Mocking Justice and Terror
Ottawa's very own convicted terrorist Momin Khawaja, languishing in prison since he was picked up by the police on suspicion of terrorist activities, is now facing the imminence of hearing himself sentenced for his crimes. Crimes of intent, of participating in odious plots to destroy human lives, along with his compatriots in jihad, in Great Britain.Fortunately for the many whose lives would have been destroyed, their plans never had the opportunity to finally materialize since their activities were under surveillance, and they were apprehended before being able to embark on their mission of jihad.
Mr. Khawaja, all of 29 years of age, has the great distinction of presenting as the first Canadian to have been convicted under the country's Criminal Code provisions of its Anti-Terrorism Act. And as such he faces a potentially lengthy prison term. As much as two life terms. But not if his lawyer Lawrence Greenspon has anything to do with the end result. Mr. Greenspon is arguing for what is, effectively acquittal.
Despite the finding of guilt for most of the charges laid against his client. The lawyer's specious argument being that the crimes for which he is being held responsible represent actions, as he put it, at "the lower end of the spectrum", not representative of "true terrorism". In that, in the process of planning violent attacks, action never did go beyond the planning stages, though they were near to completion.
Mr. Khawaja, according to his lawyer, has already put paid on his debt to society for planning the murder of countless innocents. He was convicted in October of seven serious crimes classified as crimes of terror, yet his lawyer contends he should face no more than 7.5 years of imprisonment. Moreover, according to lawyer Greenspon, because the trial was shorter than anticipated, the justice system saved "hundreds of thousands of dollars".
No mention there of the cost more approaching a million dollars, to investigate, charge, arrest, incarcerate, and mount a legal case against the defendant. And since Mr. Khawaja has spent years in jail awaiting trial, it is further his lawyer's contention that applying a 2-to-1 credit for time served while in pre-trial custody, the judge was urged "to impose a sentence of time served."
A get-out-of-jail-free card. But this is real life, not a Monopoly game, and for the heinous crime of planning the deaths of innocent people - even if, as far as Mr. Khawaja was concerned, his personal aspiration was to travel to Afghanistan and fight for the mujahadeen - his brothers, as he put it - and in the process attempt to kill as many Canadian soldiers fighting there, as possible - he is guilty as charged.
Apart from the guilty finding of participating in, contributing to, financing and facilitating British Islamist terrorists whose plots to bomb various crowded civilian areas in London in 2004, his enthusiastic participation in their schemes and his dedication to the task at hand marks him as a felon needful of the hand of justice fully served.
Labels: Canada, Justice, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Friday, February 06, 2009
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