By Mustafa Abdel-Halim, IOL Correspondent

CAIRO , May 11 (IslamOnline.net) – American political activist Abdel-Rahman al-Amoudi's trial was postponed to September after the emergence of a "significant" evidence which might help in his acquittal, his lawyers said.

The U.S. District Court in Alexandria , Virginia , delayed the trial "upon a joint application after the appearance of this significant evidence," Stanley Cohen told IslamOnline.net over phone from the States.

Cohen declined to give details about the nature of the fresh evidence, citing legal reasons, only saying it would help the release of his client "on the long-run".

Amoudi was detained in September for making unauthorized trips to Libya and violating the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, which had prohibited U.S. citizens from visiting the country without special approval.

The Muslim activist was also charged with further breaching the act by receiving money from Libya allegedly to help end the American sanctions on the country.

Involved

Ashraf Nubani, another member of Amoudi's defense team, did not expect the recent thaw in relations between Washington and Tripoli to help free his client who is facing 15 years in jail if convicted.

"This could help if Libya was lifted from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, as Amoudi was charged of involvement in terrorist activities after his trip to the Arab country," he clarified.

U.S. President George Bush recently eased the 18-year U.S. economic sanctions on Libya , but the country is still on Washington 's list of terrorism-sponsoring countries.

Nubani cited reports that the Libyan government appealed for Amoudi's release after questioning claims behind his trip to the country.

"This is a politically-motivated case. Libya is of course involved in the case," he averred.

Amoudi has been a visible player on the Washington political scene and has been received at the White House more than once.

He has also lavishly contributed to various politicians during the 2000 election campaign.

Amoudi's views – including these in support of Hamas and Hezbollah - created quite a stir in the country during the 2000 election campaign when Bush and Senator Hillary Clinton were forced to return his donations to escape controversy.

Hamas and Hezbollah, although widely hailed by Arabs and Muslims as resistance groups fighting against Israel 's long-standing occupation, are blacklisted by the U.S. as "terrorist organizations".

Optimistic

Asked what his client feels after one-year in detention and after his appeal for release on bail was turned down, Nubani said Amoudi remains "strong, determinant and hopeful."

"Amoudi feels he's been targeted by the government because of his activities on the scene of politics and to the service of the Muslim community," said his lawyer, who hails from a Palestinian origin.

Amoudi had earlier dismissed the charges leveled against him as "politically motivated ".

Nubani believed the federal authorities did not release all documents "that could prove Amoudi's innocence".

"We don’t believe we had received all of the information or evidence against Amoudi".

After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. Congress approved a number of acts that allow detentions without charges and withholding evidence from the defendant or his lawyers.

Shockwaves

The detention of Amoudi - an American citizen of Yemeni origin – had sent shockwaves among U.S. Muslims, given his role in funding some of the Muslim American groups and serving on their boards.

He had earlier worked as a representative of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and a vice director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

"This is part of a general case of targeting Muslim activists  in the United States using alleged secret evidence," Khaled Toorani, a Muslim American activist had said.