Thursday, April 22, 2004
CORRECTION
Al-Qaida funding story wrongly implicated Saudi
WND apologizes to Sheikh Khalid bin Mahfouz for erroneous allegations
Posted: April 22, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
On Jan. 12, 2004, WorldNetDaily.com published an article titled "Saudi funds still flow to al-Qaida" in which it was wrongly alleged that Sheik Khalid bin Mahfouz was a supporter and funder of terrorism and was the brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden. Further, it was wrongly alleged that the Saudi authorities replaced Sheik Khalid bin Mahfouz as chairman of the National Commercial Bank after an audit of the bank revealed that several millions of dollars had been diverted to terrorist organisations. It was also wrongly alleged that Sheik Khalid bin Mahfouz was named on a document listing wealthy Saudi sponsors of al-Qaida.
Based on further investigation, WorldNetDaily.com accepts there is no truth whatsoever to any of these very serious allegations. Sheik Khalid and his family have denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. WorldNetDaily apologizes to Sheik Khalid for the distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of these allegations and the article has been removed from this website.
Sheik Khalid has donated the damages he received from the successful defamation actions he brought against The Mail on Sunday newspaper and Michael Griffin/Pluto Books in relation to similar allegations to the charity UNICEF.