Trial to Begin for Pair Accused of Fundraising for Al-Shabab

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Two women accused of raising money for the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab are scheduled to go on trial.

Thirty-six-year-old Muna Osman Jama of Reston and 46-year-old Hinda Osman Dhirane of Kent, Washington, were arrested and charged back in 2014 with providing material support to terrorists by funneling small amounts of money to al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate.

Prosecutors say the women used coded communications to hide their intent, referring to al-Shabab as "the family" and truckloads of supplies as "camels."

The bench trial in federal court in Alexandria is expected to take up to two weeks.

Defense lawyers say the women are Somali expats who were sending money back home for innocuous purposes. Court records indicate the amount of money in question is less than $5,000