Jury acquits man of charges he used Net to promote terrorism

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Fowarded from: Marjorie Simmons <lawyer () stealthaccess net>

Saudi graduate student Sami Omar Al-Hussayen was acquitted Thursday of
charges that he used his computer skills to help terrorists raise
money and recruit followers.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=13511

Jury acquits man of charges he used Net to promote terrorism
Associated Press
06.11.04

BOISE, Idaho - In a case that pitted the Constitution against the
Patriot Act, a Saudi graduate student was acquitted of charges he used
his computer expertise to help Muslim terrorists raise money and
recruit followers.

A jury deliberated nearly seven days before handing down its verdict
yesterday in favor of Sami Omar Al-Hussayen, a 34-year-old Ph.D.  
candidate in computer science at the University of Idaho.

"The message is that the First Amendment is important and meaningful
in this country," said David Nevin, lead attorney for Al-Hussayen.
"The system worked."

The case against Al-Hussayen was seen as an important test of a
provision of the Patriot Act that makes it a crime to provide expert
advice or assistance to terrorists. The act, passed in response to the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, also expanded the government's
surveillance and detention powers.

 . . . . 

and http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2004_06.php#001601 "Being a
Webmaster for Controversial Islamic Websites Not a Crime"
June 10, 2004



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