Man charged as Taliban recruiter
From correspondents in Washington
24sep04
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.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10864047%255E1702,00.html
Ohio Imam Gets Two Months in Prison
AKRON, Ohio - The leader of Ohio's largest mosque was sentenced Monday to two months in federal prison and four months of house arrest for lying about his connections to terrorist groups when he applied for U.S. citizenship.
Palestinian-born Fawaz Damra, imam of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, could have received up to five years in prison on the charge of obtaining U.S. citizenship in 1994 by providing false information.
Sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders called for probation to six months in prison.
Prosecutors had requested the maximum sentence. U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin did not comment on why he opted for the lesser sentence.
Prosecutors also urged Gwin to immediately revoke Damra's citizenship, but Damra's attorneys asked him Gwin not to void Damra's U.S. citizenship until after the appeal, which could take years. Gwin did not immediately rule on the question or on whether Damra should be deported. Prosecutors say the law requires deportation for such a crime. (snipped)
http://www.terrorism.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=39064&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Now if they can successfully prosecute the Taliban-recruiter and keep him imprisoned (unlike the 2 Imans who get 2 months). Some of the sentences given these people are nothing short of a joke. Slapping their hands is sheer stupidity - it only serves to make them even more angry and hateful of us.