And he’s right, you know. If his conscience tells him that it’s all right to kill Americans for Islam, what are we to jail him for it? Ignorant, intolerant Islamophobes, that’s what. Al-Timimi update, “US Muslim to appeal life sentence for inciting jihad,” from The Guardian, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
Defence lawyers said yesterday they would appeal against a life sentence imposed on a Muslim scholar for inciting his followers to fight a jihad against America, in a case that has raised questions about mandatory sentencing guidelines.
Ali al-Timimi, an Iraqi-American cancer researcher who lectured at a mosque in the Virginian suburbs of Washington, declared himself to be “a prisoner of conscience” after the sentence was imposed on Wednesday.
The judge in the case, Leonie Brinkema, conceded the sentence was “very draconian”, but said her hands were tied by mandatory congressional sentencing guidelines. She rejected a defence demand to set aside the conviction, and claims that Mr Timimi was protected by the constitution’s first amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression.
“This was not a case about speech; this was a case about intent,” Judge Brinkema said.
The lead prosecutor, Gordon Kromberg, said: “Al-Timimi hates the US and calls for its destruction. He’s allowed to do that in this country. He’s not allowed to solicit treason, as he did. He deserves every day of the time he will serve.”
A defence lawyer, Edward MacMahon, described the sentence as “cruel and unusual” punishment. “No one was injured or even threatened with injury as a result of Mr Timimi’s actions,” he said.
Yes, you see, Jihad Watch Board Vice President Hugh Fitzgerald explained it recently: if you say you want to kill Americans, that’s ok. Just don’t say you want to kill Mr. Smith or Ms. Jones:
Timimi was found guilty of “soliciting” and “inducing” American Muslims to go to war against the US, to use firearms and carry explosives, among a total of 10 charges.
But no one was hurt, you see? MacMahon’s statement amounts to saying that he was caught too soon to do any damage, so why punish him?