Local Somali men who have returned to their homeland to fight left "voluntarily,??? on their own," without prompting by religious leaders or others,??? a spokesman for a coalition of local hawiye ..roups said Tuesday."They raised their own funds??? and recruited each other,??? " Aman Obsiye, vice president of United Somali Movement, claimed, adding that the young men knew each other through schools or social networking Web sites.
The coalition of eight hawiye groups, Somali Voices, called the Minneapolis news conference, and Obsiye was the only speaker. He spoke from prepared remarks and answered a few questions before leaving abruptly when a reporter claimed — incorrectly — that federal charges against two local men said they'd been recruited at "a house of worship."
Federal agents are investigating reports that up to 20 local Somali men were recruited by al-Shabaab, which the government claims is a "militant Islamic jihadist organization." The men returned to Somalia, and family members and others say at least four of them have died.
Last week, federal prosecutors in Minneapolis unsealed a February indictment that charged two local men in the alleged scheme. Although a motion filed by the lawyer for one of the defendants says the men were recruited at a "house of worship," the statement does not appear in any government documents that have been made public in the case so far.
Some files remain under seal.
One of the men, Abdifatah Yusuf Isse, pleaded ..more..http://www.twincities.com/minneapolis/ci_12888394
Minnesota United States District Court paper.http://tiny.cc/2chvq
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