Where did Rahatal Ashikim Khan and Michael Todd Wolfe (Muslim name, as is characteristic of the mainstream media, not given) learn about Islam? Were they active in their local mosque? Does anyone know? Does anyone care?
An update on this story. “Grand jury indicts Austin-area men accused of terrorism,” by Andrew McLemore, Austin American-Statesman, June 21, 2014:
Two Austin-area men arrested on charges of attempting to aid terrorist groups were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Round Rock resident Rahatul Ashikim Khan and Austin resident Michael Todd Wolfe were scheduled to appear before a federal court in Austin on Friday, but the trial date was reset for June 30.
The two men, both 23 and accused of recruiting jihadi fighters through an online chatroom, appeared in court Wednesday and were respectful while answering questions from U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane.
Khan, a University of Texas student, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and Wolfe is charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The indictment accuses Khan of trying to recruit others to participate in terrorist activities overseas and accuses Wolfe of planning to travel to the Middle East and join radical groups engaged in armed conflict in Syria.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived formal arraignment, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. They each face up to 15 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted.
Jay Boo says
The guy on the right looks a lot like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
I hope the feds did not lose track of him once AGAIN
Ashley says
More on Michael Todd Wolfe:
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/06/19/terror-suspects-friends-shocked/10997185/
dumbledoresarmy says
Ashley
thanks for that. I read the article. All-too-typical case of what happens when a westerner converts to Islam.
What is very telling is this bit, where the former friend, Julian Leonard, says – “Whatever he [Wolfe] did, he put 110 percent into it”.
so, of course, when he became a Muslim…
There have been enough of these kinds of distressing cases, by now, that non-Muslims need to become much more alarmed – and much more willing to register *opposition*, in a gentle but determined fashion – when a friend or family member shows signs of wanting to a) marry a Muslim and/ OR b) convert to Islam.
Everyone is sooo shocked and surprised when a nice gel like Samantha Lewthwaite or a nice bloke like this Wolfe guy Goes Jihad after having become a Muslim.
But they shouldn’t be.
Two take-home pieces of wisdom that the counter-jihad should be trying to disseminate.
1/ If one knows someone – friend, family member, classmate, colleague, etc – who is thinking of marrying a Muslim, and/ or of converting to Islam…do one’s level best to dissuade them. Then, at least, even if they insist on going ahead and doing the stupid thing – or the evil thing (I give those alternatives because not all who convert to Islam are evil, as witness our own Saleem Smith and Istanbul Chick at this very forum, who converted to Islam out of *folly* and ignorance but later woke up and got right back outta there as fast as they could) – and convert to Islam, one’s own conscience will be clear. At least one *tried*.
2/ If someone one knows has *converted* to Islam (whether one tried to stop them or not), then…**keep an eye on them**.
For safety’s sake…assume the worst.
Try to find out from them precisely who (and from what organisation) converted them to Islam, *who* witnessed their recitation of the shahada, what books about Islam they are reading and websites they are frequenting, and which *mosque* or mosques they attend. As a general rule – though this is not foolproof – the more overtly Islamic in dress they become – e.g. donning ever-heavier and more complete coverup, if female; growing a long beard and shaving the upper lip, if male – the more loudly the alarm bells should start to ring. If *anything* about them or their new Muslim associates feels a bit “odd”…and if there are any sudden changes in their lifestyle…pass their details to the relevant Authorities. Just in case.
In Singapore, I understand, all converts to Islam must be *registered*.
That sort of thing doesn’t happen in western countries. But one can see the reasoning behind it, in the light of cases like this. And for want of a register, I’m afraid private citizens may have to step up to the plate.