Muslim Man Convicted of Urging Holy War

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An Islamic scholar who prosecutors said enjoyed "rock star" status among a group of young Muslim men in Virginia was convicted Tuesday of exhorting his followers in the days after Sept. 11 to join the Taliban and fight U.S. troops.

The convictions against Ali al-Timimi, 41, carry a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole. But the judge left open the possibility that she will toss out some of the counts.

The jury reached its verdict after seven days of deliberations and convicted al-Timimi of all 10 counts.

Prosecutors said the defendant — a native U.S. citizen who has an international following in some Muslim circles — wielded enormous influence among a group of young Muslim men in northern Virginia who played paintball games in 2000 and 2001 as a means of training for holy war around the globe.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_re_us/terror_paintball

Wasn't his free speech protected?

O.K., authorities are allowed to constrain free speech if it involves inciting a riot, or one can face consequences if one is a member of an organization seeking to overthrow the U.S. government, and one knows of a specific plan, and plans to participate in it.

Are these laws, under which he was prosecuted, constitutional constraints upon free speech?

Who the HELL is this man's lawyer?????

he be on?
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is my President

Well, We being the Republican Party and James Dobson

But they're able to get away with it.

This is getting ridiculous

"played paintball games in 2000 and 2001 as a means of training for holy war around the globe"

Oh I'm so scared of the Muslim paintball club. Is this a fucking parody?

The next gathering of paintball enthusiasts may come in the form of a mushroom cloud...

"The convictions against Ali al-Timimi, 41, carry a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without parole"

Yes, that's about the same sentence he would get in North Korea, which appears to be the new role model for the American justice system.