“Al-Timimi argued that prosecutors overstated his influence with those who traveled to Pakistan, and that he was punished for unpopular speech rather than criminal conduct.”
Interesting defense. It may have been true in 2005 that jihad recruitment was “unpopular speech,” but nowadays Leftists would cheer al-Timimi on. The real “unpopular speech” today is opposition to jihad violence and Sharia oppression.
“Islamic scholar ordered released while appeal is pursued,” by Matthew Barakat, Associated Press, August 18, 2020:
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A judge on Tuesday ordered an Islamic scholar serving a life sentence for soliciting treason after the Sept. 11 attacks be released from custody while he pursues his appeal.
The order from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria grants release to Ali Al-Timimi in part because of concerns he is susceptible to the coronavirus and in part because of a recent Supreme Court case that could invalidate several counts on which he was convicted back in 2005.
Al-Timimi, a Washington D.C., native who obtained a doctorate in computational biology from George Mason University shortly before his arrest, has been imprisoned for the past 15 years, most recently at the Supermax facility in Florence, Colorado.
He was convicted of soliciting treason and other counts after prosecutors say he used his influence to steer a group of young men to try to join up with the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Several of his followers, who played paintball games in the Virginia woods to train for holy war around the globe, got as far as Pakistan, where they received training from a militant group called Lashkar-E-Taiba. None actually ever joined the Taliban.
Al-Timimi argued that prosecutors overstated his influence with those who traveled to Pakistan, and that he was punished for unpopular speech rather than criminal conduct. Timimi preached that the Sept. 11 attacks portended a global holy war between Muslims and non-believers. At his trial, several of his followers testified tat Al-Timimi told them in a secret meeting just days after the Sept. 11 attacks that able-bodied Muslims had an obligation to defend the Taliban if they were able to do so.
His case has sat in an unusual procedural limbo for more than a decade, and an appellate court has never fully ruled on the validity of his convictions. Jonathan Turley, his appellate lawyer, has argued that prosecutors failed to turn over evidence that would have pointed to Al-Timimi’s innocence. In particular, he has alleged that the government used a northern Virginia cleric named Anwar al-Awlaki as an informant, and that al-Awlaki tried unsuccessfully to lure Al-Timimi into illegal conduct as part of a government sting….
Mike says
if he’s released no one in this country will ever see him again in the US
havoc from afar
CogitoErgoSum says
So he’s an Islamic scholar and he believes all Muslims have an obligation to defend the Taliban? He says that American Muslims have a duty to fight for the Taliban and that duty comes before any duty to fight for the U.S? And he’s an Islamic scholar? Okay then, as an Islamic scholar he knows Islam.
The Political Oracle says
America has hit a low low point in its history from this point on. The judge should serve life with this imam! CAIR Virginia chapter could be behind this! Federal government needs to appeal this! A dangerous situation we have here! Drain the swamp!
The Political Oracle says
Al Awlaki is dead, as far as I know. He was killed in a raid.
The Political Oracle says
His son and young daughter were also killed in drone strikes. This begs a question of ethical use of deadly force and then lying about it later. I heard that the son was killed for who he could become. Why was the 8-year-old daughter killed under Trump’s watch? Innocent bystander? We should all worry about this policy of indiscriminately killing people for who they could become. America’s three-letter agencies are smarter and better than this!
gravenimage says
Al Awlaki was killed in 2011–Trump was not elected until 2016.
Americans do try to launch drone strikes when only the precise targets are present–but since these thugs regularly use human shields, including children, some innocents to indeed get caught in the crossfire.
There were 14 Al Qaeda Jihadists killed in this raid, and they were the targets of the operation. That you are blaming Trump rather than these Jihadists is very odd.
Wellington says
Fine and accurate response, gravenimage. And I know of no more cowardly group of people who are prepared to sacrifice children for their warped cause than Muslims.
Reminds me of what Golda Meir once said, to wit, Israel can forgive the enemy (read Muslims here of course, no need to worry about Christian, agnostic, Buddhist, etc. suicide bombers and terrorists) for killing our children but Israel can never forgive the enemy for forcing Israel to kill their children.
Ray Jarman says
Accolades to you both GI and Wellington for the perfect response.
curious says
+1 both gravenimage and Wellington.
I would only add that when dealing with lethal jihadists who choose to hide behind their own children as human shields, the question ceases to be whether innocent children might get killed; the question is reduced to whose children.
James Lincoln says
gravenimage,
Yes, very odd indeed.
The other option would have been to do nothing, and these 14 Al Qaeda jihadists would likely be alive today – and would have likely committed more attacks.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Wellington, Ray, curious, and James. Agree.
James Lincoln says
According to the feature article, Ali Al-Timimi was released, in part. “because of concerns he is susceptible to the coronavirus…”
I’m sorry, this is not evidence-based.
In ADX Florence, Colorado, prisoners are kept in solitary confinement 23 hours per day. The other hour, they are outside, alone, in a cage.
Well within the CDC guidelines for social distancing.
So where is the “increased exposure” to COVID-19, compared with being in the community?
gravenimage says
Thank you for that information, James.
Some here in California are demanding that San Quentin prison, with some of the most dangerous criminals in the country, be emptied out.
Wellington says
Thanks for that info, James. When bad excuses become reasons judges and lawyers are failing society.
Thomas Faddis says
EXACTLY! #CorruptPartisanDemocrats!
DearDiary says
Calling somebody an Islamic “scholar” is like calling a 7 year old boy a “scholar” of the illustrated novella (a comics fan).
livingengine says
Another example of CAIR ignoring violent Muslims. Instead, of CAIR commenting on the Al-Tamimi case there are FOUR BROADCASTS about this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfZK8oF_5U
gravenimage says
Virginia: Islamic scholar serving life sentence for recruiting for jihad ordered released while he pursues appeal
………………..
This is just appalling. The left is using the Coronavirus crisis to release more and more people–not just from jail, but from prison, and not just non-violent offenders, but violent Jihadists. Insanity.
Jon Sobieski says
Who is funding this appeal? Who is paying Jonathatn Turley? I doubt Turley is doing this for free. If he is, he is a leftist useful idiot.
Michael Copeland says
Al Timimi was convicted of soliciting treason. Treason against the USA is part of the ideology he serves:
“I am a traitor to America because my religion requires me to be one”,
Samir Khan, late of New York and North Carolina
“The Muslim nation is one nation to the exclusion of all others” – placard
OLD GUY says
Recruiters of terrorist should be treated as traitors and executed. They are the ones who put others up tp doing their dirty work and indoctrinate them into killers on their behalf. Harsh treatment is the only thing these islamic animals understand and respond too.
Gourdhead says
When he disappears the judge needs to be locked up.
masihs89 says
No one here has commented on the legal arguments for appealing the case. You are prejudiced against Islam so you fail to stand up for justice when a Muslim is involved. You are pretending to be Islamophobes. In reality you want to push Israel’s hegemonic agenda.