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American Morning

Brother of Seattle Man Being Held as Part of Government Terrorism Investigation Speaking Out

Aired August 19, 2002 - 09:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The brother of a Seattle man being held as part of the U.S. government's terrorism investigation is speaking out. James Ujaama was arrested back on July 22 on a material witness warrant. Federal officials cite his connection with a radical London mosque. They say he provided aid to Al Qaeda terrorists. His brother, Mustafa, says he is simply being targeted because he's a Muslim.
Mustafa Ujaama joins us from Seattle this morning.

Thank you very much for being with us, sir.

We mentioned that your brother is being held as a material witness. What kind of information you to think he might have that will be helpful to investigators, particularly when it comes to his relationship with Abu Hamda Amasri (ph).

MUSTAFA UJAAMA, BROTHER HELD BY GOVT.: Good morning, Paula.

For sure, all praises due to Allah who created life and death so we might be challenged to see who'll be the best amongst us.

I don't know what government is seeking from my brother. I think that my brother right now is probably guilty by association. I mean, there is -- Muslim go to the mosques (ph) all over the world, and to hold one Muslim responsible for actions of another is just not fair or rational.

ZAHN: When you say brother might be considered guilty by association, are you referring to fact that ahead of Mosque in London, Abu Hamda (ph), was the same leader who praised the 9/11 attacks.

UJAAMA: What I am saying is that -- and I am not just talking about my brother, but all Muslims, we go to the mosque we pray we leave, and we might know the Emam (ph) or we might not know the Emam (ph), but it seems like if we did know or not, whatever the Emam (ph) was doing, we seem to be attached to that, and that is not always necessarily the case.

ZAHN: But, Mustafa, you know that there are another a number of allegations chasing your brother. Among one of those, your brother helped scout a ranch in Bly, Oregon as a potential spot for a terrorist training camp. What do you know about hat ranch?

UJAAMA: I am familiar with some of the allegations. I know that the "PI" did a story, but they were using the testimony on an account of a person who was mentally retarded that sensationalized some activities. What I know of the ranch to be is a potato farm. I mean, it's really interesting. Did you get a chance to go down there?

ZAHN: No, I haven't, but all I have go on is what the FBI is telling us and what the "Seattle Times" is reporting, and they did a very extensive investigation. Why else would your brother have gone to that ranch?

UJAAMA: Sammy (ph) was there, so, I know we went down there for a feasibility I study for an economy development project for our mosque, to see if it would be feasible to raise lamb and sell them for the Muslim holiday, the Eda Aha (ph).

ZAHN: Will you acknowledge this morning this some of what your brother is involved in might have created a red flag for himself, but particularly allegation that this is his Web site has on it a lot of anti-American rhetoric as it pertains to U.S. Policy. Do you understand how that might have caught the attention of officials?

UJAAMA: I don't think my brother's web site carried any anti- American rhetoric. I think that on my brother's Web site, it was obviously very critical of American foreign policy, or particularly this administration's foreign policy, but that's a fundamental right, isn't it? We have ability to criticize our government, especially when we see that government is not doing right. It is very graphic. It shows the children who are the victims of the bombing in Iraq, the bombing in Afghanistan. It shows the victims. But this is a fundamental right.

I think it's really interesting also and kind of bothering that my brother is receiving national attention along the same segment as the Al Qaeda training manual. It seems to present maybe to the viewers that he has something do with that. This is -- the problem that we're having is that this sensationalism of these kind of events is just hurting our family, and it's not clearly representing what we stand for and what we believe.

ZAHN: So, Mustafa, you are saying, in spite of some of the things that have been divulged in "The Seattle Times" allegation, some of the FBI allegations that you your brother is purely a victim of guilt by association, by associating himself with people like a radical Muslim cleric, who has said very powerfully anti-American stuff along the way?

UJAAMA: Have you ever went to the David Duke Web site? You will find a lot of -- you will more of the -- you call it anti-American rhetoric. It -- my brother is not only one criticizing American U.S. foreign policy. It is really disturbing, because you know, arresting people and detaining citizens and having secret trials and hearings, and this is reminiscent of Nazi, Germany. Where are we going to?

And also scandalizing and slandering people's names and their life work, this is reminiscent of the McCarthy era. Where are we going to? Because my brother is an outstanding, upright American citizen. He has contributed a lot to this country, as you well know. It's circulated through the press, and again, my brother's a hero to me and to many Americans, and the people who I'm talking to, they don't believe that my brother has anything do with any of this.

I am just asking for civil rights and due process. If they have something on my brother, why don't they charge him? They haven't charged him with anything. He is just sitting. They are not paying his mortgage. You understand.

ZAHN: Mustafa, we have to leave it there this morning. We appreciate your side your coming by to share your side of the story as for the allegation of secret hearings and a secret trial. We're continually told that the FBI has been holding your brother as a material witness. We would love to have you come back as there are any changes in story.

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