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Convicted jihadi pleads for second chance, says frustration with how the West treated Islam turned him to jihad

Mar 4, 2018 10:30 am By Robert Spencer

“In a 24-page handwritten submission before his sentencing, Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy said frustration with how the West treated Islam turned him toward extremism. The 20-year-old, a Mississauga, Ont., resident, described anger at the U.S. and its allies for ‘disrupting our life (sic) and murdering our civilians with reckless airstrikes …,’ writing later that it was appropriate to use similar methods back. He wrote he was not trying to justify his actions, but just wanted to explain his thought process at the time.”

He may not be trying to justify his actions, but he is trying to get a light sentence, or no sentence at all, on this basis. Poor victim! Where is it taught to Muslims that anything they do, no matter how heinous, is the fault of the Infidel? Why do we see this so very frequently in the West, and yet no one ever seems to notice how consistently it is deployed as a tactic?

“Canadian convicted of terrorism in U.S. asks for 2nd chance,” CBC News, March 3, 2018:

A Canadian who was convicted of plotting a terror attack targeting Times Square and the subway system in New York City is asking a judge for a second chance ahead of a sentencing hearing in April.

In a 24-page handwritten submission before his sentencing, Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy said frustration with how the West treated Islam turned him toward extremism.

The 20-year-old, a Mississauga, Ont., resident, described anger at the U.S. and its allies for “disrupting our life (sic) and murdering our civilians with reckless airstrikes …,” writing later that it was appropriate to use similar methods back. He wrote he was not trying to justify his actions, but just wanted to explain his thought process at the time.

He was 18 when he was arrested in New Jersey on a family trip, accused of conspiring to attack New York City in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Agent communicated with Canadian, 2 others

El-Bahnasawy had shipped bomb-making materials to a contact in the U.S. who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. The agent had been communicating electronically with El-Bahnasawy and two others in the months leading up to the failed attack.

Two other men — Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen living in Pakistan, and Russell Salic, a 37-year-old Philippine citizen — were arrested outside of the U.S. for the plot.

El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to numerous terrorism charges in October 2016, but his case was sealed for a year until the other two suspects were arrested.

In his letter to the judge, El-Bahnasawy apologizes for his behaviour, writing, “I want to experience life away from drugs and away from war and violence.”

He describes growing up in Kuwait feeling isolated because of his Egyptian heritage and that after moving to Canada, he became enamoured with and eventually addicted to drugs. Letters from his parents describe various ways the family attempted to get him help, including moving back to the Middle East and seeking treatment at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. There was also a trip to a psychiatric hospital and another rehab facility along the way.

But El-Bahnasawy relapsed after months at CAMH and his family sent him to an Islamic school, where, he describes in the letter, how initially, he didn’t identify as a Muslim, but soon became interested in the religion.

El-Bahnasawy describes his realization that “Islam would fix all the problems in society or the world in general, and that its system and lifestyle would have prevented the life I lived.”

He doesn’t go into detail about the plot he was convicted of or his interactions with the undercover agent, except to describe a time when he forgot the code he used to talk to his contacts and thought it was a message from God to walk away. He eventually remembered he had written it backwards.

“I wonder where my life would be if my memory just hadn’t worked that day,” he writes to Judge Richard Berman….

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Filed Under: Canada, claiming victim status, Featured, Jihad in the U.S., New York City Tagged With: Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy


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Comments

  1. ganesh says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 10:50 am

    Here we learn anew why medical science has conclusively demonstrated that devout Muslims are zebiba-demented psychotics. They are self-lobotomized. They are literally what the term “crackpot” means.

    Authorities have a moral duty to grant these known wolves among us actual asylum– in an asylum with straight-jackets and padded rooms where they can ritualistically beat their heads against the floor until the self-lobotomy takes its natural course.

    The alternative? The Walking Dead series is a near perfect artistic metaphor for this global plague of hijrah necromongers. Arm yourself and be prepared to target their zebiba.

    Exhibit A

  2. Peter Buckley says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 10:58 am

    “…….he describes in the letter, how initially, he didn’t identify as a Muslim, but soon became interested in the religion….”

    The pattern of (non-practicing) “muslims” who “become interested” in their religion (i.e. become more devout) ending up in them becoming more violent, is repeated ad nauseum the world over:

    https://www.thelocal.de/20100606/27673

    • ganesh says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 11:27 am

      Muslim migrants in Canada may be the very soul of moderation. But I don’t think it’s unreasonable for folks to ask for more from (allegedly) “peaceful” Muslims than disingenuous whitewashing of uncomfortable elements of Islamic sharia tradition, as practiced by (say) Abdulahi Sharif in Edmonston.

