Misunderstanding of Islam seems to run in this family. When he was sentenced, Abu Ghaith quoted the Qur’an. Another puzzle! Why would someone who misunderstands Islam and is ignorant enough of the Qur’an to think it teaches violence against unbelievers quote it when he is sentenced? A mystery for the mainstream analysts to ponder.
“Bin Laden son-in-law sentenced to life in U.S. prison,” by Joseph Ax, Reuters, September 23, 2014 (thanks to Block Ness):
(Reuters) – Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday in New York following his conviction on terrorism charges.
A Manhattan federal jury in March found the Kuwaiti-born 48-year-old guilty of conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to provide material support for terrorists and providing such support.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan imposed the sentence a few minutes after a seemingly unrepentant Abu Ghaith delivered a statement in Arabic, quoting the Koran and declaring that he would not ask for mercy from anyone but God.
“Today, at the same moment when you are shackling my hands and intend to bury me alive, you are at the same time unleashing the hands of hundreds of Muslim youths,” he said through an interpreter. “And they will join the rally of the free man.”
In response, Kaplan noted that Abu Ghaith had expressed no remorse for his actions and cited a video in which Abu Ghaith appeared amused by al Qaeda’s attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States.
“You, sir, in my assessment, are committed to doing everything you can to assist al Qaeda in its mission to kill Americans,” Kaplan said.
Prosecutors had painted Abu Ghaith as a charismatic spokesman for al Qaeda in the days and weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, saying he recorded inflammatory videos the group could use to recruit new members.
The government also contended that one October 2001 video, in which Abu Ghaith promised the “storm of airplanes will not stop,” indicated he knew beforehand of an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to detonate a shoe bomb aboard a jetliner in December 2001 by Briton Richard Reid.
Lawyers for Abu Ghaith argued that their client was guilty only of delivering fiery speeches and had no knowledge in advance of any al Qaeda plots.
jihad3tracker says
So we can expect this to further mobilize ISIS recruiting efforts — in a big way.
jihad3tracker says
Hello Paul —
If you were saying that — I — cannot relate to the Islamic State, and that I do not “understand”, that puzzles me.
Look back over my history of a couple years of commenting here.
john spielman says
when more and more attacks begin to occur on US soil, then the populace will begin to turn our leadership which refuse to condemn islam as the real cause for this war!
john spielman says
that should read: “turn AGAINST our leadership..”
mariam rove says
why not just hang the bastard? besides them attacking us, the are hell bent to deplete out federal tax $$$. Now it is going to cost millions and you be sure that halal food is on the menu!!! M
UneasyOne says
We should let it be known that a conviction for terrorism will be followed by sprinkling them with pig’s blood and that they will be fed only pork products or things fried in pig fat.
Zaaphod says
Were any Chinese citizens killed in the 9/11 attacks? The Chinese would have taken him out behind the courthouse and shot him on the spot since he admitted his guilt.
bernie says
I think that at least several Chinese citizens were killed in it. Citizens from at least 80 different nations, as well as U.S. citizens (many of the U.S. citizens held dual-citizenship with other countries) were killed in the attacks.
re: the Chinese. Yes, the Chinese authorities would take him out to a field, have him kneel down with his hands tied behind his back, and shoot him in the back of the head with a (possibly pork-lard-dipped) rifle bullet.
Li Szu says
Traditional Chinese punishments for those found guilty of sedition or treason are rather more refined.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingchi
Judi says
What I find strange is that he had a Jewish defence lawyer, Stanley Cohen.
Oliver says
I agree with you and “Uneasy”.
Sprinkle (no, pour) pg blood and pig sh*t on him, then hang him.
Jay Boo says
Allah’s little helpers seek Allah’s mercy.
If Allah is so great, why does he need Muslims to defend his honor?
Suleiman Abu Ghaith declared that he would not ask for mercy from anyone but God.
When Muslims are afraid do they boldly ask their god Allah for help with trusting faith or do they try to flatter their angry unknowable god with insincere praise that Allah is greatest?
John Stefan Obeda says
Isn’t it sad? Abu Ghaith who is guilty of conspiring to kill Americans and who would be happy to help others to do so and who, as he says, would not ever ask us for mercy no matter what the punishment would be, would be willing to ask for mercy of allah, when and if necessary, that is, the moon god of the devil who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The devil has had in his powerful grips Muhammad and all of his followers for many centuries now prowling in many place to devour all of mankind. God help us to resist the devil and to stand “firm in the faith, because you [we] know that your [our] brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5)
mortimer says
Abu Ghaith apparently knows more about Islam than Tony Blair and Obama.
He has no doubt that Islam is synonymous with jihad.
The civility of Judge Kaplan is in stark contrast with the bloodthirstiness of this villainous barbarian.
GP says
The government also contended that one October 2001 video, in which Abu Ghaith promised the “storm of airplanes will not stop,” indicated he knew beforehand of an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to detonate a shoe bomb aboard a jetliner in December 2001 by Briton Richard Reid.
Feed this murderous bastard to the pigs, kill him and every sob that follows in his footsteps. Perhaps he will have an unfortunate accident in prison. Inshallah.
Kepha says
What a travesty of justice. The guy needed a long drop and a short tow.
Wtf? says
Yes I agree but an interesting observation of one of his comments. Life imprisonment is like being “buried alive”. This possibly means that imprisonment is not a favoured option for the rag heads. Therefore perhaps life imprisonment with no release would be even more torturous than death.
Custos Custodum says
Sooner rather than later, expect to see a plane hijack or similar dramatic hostage-taking to secure the release of various high-profile terrorists (especially the poisoner Aafia Siddiqui).
The U.S. government will then be forced to consider whether to resort to extra-judicial steps against the incarcerated terrorists in the exercise of the president’s war power.
There are international precedents for such actions, perhaps most famously the convenient “suicide” of “Red Army Faction” terrorists in Germany in 1977.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stammheim_Prison
Kasey says
Mis-understanding of Islam? Abu Ghaith or his prosecutors? It’s certain that he doesn’t!
Dave J says
They shriek that their God is the greatest as they murder innocents.
They cry “peace be on him” as they teach their followers to rape and steal.
They bow to their false idol 5 times a day.
Truth becomes blasphemy, tolerance is apostasy and rejecting all this nonsense is punishable by (as usual) death.
What a lovely philosophy! Satan is pleased by them.
J says
Suspect his wife/wives will be pleased he is going to be away so long….
GP says
He is a rabid dog, should be put down quickly. A special job for our special friends.