Western Resistance

« Iran: Increased Child Prostitution In The Islamist Regime | | UK: Police Appeal For Help Identifying Islamists »

April 26, 2006

US: Lodi Muslim Trial - Son Guilty

We reported in March that after many false starts and failed bail applications, the trial of a Muslim father and son, connected to the Lodi Muslim community, had finally got underway.

Now, news has come of the verdicts of the trials, from the San Jose Mercury, the LA Times, Associated Press via the Seattle Times, the BBC and the New York Times that Hamid Hayat, the 23 year old son of Umer Hayat has been found guilty of supporting terrorism, by attending an al-Qaeda training camp in Pakistan. Hamid Hayat (pictured) was also found guilty on three counts of lying to the FBI. His father Umer Hayat, who was being tried in the same courtroom by a different jury, has had a verdict of a mistrial.

48 year old Umer Hayat was also charged with two counts of lying to federal investigators. This relates to statements made to FBI agent Pedro Tenoch Aguilar on 3rd and 4th June, 2005, when he was asking them about Hamid's attending terror training camps in Pakistan. The father and son were arrested last June.

The Lodi Muslim community and its mosque were under attention from the FBI after doubts were raised about its founders, Muhammed Adil Khan and Shabbir Ahmed. These were deported back to their homeland of Pakistan, with Khan deported in August, and 38-year old Ahmed sent back in September.

When questioned by FBI agent Tenoch, Hamid had originally denied having attended a jihadist camp in Pakistan, and was questioned again after a polygraph reading indicated he had not told the truth. An account of the FBI affidavit can be found here.

After a brief interview with an FBI agent who showed Hamid some photographs, the polygraph examination was administered and his answers to the relevant questions were found to be indicative of deception. After approximately two more hours of questioning, Hamid admitted that he had, in fact, attended a jihadist training camp in Pakistan.

9. Hamid admitted that he attended a jihadist training camp in Pakistan for approximately 6 months in 2003-2004. Hamid stated that Al-Qaeda supports the camp and provides instructors for the camp. Hamid later confirmed this camp was run by Al-Qaeda. Hamid described the camp as providing structured paramilitary training, including weapons training, explosives training, interior room tactics, hand to hand combat, and strenuous exercise. Classroom instruction included ideological rhetoric detailing opposition towards the United States and other non-Muslim countries. Hamid stated that during his weapons training, photos of various high ranking U.S. political figures, including President Bush, would be pasted onto their targets. Hamid further stated that he and others at the camp were being trained on how to kill Americans. Hamid stated that although he did not participate in all the available instruction he was aware the other training was ongoing.

10. Hamid advised that he specifically requested to come to the United States to carry out his Jihadi mission.

Now that Hamid at least has been found guilty, the sentencing will follow. He will face a minimum of 23 years' jail, as he is convicted on all charges, or he could face a maximum of 39 years' incarceration.

An account of all the main developments throughout the parallel trials can be found in a special section of the Sacramento Bee. Yesterday they reported that jurors were told to keep deliberating, as both panels were struggling to find unanimous verdicts.

Even after the verdict of guilty was passed on Hamid Hayat, defense lawyer Wazhma Mojaddidi denied that there was evidence to prove her client had attended the Rawalpindi training camp and promised to seek a retrial. She said: "Hamid Hayat never attended a terrorist training camp. This fight is not over."

She also said: "I do believe there were issues with this jury, that there were outside influences that affected their decision." This referred to the evidence of one Naseem Khan, an FBI informant known by the title "Wildcat". This man, who had become a naturalised citizen of the US in 2004 had been used to "target" the imams of the Lodi Muslim community, almost as an "agent-provocateur".

After eight days of deliberations, the jury in the case of Hamid's father, ice-cream seller Umer, the jury announced that it was deadlocked. Judge Burrell dismissed the jurors. The prosecution has not announced if it will seek a retrial for the father, who was only charged of lying.

Hamid Hayat will be sentenced later, at a trial hearing scheduled for July 14.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at April 26, 2006 7:43 AM

Comments

Post a comment