“Kent wanted to participate in jihad but was frustrated by the watchfulness of Australian authorities.” Good thing they weren’t cowed by the prospect of claims of victimization by Muslim groups. From AAP, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
AUSTRALIAN terror suspect Shane Kent had to pledge his allegiance to a jihad, or holy war, before being allowed to meet Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2001, a Melbourne court heard today.
The 28-year-old father of three, one of 10 Victorian men arrested in a series of raids last month, has been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
Kent, from the Melbourne suburb of Meadow Heights, along with co-accused Amer Haddara, 26, of Yarraville, is seeking bail in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Kent wanted to participate in jihad but was frustrated by the watchfulness of Australian authorities, police said today.
Crown Prosecutor Nick Robinson told the court Kent spoke of this to Melbourne Muslim preacher Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 46, who is charged with directing a terrorist organisation and supplying funds to a terrorist organisation.
Mr Robinson read a transcript of a conversation between the pair, in which Kent allegedly said, “Sheikh, it’s too hard here … we can’t move, we can’t do nothing”.
Detective Senior Constable Ben Condon gave evidence that Kent made the pledge when he visited a training camp in Afghanistan before the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“He made a pledge to jihad in front of Osama bin Laden,” Det Sen Cost Condon said.
“They were required to do that if they wanted to meet him (bin Laden).”