February 08, 2006
A radical Muslim cleric has been jailed for encouraging the murder of non-Muslims and stirring racial hatred. The Egyptian born cleric, Abu Hamza, was sentenced to seven years in prison after a jury found him guilty on 11 counts, including soliciting to murder, owning recordings that he intended to distribute to spread hate, and owning a document likely to be useful to terrorists. The controversial Imam had said it was okay to kill and steal from “non-believers,” that Jews were the “enemy of Islam” and Muslims should use any means possible to set up a worldwide Islamic state. Among his followers were the alleged September 11 conspirator, Zacarias Moussaoui, who is on trial in the United States and the so-called shoe bomber Richard Reid. A plot to make the deadly poison ricin was also hatched by members of his mosque.
US authorities also say Mr. Hamza gave money and a satellite phone to a group in Yemen responsible for taking hostage 16 Western tourists in 1998, four of whom were killed. Washington wants to extradite him on several charges, including his role in the Yemen kidnappings, and alleged setting up of a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
