Detroit Judge Denies Bail for Terror Suspect

A judge denied bail Thursday for the co-founder of an Islamic charity that is suspected of funneling money to Al Qaeda, saying the defendant is probably “a danger to the security of the United States.”

Even if Rabih Haddad is not a threat, he might flee the country, Immigration Judge Robert Newberry added.

Haddad’s attorney, Ashraf Nubani, said he will appeal.

Haddad has been jailed since Dec. 14 on a visa violation. The Ann Arbor, Mich., resident and Lebanese citizen helped create the Global Relief Foundation, which the U.S. government has accused of providing money to the terrorist organization.

Haddad, 42, and his group have denied any involvement in terrorism, and neither he nor Global Relief has been charged with a terrorism-related crime.

Haddad is seeking political asylum in the United States to avoid deportation for himself and his family. The judge has said he expects to make a ruling on the asylum request within a couple of weeks.

During Haddad’s two-day bail hearing, his attorneys argued that the government failed to show that Haddad is a threat to national security or is connected to Al Qaeda.

Immigration and Naturalization Service attorney Marsha Nettles argued that Haddad might flee, in part because his wife’s family owns homes in other countries.

Also Thursday, the Bush administration urged a federal appeals court to reconsider opening Haddad’s deportation hearings to the public. The government said terrorists might gain information that could threaten U.S. security.