.S. regulators announced that the bank had agreed to bolster policies aimed at detecting abuses by terrorist financiers, money launderers and other criminals.
Mariane Pearl, a French citizen, said in a statement that she hoped the suit would compel the defendants to provide more answers about her husband's death.
"I am looking for the truth of what happened to Daniel, for our family, our friends, and the public record," she 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."
Pearl, the South Asia bureau chief for the Journal, was abducted from Karachi while researching a story on Islamic militancy. His remains were later found in a shallow grave in Karachi's eastern outskirts.
During the ordeal, the kidnappers used the victim's cell phone "to call and threaten plaintiff Mariane Pearl, who was in Pakistan searching for Daniel," the suit said. "Realizing she did not speak Urdu, the kidnappers hung up."
Pakistan has convicted several men in the case. British-born Islamic militant 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 the Sindh High Court.
Mohammed was caught in Pakistan and is now being held at the U.S. prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He claimed he personally beheaded Pearl, according to a partial Pentagon transcript of his testimony at a military tribunal.
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See, here is the positive of Brad Producing TMH. The fact that the story has the public's attention makes her law suit hit with more impact.
I don't believe in lawsuits most times. But, I think this is great that she stood up and did that. Make these people know they will be exposed for contributing to terrorists.
I will keep Mariane in my prayers and I think this is a fight she has already won. No matter the outcome.
I believe she will be remembered for her strength. She won't go away and makes a strong statement because she was a victim that survived. Sounds to me like that would be a terrorists worst nightmare. I hope it sends them into hiding, deep within a mountain. If it doesn't, it should. She keeps Daniel spirit alive by being the threat they knew Daniel was. Her story fascinates me, as does she. She manipulates her way into the light no matter who stands in front of her and makes sure she is heard. Bravo to her! I am going to read her book, I want to hear her story from her own point of view before I dare watch the movie.
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