Authorities are treating it, of course, as a sign that he may be unbalanced. No one gets the idea that maybe, just maybe, he is acting upon some principle of Islam that it might be good for Western authorities in general to know about. “Terrorism suspect tries to quit his own trial,” by Colin Freeze for the Globe and Mail, May 6 (thanks to Cindy):
TORONTO “” An Islamic convert facing terrorism charges was re-arrested after trying to walk out of his own trial Tuesday — saying simply that “I’m outta here” — after telling the court he wouldn’t recognize Canadian law.
The 20-year-old, who can’t be identified because he was underage at the time of his arrest two years ago, had been released on bail. But he spent last night in jail, and his legal future is unclear.
At the time proceedings broke down, a police officer had been on the stand, and the court was discussing the young man’s mental status, including whether he was suicidal.
The only youth among 11 Torontonians accused of a variety of conspiracies is also the only suspect whose case has got to its trial phase. He faces charges of attending a terrorist training camp. The court has heard only preliminary motions so far, and has yet to delve into evidence or testimony.
While on bail, the young man had been living with his Hindu parents.
A Toronto Muslim preacher told The Globe that the suspect had been coming to Friday prayers, saying that he’d rather return to jail than live in a non-Islamic household.
“He said “˜In jail, I can at least pray,'” Aly Hindy, imam of the Salahuddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, said in an interview.
“I said “˜Don’t do this!'” Mr. Hindy said. He added that he counselled the young man to pray in secret, but tensions between the suspect and his father had reached a boiling point.
The family did not comment.
Mr. Hindy added that the young man is “confused” and that “lots of young people, they need guidance.” The young man had lately been expressing an interest in circumcising himself, the imam said, consistent with his understanding of what the Prophet Abraham had done.
A self-described Islamic fundamentalist, Mr. Hindy has appeared as a proposed bail surete for a variety of individuals facing national-security-related proceedings. The imam said that nothing in Islam calls for Muslims to disregard the Canadian criminal-justice system….
The imam was sugar-coating, not surprisingly. Traditionally Islam has no respect for any criminal-justice system except Sharia, save for limited self-government granted to dhimmi communities. Thus while many Muslims in Western countries are generally taught that they should obey the laws of that country for a time, they’re also taught a contempt for those laws and the need ultimately to replace them with Sharia. It is, then, no surprise at all that this young jihadist wouldn’t recognize Canadian law.