      A genuine tiny minority of anti-sharia Muslims may be found at the Institution for Secularization of Islamic Society (the original ISIS)

      Americans remain breathless in anticipation of the vast majority of (allegedly) “peaceful” Muslims supporting this genuinely tiny minority of their co-religionists… but don’t hold your breath. Sharia enablers are determined to fight the Muslim Brotherhood’s enemies to the last infidel.

      See also, “Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left”
      [Graduate Library Stacks: HN90.R3 H583 2004]

    • R Russell says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 12:05 pm

      Not being a practising Muslim can be a huge problem when their faith becomes more important than previously.In a salvation system which depends on good Islamic deeds outweighing bad Islamic deeds, the realisation that because from an Islamic point of view, the bad deeds counted up from their years of not practising are seen for what they are: impossible to be overcome no matter how many good Islamic deeds are carried out from now until their death.
      This means they need to consider the only other course to enter Janna, (heaven). That is, to be a shaheed – a martyr for the faith, killing the Infidel in the process.
      I wonder what this young man will do next in his quest for Islamic janna.?

  3. Emilie Green says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 11:14 am

    24 pages of practicing taqiyya = Muslim lying.

    The best explanation of taqiyya is by Robert’s friend Raymond Ibrahim, Taqiyya about Taqiyya,

    http://raymondibrahim.com/2014/04/12/taqiyya-about-taqiyya/

  4. R Russell says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 11:16 am

    No doubt Trudeau will take his part.

  5. Karen says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 11:25 am

    The zeal of the recent convert. What causes it? Probably reading the Islamic scriptures with open, unconditioned eyes. They see what is rather clearly written there.

    • David M says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      Yes they actually read the Islamic scripts, as opposed to the average “moderate” Muslim who was just born into it & doesn’t have a clue.

  6. Terry Gain says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 11:31 am

    A wise judge would double the intended sentence.

    • Save Europe says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      …..and then order his immediate deportation.

      • Karen says

        Mar 4, 2018 at 6:12 pm

        Yes.

    • LeftisruiningCanada says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 5:59 pm

      Many Canadian citizens would agree with his sentiments about the US and West in general. The judge might think along similar lines.

      Especially if he listens to CBC a lot.

  7. MFritz says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    He’s hoping for a second chance from the West to be a success. Success at jihad.

  8. Sentinel says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    “his family sent him to an Islamic school, where, he describes in the letter, how initially, he didn’t identify as a Muslim, but soon became interested in the religion.”

    He seems to have identified the reason behind his radicalisation himself. Sending him to a mosque where he was undoubtedly indoctrinated to believe that his own inadequacies, including drug taking were the fail to f the West, he was perfectly primed to become a terrorist.

    What do you call a terrorist given a second chance ? – a successful terrorist.

  9. CRUSADER says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    I keep thinking the photo makes him look like he is wielding a Jeddah lightsaber….

  10. Sarah says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Aww, muffin.

    Decided we don’t like living in a jail cell, after all – do we?

    It’s Canada, so, unfortunately, there’s a damn good chance of this evil little shit getting what he wants. Personally, I don’t believe a word he says; he’s just banking on the stupid infidel swallowing his tacquiya.

    • LeftisruiningCanada says

      Mar 4, 2018 at 6:55 pm

      +1

  11. mortimer says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    If Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy believes ISLAM IS THE ANSWER, he should live in a FULLY ISLAMIC BERZERKISTAN … any of them will do where SHARIA LAW IS RECOGNIZED in the constitution.

    There and only there will he have his wish come true.

    When there is a change of government in Canada, the new government should ramp up the extradition laws so that TERRORISTS will be immediately and AUTOMATICALLY EXTRADITED after finishing their jail sentence with no chance of appeal.

  12. LeftisruiningCanada says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    “He wrote he was not trying to justify his actions, but just wanted to explain his thought process at the time”

    Yeah, he’s not blaming the infidels for making him plan jihad fi sabil allah (SWT), but if they didn’t keep going on crusade or exist in general, it would sure help keep his homicidal thoughts at bay.

  13. Jack Holan says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Robert You are uncanny. Way back when you predicted eventually they would blame us for the Jihad by the way we treated them and Islam. Immediately stop all stipends and other benefits plus any INFRACTIONS deportation. Enough of the BULL.

