Posted on 07/13/2005 9:26:52 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A prominent U.S.-based Islamic scholar who exhorted his followers after the Sept. 11 attacks to join the Taliban and fight U.S. troops was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.
Ali al-Timimi of Fairfax was convicted in April of soliciting others to levy war against the United States, inducing others to aid the Taliban, and inducing others to use firearms in violation of federal law. The cleric addressed the court for 10 minutes before his sentencing.
"I will not admit guilt nor seek the court's mercy. I do this simply because I am innocent," al-Timimi said.
Prosecutors said the defendant, a native U.S. citizen who has an international following in some Muslim circles, wielded enormous influence among a group of young Muslim men in northern Virginia who played paintball games in 2000 and 2001. Authorities said they were a "Virginia jihad network" training for holy war around the globe.
Nine members of the group have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy, with prison terms ranging from three years to life.
Al-Timimi's lawyers argued that their client merely suggested that Muslims may want to leave the United States after Sept. 11 because of the potential for a backlash against them.
But he was accused of telling a group of young Muslim men just days after the attack that an apocalyptic battle between Muslims and nonbelievers was at hand and that Muslims were obligated to engage in holy war. He told the group that defense of the Taliban was a requirement and that U.S. troops were a legitimate target, according to court testimony.
Several of the men who heard Al-Timimi's speech traveled days later to Pakistan and began training with a militant Islamic group called Lashkar-e-Taiba, officials said. Some testified that their goal was to obtain training that would allow them to fight alongside the Taliban, though none actually made it to Afghanistan.
Good news bump. Will the British follow this fine example?
I believe this guy was convicted by the Federal government, rather than the Old Dominion.
One of his Jihadis in training (who is, strangely, Korean) got off really light, 3 years I believe. But he co-operated with the Feds.
Not likely. In the Federal system, a life sentence is a life sentence.
A life sentence means he'll die, some day in the distant future, in a gray room with a number stencilled on his shirt.
...but I said nothing, for I was not a raving nutjob.
;)
I believe he's a guest of the Feds. Who also don't have parole, so the point stands anyway ;)
Huzzah! I've been made cynical by all those 'life' sentences that don't mean life.
Indeed. But in the federal system, "life" means "life", and nothing less, barring a presidential pardon, which seems unlikely.
My sentiments exactly.
OMGOSH! I'm glad we fired his relatives.
These immigrants come over here with more knowledge about our Constitution and laws than we, ourselves, know. And they use them to their advantage! After we terminated these people, they threatened to sue. Fortunately, we had sufficient proof, to have any case they may have brought against us, dismissed.
It's too bad that our talking heads don't occassionally do discussions on these trials instead of the tawdry tabloidish distractions they so willingly wallow in.
ping
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