The Islamic Society of North America says its main purpose is to "be an exemplary and unifying Islamic organization in North America that contributes to the betterment of the Muslim community and society at large." It has been around a long time: This weekend, it will hold in Chicago its 44th annual convention. And, so happens, lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice will be working a booth at the convention, where the theme is "Upholding Faith, Serving Humanity."
Only, the feel-good gesture is making a few folks within the Department of Justice than a little unhappy -- since, well, the Islamic Society of North America is named as a co-conspirator in the feds' case against Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. That trial, of course, is ongoing in the federal court house in Dallas. And, reports The Washington Times this morning, "There is outrage among lawyers that the Department of Justice is funding a group named as a co-conspirator in a terrorist financing case," according to an anonymous attorney in the department. The ISNA scares people, only the ISNA hasn't actually been indicted for anything in the local case -- and, in fact, last week the ISNA told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to take 'em off the danged list. Uh-oh. --Robert Wilonsky
