Somali grocers get $100,000 for damage in federal raid

By Doug Merlino
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Abdinasir Ali Nur, owner of the Maka Mini-Mart, will receive $75,000, and Abdinasir Khalif Farah, owner of the Amana Gift Shop, will get $25,000.

Both men's shops, located at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Brandon Street, were raided by federal authorities in November 2001 as part of an operation targeting a money-transfer business in the same building.

"These Somali businessmen were among the earliest innocent victims of overzealous actions in the government's war on terrorism. It is only fair that the government is providing some restitution for the unnecessary harm done to their livelihoods," ACLU Executive Director Kathleen Taylor said in a statement.

According to the ACLU, the seizure of the men's property was unconstitutional and not a valid exercise of authority under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.

Nur and Farah said the compensation was a matter of fairness. "Our stores were closed, our goods were spoiled, and our reputations were damaged," the men said in a statement. "Receiving compensation cannot make up for this, but we do feel that some justice has been done."

After the raid, the contents of both stores were taken to a warehouse in Auburn. The Treasury Department also took $40,500 in cash, checks and other money.

The property was later returned, but not before significant damage had been done. While Nur's market remains open, Farah later had to close his gift shop.

In December 2001, the ACLU filed a claim on behalf of the men, seeking $322,500 in compensation for spoiled merchandise, damaged equipment and lost business.

The Justice Department mediated the claim, said ACLU spokesman Doug Honig. While the Justice Department was "fairly cooperative," such negotiations take time, said Honig. The settlement included no admission of liability or apology by the government.

Treasury Department spokesmen yesterday declined to comment on the matter and referred calls to the Justice Department. Officials with U.S. Attorney John McKay in Seattle were not familiar with the case. A Justice Department spokesman in Washington, D.C., could not comment, either.
 
The Treasury Department had originally targeted Barakat Wire Transfer, a money-transfer business operating in the same building as the two other stores. The government suspected that people overseas were skimming money from wire transfers to use for illegal activities.

Barakat Wire was one of 62 businesses and individuals in nine countries and five states whose assets were frozen because the Bush administration suspected they had ties to al-Qaida.

In the end, no charges were filed against Barakat Wire Transfer's operators.

Reporting by The Associated Press was used in this article.

Doug Merlino: 206-464-2243 or dmerlino@seattletimes.com