Biography
Shukri Abu-Baker was the president of the Holy Land Foundation, the largest Islamic charity in the United States. He spent millions building schools and hospitals in Gaza and Palestine. The Israeli government lobbied for years to have it shut down, and after 9/11, President Bush signed an executive order declaring the group a domestic terrorist organization. The government arrested its employees and argued that by building infrastructure in Palestine with charity money, it negated the need for the elected government of Palestine, which was Hamas, to build their own infrastructure. Thus, they could use the money they would have spent on hospitals instead on terrorism. After a number of mistrials and acquittals, the US government was able to convict 5 members of the board who were given sentences in 2009 that ranged from 15 to 65 years in jail. In 2009, he was sentenced to 65 years in prison.
