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Abu Hamza used 'cover of religion' to recruit terrorists, court hears Abu Hamza used 'cover of religion' to recruit terrorists, court hears
(35 minutes later)
Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri used the cover of religion to recruit and indoctrinate men and to export violence and terror around the world, a New York jury heard on Thursday. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza used the cover of religion to recruit and indoctrinate men, and to export violence and terror around the world, a New York jury heard on Thursday.
In his opening statement, assistant US attorney Edward Kim told a federal court in Manhattan that the former imam of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London used the place of worship as a base to send his “global export of violence and terror”.In his opening statement, assistant US attorney Edward Kim told a federal court in Manhattan that the former imam of the Finsbury Park mosque in north London used the place of worship as a base to send his “global export of violence and terror”.
It was here, the jury heard, that Hamza recruited his followers. “He used the cover of religion so that he could hide in plain sight,” Kim said. “He was not just a preacher of religion – he was a trainer of terrorists.”It was here, the jury heard, that Hamza recruited his followers. “He used the cover of religion so that he could hide in plain sight,” Kim said. “He was not just a preacher of religion – he was a trainer of terrorists.”
Hamza's speeches, which were available on the internet, told able-bodied Muslims they had a duty to wage war against non-Muslims, to fight and to kill, the court heard.Hamza's speeches, which were available on the internet, told able-bodied Muslims they had a duty to wage war against non-Muslims, to fight and to kill, the court heard.
Prosecutors have accused him of praising Osama bin Laden, the former leader of al-Qaida, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. Bin Laden was killed by US special forces in 2011. “But you will learn that Abu Hamza did not just talk the talk, he walked the walk,” Kim said. Prosecutors have accused him of praising Osama bin Laden, the former leader of al-Qaida, in the aftermath of 9/11. Bin Laden was killed by US special forces in 2011. “But you will learn that Abu Hamza did not just talk the talk – he walked the walk,” Kim said.
Knives, gas masks, and other “tools of war” were later found stockpiled in the mosque, Kim said.Knives, gas masks, and other “tools of war” were later found stockpiled in the mosque, Kim said.
But his defence attorney, Joshua Dratel, gave a sharply different account, saying he had not done anything that he was accused of. Hamza would give his own account later in the trial, he said. While Hamza's views were extreme, he said, it was not illegal to hold them. At one point, he likened Hamza to Nelson Mandela, who was “once considered a terrorist, now he's an icon”. But his defence attorney, Joshua Dratel, gave a sharply different account, saying he had not done anything he was accused of. Hamza would give his own account later in the trial, he said. While Hamza's views were extreme, Dratel said, it was not illegal to hold them. At one point, he likened Hamza to Nelson Mandela, who was “once considered a terrorist. Now he's an icon”.
The Egyptian-born cleric, 56, whose birth name is Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, is charged with creating an al-Qaida training camp in Bly, Oregon, in late 1999 and early 2000. He is also charged with helping kidnappers in a 1998 hostage-taking in Yemen which left four people dead, and raising money to sent militants to Afghanistan. Hamza denies all the charges. The Egyptian-born cleric, 56, whose birth name is Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, is charged with creating an al-Qaida training camp in Bly, Oregon, in late 1999 and early 2000. He is also charged with helping kidnappers in a 1998 hostage-taking in Yemen that left four people dead, and raising money to send militants to Afghanistan. Hamza denies all the charges.
The white-haired cleric, who is missing both arms and an eye, appeared in court wearing glasses, a blue T-shirt and grey sweatpants. He used a prosthetic device holding a pen to take notes.The white-haired cleric, who is missing both arms and an eye, appeared in court wearing glasses, a blue T-shirt and grey sweatpants. He used a prosthetic device holding a pen to take notes.
Kim, the prosecutor, told the jury: “In the fall of 1999, two men were sent on a mission, directed to travel half way around the world to another country. They were sent on that mission by their leader.” Kim, the prosecutor, told the jury: “In the fall of 1999, two men were sent on a mission, directed to travel halfway round the world to another country. They were sent on that mission by their leader.”
That man, Kim said, was Musafa Kamel Musafa, known to his followers as Abu Hamza. They were sent, he said, to a remote compound set a mile back from the nearest road and given money to accomplish their mission. That man, Kim said, was Hamza. They were sent, he said, to a remote compound set a mile back from the nearest road and given money to accomplish their mission.
Kim said its purpose was to establish a training camp for terrorism, “a place for men to fight and to kill”. The compound had nerve gas and explosives and they learned how to shoot a gun and how to slit a throat, Kim said. Kim said its purpose was to establish a training camp for terrorism, “a place for men to fight and to kill”. The compound had nerve gas and explosives, and they learned how to shoot a gun and how to slit a throat, Kim said.
The prosecutor told the jury that the two men carried with them letters, one to Bin Laden and one thanking Hamza. He told the jury they would hear evidence showing how Abu Hamza participated in the “terrifying” hostage-taking in Yemen, providing “crucial resources and guidance”. The prosecutor told the jury that the two men carried with them letters, one to Bin Laden and one thanking Hamza. He told the jury they would hear evidence showing how Hamza participated in the “terrifying” hostage-taking in Yemen, providing “crucial resources and guidance”.
