Sunday, March 23, 2008

Jailed jihadist ex-prof refuses to testify about Islamic charities in Virginia

jihad Watch

That's right, friends: It's time for what has become all too rare these days, a Rumpled Academic Update. And it comes courtesy an AP story riddled with the typical bias.

First, there's the headline: "Ex-prof with alleged terror ties refuses to testify in U.S. court," from The Associated Press (thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist).

Alleged terror ties? There is nothing alleged about them. Read on.

A former professor is again refusing to testify to a federal grand jury in Alexandria investigating Muslim charities and businesses in northern Virginia.

Sami al-Arian's refusal to testify sets the stage for prosecutors to bring contempt of court charges for a third time against the former University of South Florida professor.

Al-Arian is in the 19th day of a hunger strike to protest his treatment.

Prosecutors have alleged that al-Arian was a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. But his 2005 trial ended in an acquittal on some counts and a hung jury on others. He eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges....

AP doesn't tell you what he pleaded guilty to. Hmmm. I wonder why not. In reality, he pleaded guilty to a charge of “conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds to or for the benefit of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Specially Designated Terrorist” organization. He agreed to accept deportation after a jail sentence.

What's more, the plea agreement specified: "Defendant is pleading guilty because defendant is in fact guilty. The defendant certifies that the defendant does hereby admit that the facts set forth below [in the plea agreement] are true, and were this case to go to trial, the United States would be able to prove those specific facts and others beyond a reasonable doubt.” What’s more, Al-Arian acknowledged that he was “pleading guilty freely and voluntarily…and without threats, force, intimidation, or coercion of any kind."

So that's alleged terror ties? Yes, as much as AP is an alleged news organization.

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