Colorado & Denver News

by Rick Sallinger
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) ― A Saudi man living in Aurora has been under investigation for possible links to terrorism, according to his attorneys.

Homaidan Al-Turki was already facing state and federal charges for enslaving and sexually assaulting an Indonesian maid.

Al-Turki, 37, is a graduate student at the University of Colorado, studying linguistics. He's been in the United States since 1995. That's when his lawyers said the investigation started.

Al-Turki recently talked with CBS4 at a local mosque. He was free on bond paid by the government of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Turki was at the mosque, attending a Ramadan dinner hosted by Denver's Sunni Muslim community.

"Just having the favor between my brothers and sisters, my Muslim brothers and sisters here is by itself something that has a good impact on myself, especially after all of this trouble I have gone through," Al-Turki said.

Federal Court documents filed by Al-Turki's attorneys detail the investigation against him. The documents claim the Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force has had Al-Turki under a "full fledge investigation" suspecting "he is closely aligned to terrorists and may be providing material support to terrorism."

Al-Turki's lawyers said the government has been looking into the proceeds from Al-Turki's Albasheer Islamic bookstore in Aurora.

"This is very sad, but we Muslims basically after 9-11, have been profiled," Al-Turki said. "And everything that is happening to us or every single Muslim in the community basically because we are guilty, no matter what."

Al-Turki's attorneys want to know more about an incident in Illinois last April.

Al-Turki was stopped by state police there on Interstate 80 near LaSalle. A message on the national crime information computer warned the officers "terrorist organization member-caution, do not alert this individual to this notice.

Al-Turki was only given a warning for having an "obstructed view." His lawyers claim school documents in his car were copied and a 38-page fax was sent by the Illinois State Police to the FBI in Denver.

"Do you think this is happening to you because of your religion," CBS4 asked.

"I am Saudi, I am a Muslim, and I think that's an attraction to law enforcement by itself," Al-Turki responded.

Al-Turki's attorneys said it was while under investigation for possible links to terrorism, he and his wife, Sahah Khonaizan, were arrested by state and federal authorities in June.

They were accused of virtually enslaving their Indonesian maid who authorities claimed lived on a mattress in the basement of their Aurora home. Authorities accuse Al-Turki of using the maid for sex.

Al-Turki told CBS4 he's innocent.

"There's no doubt about it," Al-Turki said.

Al-Turki's defense, in part, will be that Muslim religious and cultural norms are alien to most Westerners. Court documents filed by his lawyers add "there are Saudi Arabian customs regarding a host family's retention of funds for their domestic servant until she leaves their service."

"How have members of your community reacted to these charges against you," CBS4 asked.

"Everybody knows me and they know who I am and they know my character and they know everything about me and I am a leader in the community so everybody knows me," Al-Turki answered.

Al-Turki wants to know what federal authorities know about him. His lawyers said he "adamantly and vehemently denies any links to terrorism." They add he looks forward to being vindicated of the charges against him in court.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the terrorism investigation has nothing to do with the current charges regarding his maid.

Prosecutors said Al-Turki is not being investigated because of his religion. They also point out that the alleged victim in the first case, the maid, is Muslim as well.

Al-Turki's attorneys are asking for a change of venue in the federal case.

They said he was subjected to double publicity because there are charges in Arapahoe County District Court as well.

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