U.K. terror suspect uses Internet to win support

washington post via msnbc ^ | 8/8/05 | Craig Whitlock

[minus_273]

Accused of running jihadi Web site, Briton pushes message from jail

LONDON - Second of three articles

Babar Ahmad, a 31-year-old computer whiz and mechanical engineer, was hailed as a big catch by U.S. law enforcement officials when he was arrested here one year ago on charges that he ran a network of Web sites that served as a propaganda and fundraising front for Islamic extremists, including Chechen rebels, the Taliban militia and al Qaeda affiliates.

Since then, Ahmad has been locked up inside British prisons as he fights extradition to the United States. But the imprisonment has done little to silence the British native of Pakistani descent. Rather, it has given him an even bigger megaphone as he continues to churn out anti-American manifestos and post them on the Web, turning him into a minor celebrity in Britain.

[minus_273]

i like thi part "The BBC aired an entire documentary about efforts by Ahmad's elderly father to secure his release, titling the show, "A Terror Suspect's Dad." "
and
Today, portraying himself as an innocent victim, Ahmad has generated sympathy by arguing that extradition to the United States would violate his rights as a British citizen. Playing to widespread misgivings over the Bush administration's tactics in its self-proclaimed "war on terrorism," he has predicted that he will wind up at Guantanamo Bay or on death row if he is handed over to the Americans, even though the U.S. government has pledged otherwise.

says a lot doesnt it

[mtbopfuyn]

Ok, Tony, time to back up your speech against terrorists.

[starfish923]

says a lot doesnt it

It sure does -- #1 the British media's anti-U.S. bias.

[Publius6961]

Why is this snake given acces to a computer if he's in prison?

[Kelly_2000]

"#1 the British media's anti-U.S. bias."

#2 The British Government's a left wing Government and is too embroiled in and ridden with "nanny state" and "PC" gurus and policies to do anything but mouth politicaly aggressive and reassuring anti terror sound bytes. If not for the excellent security services in the country the policy makers would have doomed the UK long ago

[Kelly_2000]

"Why is this snake given acces to a computer if he's in prison?"

He probably has an on line order at the halal meat delicatessen delivered daily along with his hot tub supplies and dry cleaning service. More PC nonsense in the UK

[agere_contra]

turning him into a minor celebrity in Britain

Never heard of him.

[starfish923]

"#1 the British media's anti-U.S. bias."
#2 The British Government's a left wing Government and is too embroiled in and ridden with "nanny state" and "PC" gurus and policies to do anything but mouth politicaly aggressive and reassuring anti terror sound bytes. If not for the excellent security services in the country the policy makers would have doomed the UK long ago

True enough.