Now that’s some interior spiritual struggle. “Disputed emails about economic jihad allowed at terrorism trial: judge,” from the Canadian Press, July 14:
OTTAWA “” An email message in which Momin Khawaja wrote of the need to wage violent jihad against western economies will be part of the evidence at his terrorism trial.
Justice Douglas Rutherford rejected arguments from counsel for the former Ottawa software designer that messages he sent to his one-time fiancee were irrelevant and prejudicial to the case.
Khawaja faces seven charges including financing and facilitating terrorism, including the key allegation he built a remote-control device for use in bomb attacks planned – but never executed – by Islamic extremists in Britain.
Five of his alleged co-conspirators were convicted by a London jury and sentenced last year to life in prison.
Rutherford called the accusations involving Khawaja sinister and chilling – so much so that admitting the email messages into evidence would not likely have much impact on his assessment of the facts.
He also ruled that at least some videos depicting jihadi activities that Khawaja gave to an Ottawa-area woman could become part of the court record, but indicated the Crown must show how excerpts of the DVDs are relevant to the case….