  14. gravenimage says

    Mar 4, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    Convicted jihadi pleads for second chance, says frustration with how the West treated Islam turned him to jihad
    ………………..

    Good God. I hope the judge does not buy this vicious tripe.

  15. RealTrueFreeThinker says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 12:27 am

    The way islam is treated……… really, you mean how they are given preferential treatment in each and every way imaginable? You mean how muslimes get all kinds of free gibsmedat……. they get free housing free cars and free thousands of pounds dollars and money for nothing. Look at Sweden they get free housing get to rape and face no consequences and live with Swedish women giving them sex or letting them rape their own daughters regardless of their age.
    This is the insanity we live in. In Canada l bet that they will give him $10 million dollars like the murdering muslime they already gave $0 million.

  16. RealTrueFreeThinker says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 12:29 am

    The way islam is treated……… really, you mean how they are given preferential treatment in each and every way imaginable? You mean how muslimes get all kinds of free gibsmedat……. they get free housing, free cars and free thousands of pounds dollars and money for nothing. Look at Sweden they get free housing get to rape and face no consequences and live with Swedish women giving them sex or letting them rape their own daughters regardless of their age.
    This is the insanity we live in. In Canada l bet that they will give him $10 million dollars like the murdering muslime that Treadue the cuck already gave that murderer $10 million.

  17. AP says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 5:33 am

    Oh How I don’t feel any sympathy for this pos, but rather for the victims of his crimes. Islam is human rabies, no more, no less

  18. dumbledoresarmy says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 8:26 am

    He should be told that if he doesn’t like the free world, then he damn well knows where the door is.

    OUT! Give him some time in prison – NO special privileges, NO accommodation of Islam, segregation from non-Islamic prisoners to obviate ‘prison dawa’ – then kick his backside back to Islamic Egypt on a one-way ticket.

    If he has American citizenship it should be publicly – and as humiliatingly as possible – stripped from him.

    Tell him that, as a declared enemy combatant and fifth columnist who has plotted to mass-murder Americans, he should count himself lucky he isn’t being stood up against a wall and shot. And that if he is *ever* caught, again, on the soil of any free non-Islamic country, that is what will happen to him.

    • Karen says

      Mar 5, 2018 at 7:46 pm

      “If he has American citizenship it should be publicly – and as humiliatingly as possible – stripped from him.”

      Yes. He should “feel himself subdued”. Seems only fair.

  19. Politicianophobia says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 10:04 am

    He is from Mississauga, home of Iqra Khalid, MP for Mississauga-Erin Mills, the Muslim, Pakistani born woman who introduced M-103 and Omar Alghabra, MP for Mississauga Centre, the man Justine sent to the OIC meeting, the man who when he won his seat said “This is a win for Islam” and who calls for Shari’ah law in Canada. Maybe they can put in a good word for him or the Ontario Muslim Attorney General.

  20. Unbeliever1 says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    How is Islam “going to fix everything in the world when it can’t even fix the problems of Muslim countries?
    Why didn’t he consider attacking Russia,Iran and Hezbollah enclaves in Lebanon? They are the ones creating all the havoc in Syria.

    • Karen says

      Mar 5, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      I’m sure he couldn’t answer your question in any rational or coherent way. He’d ramble on about the US and Trump and travel bans and such without ever making an intelligent point.

  21. Unbeliever1 says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 1:11 pm

    Interesting how going to a Muslim school didn’t lead him to be a peaceful individual,but prone to violence when it’s oft repeated that Islam is ‘the religion of peace.’

    • Karen says

      Mar 5, 2018 at 8:25 pm

      Yes, interesting, that.

  22. Unbeliever1 says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    His lawyer asked the judge to set him free!In that case, Trudeau would probably award him $10,000000 based on grounds of wrongful conviction due to mental illness.

  23. Tjhawk says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 1:50 pm

    But judge, at prison wages, it takes two weeks to afford a tube of lube. That tube only lasts for one week. What am I supposed to do then?

  24. Richard Courtemanche says

    Mar 5, 2018 at 4:05 pm

    To the US authorities: Don’t you dare let Canada, especially Trudeau, make arrangements to extradite him. His permanent life in prison must remain an example of such contemptible evil.

    • CRUSADER says

      Mar 5, 2018 at 8:12 pm

      ACT for Canada . ca

      AGISSONS! pour le Canada !!!

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