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  1. #1

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    Prosecutors: Afghan girl enslaved in Seattle area

    By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Gene Johnson, Associated
    Press Writer – Fri Oct 17, 4:01 am ETSEATTLE –

    Five Seattle-area immigrants from Afghanistan enslaved a teenage girl they brought to the U.S., with some forcing her to do chores and one — her 37-year-old husband — beating and sexually assaulting her, according to a federal indictment unsealed this week.

    The girl is from an impoverished single-parent home in Afghanistan, and she was informally adopted by another family there that forced her to marry at age 13 in 2005, Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, said Thursday. The girl's husband is Mohammad Atahee, a friend of the adoptive family; U.S. officials don't recognize the marriage.

    Atahee and three of the family's members were already living in the south Seattle suburbs when the girl's adoptive mother, Nasima Yousuf, 70, brought her to the United States in 2006, as part of what prosecutors say was a plot to enslave her. Yousuf's husband, Mohammad, 84, had filed an immigration petition to bring the girl to the U.S., claiming his wife was her biological mother.

    Once in the country, the indictment said, the girl, identified only as JV1, was forced to live with Atahee, who beat her and sexually assaulted her. She was forced to spend at least three days a week at the Auburn home of Maruf Yousufi, 42, and his wife, Nahid, 29 — caring for their children, doing laundry, cooking and cleaning. Maruf Yousufi is Mohammad Yousuf's son.

    The girl escaped after some good Samaritans helped her report Atahee to the police in January 2008 for sexual assault, prosecutors said. Since then, she's been at a safe house, but they won't say where.

    She also called police in August 2006 to report her case, but Nahid Yousufi threatened her and persuaded her to recant the allegations, the indictment said.

    All five defendants are charged in U.S. District Court with one count of conspiracy to engage in forced labor, and the Yousufs also face a visa fraud charge for allegedly lying on immigration applications.

    Atahee and Mohammad Yousuf pleaded not guilty, while the others did not enter pleas during their initial court appearances Wednesday. Atahee and the Yousufis were detained pending further hearings, while the Yousufs were released pending trial, set for Dec. 23.

    Several of their lawyers did not return calls Thursday or said they could not comment. Ralph Hurvitz, who represents Mohammad Yousuf, said he didn't know anything about the case beyond what the indictment said, and that his client doesn't speak English.

    All the defendants have legal status in the U.S., Langlie said. The girl, however, does not, because of the Yousufs' alleged lies on immigration applications. She could stay in the country by obtaining a visa for victims of human trafficking.
    "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country"-John F. Kennedy


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    I.C.E. News Release

    I.C.E. News Release

    October 16, 2008

    Five indicted in connection with enslavement of young woman
    Afghani girl was living in South King County

    SEATTLE - Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested five South King County residents Wednesday morning after they were indicted on federal charges for conspiring to force a young Afghani girl to work as their domestic servant.

    Those charged with conspiracy to engage in forced labor include Federal Way, Wash., residents Mohammad Yousef, 84; Nasima Yousuf, 70; Mohammad Atahee, 37; and Nahid Yousufi, 29. Maruf Yousufi, 42, of Auburn, Wash., was also charged. Mohammad Yousef and Hasima Yousuf were also charged with lying on immigration applications to bring the young woman to the United States, falsely claiming she was Nasima Yousuf's daughter.

    According to the indictment, the defendants arranged a marriage between Atahee and the young woman in Afghanistan when she was 13 years old. After arriving in the United States in 2006, the juvenile was forced to live with Atahee where she handled all household tasks against her will.

    The young woman reported to Nahid Yousufi that she had been assaulted by Atahee, but she was directed to recant her story. She later was forced to cook, clean and provide childcare to Nahid Yousufi and Maruf Yousufi. In addition, she was not allowed to attend school for a period of time.

    The court documents further allege that in January 2008, the young woman was sexually assaulted by Atahee. With the assistance of members of the community, the sexual assault was reported to the police and she was taken from Atahee's home and moved to a safe location.

    "The enslavement of children is one of the vilest forms of exploitation playing out in our community and throughout the world," said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE's office of investigations in Seattle. "It is a sad reflection on human greed and heartlessness that adults think they can take advantage of a helpless child - particularly one from their home country. ICE is committed to working aggressively to stop these types of crimes and protect the innocent victims."

    All five defendants made initial appearances in federal court Wednesday. The trial is set for December 23. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, the defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Convictions for visa fraud carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

    ICE was joined in this investigation by the Seattle Police Department.

    -- ICE --

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

    Last Modified: Friday, October 17, 2008
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0810/081016seattle.htm
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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