Ahmad traveled from Australia to Afghanistan to train with Al-Qaeda “” a fact which in itself gives the lie to the common assumption that all this terrorism has to do with Israel, or American policy. Then he went to Egypt to escape arrest, but it didn’t work, although at least maybe he picked up a few frequent flyer miles: “A Melbourne Muslim fled Australia in 2002 fearing he would be arrested for allegedly training at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan. But Ahmad, 23, was arrested and jailed in Cairo eight months ago and faces indefinite detention by Egyptian authorities under suspicion of links to terrorism.” This from news.com.au, with thanks to Nicolei.
“It was unlikely Ahmad would have faced charges in Australia because his alleged training pre-dated July 2002 laws specifically outlawing the practice.
The former painter and Australian-Egyptian national was a member of Sheikh Mohammed Omran’s Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah group, based in Brunswick. Ahmad left Australia in October 2002 because he thought he was at risk of arrest, Sheikh Mohammed said.
Obligatory “He was a quiet man who kept to himself” passage: “Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia president Abu Hamza, who knew Ahmad for several years, described him as a hard-working and dedicated Muslim concerned about the plight of Muslims overseas but someone without a connection to terrorism. Ahmad was known to several members who attended the IISNA centre and gym in Sydney Rd, Coburg. ‘He’s a very quiet person, dedicated in regard to Islamic beliefs and very active in Islamic activities,’ Abu Hamza said.”
In a masterpiece of understatement, “he said Ahmad, like some other Muslim youths, could sometimes appear overzealous. ‘Some of the youngsters, sometimes they rush in to absorb as much as they can,’ he said.”
Question to Abu Hamza: why don’t these zealous youngsters absorb the peaceful, tolerant passages of the Qur’an that we hear so much about in America? Question for American Muslim advocacy groups: why is it that the zealous ones seem to turn to terrorism? And what are you doing about it?