Kim said that the defendant had posted a message to westerners to “stay out of Yemen” shortly before the hostage-taking. “Abu Hamza did not just post that warning about Yemen. He provided satellite phone” and paid for additional minutes. Kim said the defendant had posted a message to westerners to “stay out of Yemen”, shortly before the hostage-taking. “Abu Hamza did not just post that warning about Yemen. He provided a satellite phone” and paid for additional minutes.
In 2001, when the US soldiers were fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan, he sent two of his followers, including Feroz Abbassi, a British national who was detained at Guantánamo Bay, to fight with al Qaida. In 2001, when US soldiers were fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Hamza sent two of his followers, including Feroz Abbasi, a British national who was detained at Guantánamo Bay, to fight.
He told the jury they would hear from an al-Qaida operative via video link about Abassi in Afghanistan. He told the jury they would hear from an al-Qaida operative via video link about Abbasi in Afghanistan.
Kim said the jury would also hear from two women in Bly, rural Oregon, into whose community Abu Hamza sent two of his followers in the middle of the night. The two men, Kim said, carried money Abu Hamza had given them to set up the camp, and a CD with instructions on how to make bombs. They carried knives, dressed in black and one of them was so committed he brought over his wife and family. Kim said the jury would also hear from two women in Bly, into whose community Hamza sent two of his followers in the middle of the night. The two men, Kim said, carried money Hamza had given them to set up the camp, and a CD with instructions on how to make bombs. They dressed in black, carried knives, and one of them was so committed he brought over his wife and family.
Kim told them they would hear from two of the rescued hostages, including Mary Quinn, who managed to escape into the desert and who travelled to London two years later to interview Abu Hamza at the mosque about the kidnapping. “Abu Hamza said it was justified.” Kim told them they would hear from two of the rescued hostages, including Mary Quinn, who managed to escape into the desert and who travelled to London two years later to interview Hamza at the mosque about the kidnapping. “Abu Hamza said it was justified.”
Dratel, Hamza's defence counsel, said his client did not participate in any of the crimes, “not in Yemen, not in Oregon, not in Afghanistan”. Dratel said he “he never set foot in the US” until he was extradited.Dratel, Hamza's defence counsel, said his client did not participate in any of the crimes, “not in Yemen, not in Oregon, not in Afghanistan”. Dratel said he “he never set foot in the US” until he was extradited.
Hamza was extradited to the US from Britain after an eight-year battle in 2012, following his conviction and imprisonment in the UK for inciting his followers to kill non-Muslims.Hamza was extradited to the US from Britain after an eight-year battle in 2012, following his conviction and imprisonment in the UK for inciting his followers to kill non-Muslims.
Dratel described his client as “his own man” and “an independent thinker” who was concerned about oppressed Muslim communities around the world. He said Hamza's controversial views, which he had a right to hold, were not a crime.Dratel described his client as “his own man” and “an independent thinker” who was concerned about oppressed Muslim communities around the world. He said Hamza's controversial views, which he had a right to hold, were not a crime.
Dratel said that in the late 1980s and 1990s, his client spoke up for Muslim communities who were being oppressed in Afghanistan, in Bosnia and Chechnya. Dratel said his client “needed to be outrageous” to keep the entire spectrum of appeal to his community. Dratel said that in the late 1980s and 1990s, his client spoke up for Muslim communities who were being oppressed in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Chechnya. Dratel said his client “needed to be outrageous” to keep the entire spectrum of appeal to his community.
“There's a third way between Osama bin Laden on one extreme and George Bush on the other,” he said.“There's a third way between Osama bin Laden on one extreme and George Bush on the other,” he said.
Dratel told the jury that Abu Hamza was relied upon by the British intelligence services to try to keep the situation under control and non-violent. He said he had raised the alarm on the hostage taking in Yemen. Dratel told the jury that Hamza was relied upon by British intelligence to try to keep the situation non-violent. He said he had raised the alarm on the hostage-taking in Yemen.
He said that Abu Hamza had not sent anyone to Afghanistan, but had provided money for schools, charities and computers there. "He is not a follower of Osama bin Laden. He is not a follower of anyone. He's his own man.” He said Hamza had not sent anyone to Afghanistan, but had provided money for schools, charities and computers there. "He is not a follower of Osama bin Laden. He is not a follower of anyone. He's his own man.”
Hamza became well known in the 1990s as his Finsbury Park Mosque in London became a training ground for extremist Islamists, including the 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and attempted shoe bomber Richard Reid. Hamza became well known in the 1990s, as his Finsbury Park mosque in London became a training ground for extremist Islamists, including the 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and attempted shoe bomber Richard Reid.
On Monday, Forrest ruled that a key government witness, Saajid Badat, a former al-Qaida operative, can testify via CCTV from Britain because he would face arrest if he travelled to the US. On Monday, district judge Katherine Forrest, who is trying the case, ruled that a key government witness, Saajid Badat, a former al-Qaida operative, can testify via CCTV from Britain because he would face arrest if he travelled to the US.
Badat pleaded guilty to plotting with Reid, a Briton, to blow up airplanes using shoe bombs in 2001, before backing out at the last minute. He agreed to work with the British authorities and is living under an assumed name after serving six years in prison.Badat pleaded guilty to plotting with Reid, a Briton, to blow up airplanes using shoe bombs in 2001, before backing out at the last minute. He agreed to work with the British authorities and is living under an assumed name after serving six years in prison.
The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.