The case against the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development comes after its assets were dramatically seized three months after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

President George W. Bush declared the charity a front for Hamas, the militant Islamist group which now controls the Gaza Strip and is designated a terrorist organization by the US government.

But the trial, which opened Monday with jury selection and begins in earnest next week, comes amid rising opposition from the Muslim community which says it is being unfairly targeted.

The charity's leaders -- one of whom has since been convicted on other charges that he had financial dealings with a Hamas leader -- said their organization was simply helping victims of an overseas war.

"Our defense is that our clients never gave any money to Hamas, and that their charitable projects in Palestine were no different than many other charitable organizations," said John Boyd, a Holy Land Foundation attorney.

"They did nothing to support terrorism."

The seizure of Holy Land's assets came after a 14-year investigation which included nearly a decade of wiretapping by government agents and the collection of reams of bank-transaction records.

The charity is not accused of directly financing terrorist activity, although at least two of its former organizers are related to high-ranking Hamas members, including Mussa Abu Marzuk and Khaled Meshaal, both in charge of the group's political bureau in Syria.

Seven of Holy Land's top executives and the organization itself are charged with money laundering, tax evasion and conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Two of the men are on the run.