Minn. women face Oct. 3 trial on terror charge

MINNEAPOLIS – Two women from southeast Minnesota accused of sending money to a terror group in Somalia will face trial Oct. 3.

Amina Farah Ali (Ah-MEE'-nah FAR'-ah Ah-LEE') and Hawo Mohamed Hassan (Hah-WOE' Mo-HAM-ed Ha-SAHN') face multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors say the Rochester women collected money in the name of charity but then routed the funds to al-Shabab.

The women say they are innocent.

At a hearing Thursday, Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis set the trial date and took several defense requests under advisement. Among other things, defense attorneys are asking that the women be tried separately. They are also asking that some statements Ali made to authorities be left out of the trial.