Mariane Pearl Sues Al Qaeda

Mariane Pearl, the widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against al Qaeda, other radical groups and Pakistan-based Habib Bank Ltd over the 2002 abduction, torture and murder of her husband.

She filed the suit at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, according to Reuters.

"Plaintiffs seek to hold responsible those terrorists, terrorist organizations and the supporting charitable and banking organizations for the senseless kidnapping, torture and murder of Daniel Pearl," the suit said.

Daniel was kidnapped in Pakistan in 2002 while trying to obtain an interview with suspected Islamist militants. After several days in captivity he was beheaded on video.

Mariane -- who was played by Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart, the film adaptation of the ordeal -- was six months pregnant with their first child at the time.

Also named in the lawsuit is Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, or Sheikh Omar, who was convicted and sentenced to death in a Pakistani court for his role in the abduction and murder.

Another defendant is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a suspected high-ranking al Qaeda leader and September 11 mastermind who is currently in U.S. custody. Mohammed admitted to a U.S. military tribunal that he beheaded Pearl.

Habib Bank Limited is one of the largest banks in Pakistan. The lawsuit alleges the bank knowingly conducted financial transactions on behalf of charities linked to extremist groups.

"In doing so Habib and its subsidiaries aided, abetted and provided material support in the form of financial services for the terrorist support organizations," according to the suit.

Mariane seeks an unspecified amount of money, whatever the court "deems appropriate," to prevent the defendants from committing similar acts.

Re: Mariane Pearl Sues Al Qaeda

that was so sad. he was beheaded right after saying "I am a Jew"

Re: Mariane Pearl Sues Al Qaeda

I hope it brings her some peace, although I doubt she will ever get any.....

Re: Mariane Pearl Sues Al Qaeda

Sorry, but I am lost how she can sue a terrorist group. It's a little vague to me.

Re: Mariane Pearl Sues Al Qaeda

That poor woman, can you imagine having to watch that?