U.S. Court Overturns Ruling On $156m Payment By Muslim Charities To Family

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A U.S. court on Friday overturned a ruling that ordered Muslim charities to pay $156 million to the family of 17-year-old David Boim who was killed in a 1996 attack in the West Bank.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a leading U.S. Muslim rights group, welcomed the appeal court's decision.

"This landmark ruling is a strong rejection of the recent disturbing trend of political lawsuits against American Muslims who have committed no crime other than providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians," it said in a statement. "CAIR deplores the murder of David Boim and hopes that the actual wrong-doers are brought to justice."

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the groups' role was not fully established and ordered a new trial.

"The Boims will have to demonstrate an adequate causal link between the death of David Boim and the actions" of the groups, the court ruling said, according to reports.

The groups had been charged with taking part in terrorism by aiding or financing Hamas, Agence France-Presse reported.

The defendants include the American Muslim Society and the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the biggest Muslim charity in the United States until it was outlawed after the 9/11 attacks.