Man charged as Taliban recruiter
From correspondents in Washington
September 24, 2004
A MAN living near Washington, Ali Al-Timimi, has been charged by US prosecutors for encouraging up to five other men to join the Taliban in Afghanistan in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
A federal grand jury indictment released by the US Attorney for Alexandria, Virginia, today, says Al-Timimi encouraged the men to join the Taliban in Afghanistan shortly before the US invasion of the country following the September 11 attacks.
"Al-Timimi is charged with counselling others to engage in a conspiracy to levy war against the United States, aid the Taliban, violate the Neutrality Act and use firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence," according to a statement from government prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Al-Timimi effectively counselled others to take up arms against the US.
Al-Timimi, 40, of Fairfax, Virginia, was the primary lecturer at the Dar al Arqam Islamic Centre, also known as the Centre for Islamic Information and Education, until September 11, 2001 according to prosecutors.
He faces six charges and is due to appear in court on October 1 before Judge Leonie Brinkema. She is the same judge trying Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the United States in connection with the September 11 attacks.
The charges against Al-Timimi allege he helped Masoud Khan, Randall Royer, Yong Kwon, Muhammad Aatique and Khwaja Hasan "and others to conspire to levy war against the United States".
Royer, Kwon, Aatique and Hasan have pleaded guilty to other charges while Khan has been convicted on various terrorism-related charges.
Agence France-Presse
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10864047%255E1702,00.html
Cleaning house, just the way we like it! BTTT!