Mariane Pearl, widow of Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl is suing a Pakistani bank charged with financing Al Qaeda. Thing is, the lawsuit has been filed in New York where the bank has a branch.
Habib Bank Limited, which has a branch on 42nd Street in Manhattan, is accused in the complaint of aiding and abetting terrorism by handling financial transactions of the Al Rashid Trust and Al Akhtar Trust, two entities linked to either al-Qaida or the Taliban. The suit contends that the bank knew the trusts, which are also named as defendants, and others acted on behalf of terrorism.
The widow of the murdered American journalist Daniel Pearl is suing a Pakistani Government-backed bank alleged of helping channel funds to the terror group, in a bid to uncover more information about her husband’s death. Mariane Pearl filed the lawsuit, that names more than a dozen alleged al-Qaeda members and Habib Bank, in New York last night. "I am looking for the truth about what happened to Daniel, for our family, our friends, and the public record," Mrs Pearl said.
The lawsuit accuses Habib Bank, in which the Pakistani Government owns a 49 per cent stake, of knowingly providing bank accounts and other financial services to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - the imprisoned al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 - and the al-Rashid Trust, a banned Islamic charity are also named as defendants in the case. TimesOnline UK
How is it that one woman has done so much to defeat terrorism without bloodshed? Good police work.
Invoking provisions of federal laws that allow lawsuits for victims of torture and terror activities, as well as international laws condemning hostage taking, the Pearl lawsuit accuses 23 defendants of complicity in the journalist's brutal slaying.
Habib Bank Limited, which has a branch on 42nd Street in Manhattan, is accused in the complaint of aiding and abetting terrorism by handling financial transactions of the Al Rashid Trust and Al Akhtar Trust, two entities linked to either al-Qaida or the Taliban. The suit contends that the bank knew the trusts, which are also named as defendants, and others acted on behalf of terrorism.
Michael Elsner, an attorney in South Carolina who is representing Mariane Pearl, said the Brooklyn federal court was chosen as a forum for the lawsuit because the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl's employer, has offices in Manhattan, even though that's in a different federal court district. "Daniel Pearl was a U.S. national so his spouse and minor child can bring an action," said Elsner.
Though Pearl's killing occurred over five years ago, Elsner said the lawsuit was still timely because the federal Torture Victim Protection Act, one of the laws invoked in the case, has a 10-year statute of limitations. Customary international law and federal anti-terrorism statutes also allow the case to go forward, said Elsner.
Newsday
(KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - A Pakistani bank sued by the widow of an American reporter murdered by Islamic militants denied any responsibility Thursday for the 2002 killing.)
The real story of Mariane Pearl's hunt for the killers of her husband goes far beyond what is portrayed in the recent film "A Mighty Heart." Mariane's book about Daniel Pearl, on which the film was (loosely) based is "A Mighty Heart".
For Daniel Pearl’s father the film "A Mighty Heart" fails in many ways to portray the reality of the Daniel Pearl story, in that it draws a moral equivalence between the terrorists and their victims: Moral relativism and A Mighty Heart
To support the Daniel Pearl Foundation: Support
The Daniel Pearl Foundation has been formed by Danny's family and friends to continue Danny's mission and to address the root causes of this tragedy, in the spirit, style, and principles that shaped Danny's work and character. These principles include uncompromised objectivity and integrity; insightful and unconventional perspective; tolerance and respect for people of all cultures; unshaken belief in the effectiveness of education and communication; and the love of music, humor, and friendship.