Can’t we just stop the hate? Why all the suspicion of Muslims? Why do people behaving suspiciously and carrying Arabic flash cards get questioned at airports? Everyone knows that the greasy Islamophobes are the ones linking Islam to terrorism? Right? Right?
“Airline plot trio get life terms,” from the BBC, September 14 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Three men who plotted to blow up flights from Heathrow to the US with liquid bombs have been jailed for life, with minimum terms of up to 40 years.
Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, was jailed for at least 40 years at Woolwich Crown Court.
Plot “quartermaster” Assad Sarwar, 29, was jailed for at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, must serve at least 32 years in jail.
Their aim was a terrorist outrage to “stand alongside” 9/11, the judge said.
Mr Justice Henriques called the plot “the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction”.
“The intention was to perpetrate a terrorist outrage that would stand alongside the events of September 11, 2001 in history,” he said.
The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period.
The judge said that the plot had “reached an advanced stage in its development”, with the men in possession of enough chemicals to produce 20 detonators….The convicted men displayed no emotion at their sentences, although Ahmed Ali shook his head and appeared angry and frustrated at earlier sentencing remarks from the judge.
“With this plot you sought the attention of the world and now you have it,” Mr Justice Henriques told him.
“You have embraced Islamic extremism and it is that burning extremism that has motivated you throughout this conspiracy and is likely to drive you again.”…
Indeed. I am sure they will prove quite adept at prison dawah.