Oregon Public Broadcasting

A former Islamic charity once based in Oregon is challenging the federal government's decision to designate the group as a terrorist organization.  Colin Fogarty reports.

The Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation is already suing the Bush administration over its warrantless wiretapping program.  The group says it inadvertently received a classified document showing its members were wiretapped.

In 2004, the Department of Treasury designated Al Haramain as a terrorist organization with ties to Osama Bin Laden, and seized its assets.

Now, the group's attorney, Tom Nelson, has filed a federal lawsuit in Portland challenging that decision.  He says it's just not true his group has ties to terrorists.

Tom Nelson:  "The real question we have to face here is is it appropriate for some administrative official to go around driving a charity, particularly a religious charity, out of business with no review whatsoever."

The U.S. Department of Treasury declined to comment on the lawsuit.  The previous challenge to the surveillance program is currently before a federal appeals court in San Francisco.  Oral arguments are scheduled for next week.