This incident shows how reliable the New York Times really is: not at all.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry will no doubt go on to a long and happy life in Canada, with this incident forgotten. It isn’t as if he had pretended to be something really dangerous, such as a “right-wing extremist”; if he had, he would be hounded by the political and media elites for the rest of his life.
“Canadian Admits Fabricating Terrorism Tale Detailed in New York Times Podcast,” by Ian Austen, New York Times, October 9, 2021:
OTTAWA — A Canadian man admitted in court on Friday that he made up tales about serving as an Islamic State fighter and executioner in Syria. In exchange, Canadian authorities dropped criminal charges against him of perpetrating a hoax involving the threat of terrorism.
The man, Shehroze Chaudhry, had spread fabricated stories of life as a terrorist in Syria on social media beginning in 2016, according to an agreed statement of facts between prosecutors and the defense. He then repeated them to several news outlets, including The New York Times, which then amplified his tales, the statement said.
Mr. Chaudhry, who is now 26, had come to regret giving interviews to the news media and “wanted to finish school and turn his life around,” the statement said.
Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges because Mr. Chaudhry’s tales “were mistakes borne out of immaturity — not sinister intent and certainly not criminal intent,” his lawyer, Nader R. Hasan, wrote in an email.
Mr. Chaudhry was, however, required to post a so-called peace bond for $10,000, which would be forfeited if he violates terms of the deal. The prosecutor was not immediately available for comment.
Under the name Abu Huzayfah, Mr. Chaudhry, who lives in the Toronto suburb of Burlington, Ontario, was the central figure in The Times’s 10-part podcast series “Caliphate.” The release of that series in 2018, and other reports based on Mr. Chaudhry’s tales, created a political firestorm in Canada’s Parliament among opposition parties that repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for seeming to allow a terrorist killer to freely roam the streets of suburban Toronto.
But in truth, there was little if no risk to the public. The statement of facts presented in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on Friday concluded: “Mr. Chaudhry has never entered Syria nor participated in ISIS operations anywhere in the world.”
Last year, Mr. Chaudhry was arrested in Canada on charges that he perpetrated a hoax that terrified and threatened the public. After his arrest, The Times re-examined the ‘Caliphate’ series and found “a history of misrepresentations by Mr. Chaudhry and no corroboration that he committed the atrocities he described in the ‘Caliphate’ podcast.” The podcast did not hold up, The Times said…..
mortimer says
Shehroze Chaudhry is a liar … that’s for certain. He thinks terrorism is amusing as well. So is wrong to assume that he may be one of the 15% of Muslims who self-declare as supporters of jihadic terrorism?
Would Chaudhry … if given the right circumstances and the right coaxing … join in a jihadic terror OPERATION AGAINST CANADIANS, especially if he thought he would not be caught?
That’s something to think about, isn’t it? The Tsarnaev brothers had secular Muslim friends who covered up their jihad activities merely because they were asked to do so. How many meek-mannered, secular Muslims will participate in jihad when asked? Will Shehroze Chaudhry?
He should be watched to see if someone from ISIS contacts him. About 2,000 or more sleeper jihadists are in Canada right now.
Dhimmi says
Another one is mentally ill
gravenimage says
Canada: Muslim admits to making up story about being Islamic State executioner that fooled the New York Times
…………..
And Candian authorities say that this thug is just immature–despite his being 26 years old.
Hank says
Doesn’t the Ontario Court of Justice know the word expel or deport. This poor Muslim should be deported back to Syria so he won’t have to suffer in infidel host countries (strange that he ended up in Canada isn’t it).
If the High Court is terrified of the word Islamophobia it could at least have slowed down Canada’s suicidal path –by exiling and banishing for life wimpy Trudeau to the Mediterranean island of Elba for creating an Islamic 5th column in Canada and setting it up for a civil war.
mortimer says
Deport them if possible. I also favor a Devil’s Island for terrorists. They should be released only when they have completed a course of study on the Koran and Islamic history showing the scholarly research which conclusively demonstrates that Islam is entirely manmade by the orders of the caliphs.
OLD GUY says
Maybe they are just nuts. Why is the west so dam hell bent on allowing the migration invasion of our countries? I got it. These migrants and refugees are all going to purchase electric cars, and energy efficient homes and will mow their lawns with push mowers. They will bring with them the technology to make America GREEN. You Think?
Giacomo Latta says
”He then repeated them to several news outlets, including The New York Times, which then amplified his tales”
So the NY TImes is not only admitting it is gullible, it is admitting that it amplifies unchecked ”facts” with its own drivel? Well, that is admitting the obvious to all but its regular readers.