Daniel Pearl’s Widow Sues Al Qaeda
The widow of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl filed a lawsuit Wednesday against 23 individuals and organizations over the abduction and murder of her husband in 2002.
The lawsuit notably names Al-Qaeda, alleged Al-Qaeda kingpin Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — who claimed responsibility for beheading Pearl and is now in US custody — and Pakistan’s Habib Bank among the defendants.
“I am looking for the truth of what happened to Daniel, for our family, our friends, and the public record,” Mariane Pearl said in a statement.
“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,” she said.
Pearl worked as the South Asia bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal when he was taken hostage in early 2002. A videotape showing his beheading was later distributed on the Internet.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating laws including the Anti-Terrorism Act and Torture Victim Protection Act.
It says they were involved in Pearl’s abduction and killing by providing financial or logistical support in the form of training, shelter, weapons, transportation, food, communications, equipment or financial services.
The complaint names extremist groups Harakat ul-Mujahedeen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Al-Qaeda as being implicated and accuses Islamic charities Al Rashid Trust and Al Akhtar Trust International of financing the defendants through accounts held at Habib Bank.
Among other defendants named in the 49-page complaint are Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, accused of abducting Pearl, and the heirs of Saud Memon, who owned the property where Pearl’s dismembered body was found. Memon died this year.
Another named defendant is Fazal Karim, who, according to the complaint, told Pakistani authorities he beat Pearl after the reporter tried to escape and helped hold Pearl while his throat was cut.
“This action seeks to expose and hold accountable the perpetrators and financiers of Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and death,” Pearl’s lawyer, Michael Elsner, said in the statement.
The lawsuit does not specify the amount of damages being sought.
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Good for her. When she finds out where UBL can be served, she should let our spec ops know…
Maybe she can get their bank accounts seized/frozen…if they haven’t been already, and drive the financial “institutions” that assist these groups into the ground. P.S.: I have nothing but unending sympathy for her, her child and his family.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:39 pmI think we have the creep who did it in custody. The only problem is he is in that resort by the bay known as Guantanamo. Why isn’t the creep in a Paki jail, getting what he deserves?
Good luck. I hope she nails every bank account that these people have, and shutts off the flow of cash. Hit em high and hit em low. Whatever works.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pmshe deserves something, even if her list becomes, say a “deathlist” or “dead pool”
July 18th, 2007 at 9:31 pm