Former Queens resident Syed "Fahad" Hashmi, arrested in 2006 for allegedly providing support to Al Qaeda, faces 70 years in prison if convicted at his trial in Manhattan tomorrow. Due to the nature of the charges, which include conspiring to provide Al Qaeda with military equipment, a judge has ruled the jury will be anonymous to protect their safety.
The defense lawyers are arguing that the jury's fear may undermine their impartiality, but prosecutors say they're just being safe. “It is likely that the jurors will see in the gallery of the courtroom a significant number of the defendant’s supporters naturally leading to juror speculation that at least some of these spectators might share the defendant’s violent radical Islamic leanings," prosecutors wrote the Times. Legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights Bill Quigley said the prosecution is just "playing the fear card and playing an ethnicity card."
Hashmi's support website, FreeFahad.com, argues he is being unfairly held for "socks in someone's luggage." While studying in London, Pakistan-born Hashmi allegedly sheltered an Al Qaeda operative, gave him $300 and helped him store ponchos and socks for Al Qaeda soldiers. When he was arrested in London, he allegedly said he was happy about the deaths of American and British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and prosecutors say he is a member of radical Islamist group Al Muhajiroun, who are dedicated to overthrowing Western society. He also allegedly carried messages for Omar Khyam, who is currently serving a life sentence for plotting to bomb malls and clubs in Britain.
