The Aspiring Terrorist and His Defender
Finally, Canada's very own terror-aspirant will be facing justice. A Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin who lived a privileged middle-class lifestyle, exposed to all the freedoms and entitlements of the Canadian Charter of Rights, within an inclusive and diverse society that believes in and practices tolerance and respect for others. Momin Khawaja stands accused of a string of terror related offences:- Participation in the activity of a terrorist group (two counts);
- Using explosives ... for the commission of offence for a terrorist group;
- Instructing to carry out an activity for a terrorist group;
- Facilitating a terrorist activity;
- Financing of terrorism.
Much of that has been shared out to Canadian authorities by their counterparts in Great Britain. Which country underwent one of the longest trials in its history in 2005, and sentenced five co-conspirators to life imprisonment for their part in a terror scheme which, had it succeeded, would have killed hundreds of innocent Britons, shopping, seeking entertainment, and just going about the normal business of everyday life.
MI5 recorded 3,500 hours of audio of the terrorists discussing their plans to attack gas and electrical systems, hijack airplanes and bomb nightclubs and popular shopping venues. Mr. Khawaja flew to Britain repeatedly to conspire with his fellow travellers. On the basis of all assembled information and data, the RCMP arrested Mr. Khawaja in Ottawa on 29 March, 2004; law enforcement agents arrested the British-based terrorists the following day.
Mr. Khawaja has never been asked by his lawyer if he was involved in the London plot. "Not because you're concerned about the answer, but because it doesn't get you anywhere", according to lawyer Lawrence Greenspon. "What you really want to know is, "Here's the evidence, what's your response to it?"
Really, is that it? Perhaps the question wouldn't be put to Mr. Khawaja because the response might simply be too inconvenient. He would a) lie, and say he was innocent; b) admit his guilt. And then where would Mr. Greenspon's moral authority reside, to commit to the case? As it is, Mr. Greenspon plans to challenge the Crown, to make them prove they have evidence sufficient to persuade the presiding judge of Mr. Khawaja's guilt.
It's an exciting opportunity, a challenge, a game. An intellectual and lawyerly gambit to prove to himself and his audience that he is possessed of superbly superior talents in the courtroom
The challenge is most certainly there - from Mr. Khawaja's own emails now in the possession of the Crown Attorney for the prosecution of the case, setting out his love affair with Osama bin Laden and the romance and urgency of jihad, to the damning materials found in the Khawaja family home in Orleans - the evidence exists.
Momin Khawaja found life as an enterprising and enlightened Westerner simply too tediously boring. He was enraptured by the excitement and the promise of violent extremism, and readily committed himself to jihad. "It would tear my heart out knowing these filthy kaafir dog Americans were bombing our Muslim brothers and sisters.
"Besides that, Osama bin Laden is like the most beloved person to me in the whole world. I wish I could even kiss his blessed hand. "So I hooked up with some bro's from the UK and else(where) and we all went over to Pakistan to support Jihad in Afghanistan in 2002. We got there and stayed about three months. It was amazing. Best experience in my whole life."
Other experiences coming down the pipe. Wait for them.
Labels: Canada, Conflict, Justice, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, June 22, 2008
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