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Old 12-12-2005, 08:13 PM
BluffTHIS! BluffTHIS! is offline
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Default Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

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" When former college professor, and alleged terrorist, Sami al-Arian was unexpectedly acquitted Tuesday on eight counts and received a hung jury on the other nine, many leading Muslims could barely contain their glee. “People are just jubilant,” Ahmed Bedier, the Tampa chapter director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told the New York Times. The not guilty verdicts were a “wonderful and a tremendous victory,” according to a statement released by Muslim-American Society (MAS) President Mahdi Bray.

While in many cases it might be reasonable to forgive a defendant acquitted by a jury of his peers, it is not with al-Arian. Regardless of whether or not the jury believed his actions constituted a specific legal violation by acting “in furtherance of” terrorist attacks, there is no mistaking what is in al-Arian’s heart.

As a result of the trial, al-Arian has been forced to admit that he did, in fact, have an intimate working relationship with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Why? Because he was caught on tape coordinating with them, again and again and again.

Al-Arian also admitted that he wrote a letter—which he allegedly attempted to send, but could not do so successfully—to a Kuwaiti legislator urging him to support the families of suicide bombers in order to provide “support of the jihad effort in Palestine so that [suicide] operations such as these can continue.” He wrote the letter just weeks after President Clinton had signed an executive order banning financial and material support of PIJ. Again, this is only known because the government introduced it as evidence during trial.

Support for al-Arian, though, has long pre-dated the six-month trial. Then again, so has the evidence against him."


This type of thing IMO gives the lie to the public statements by such groups in the US that they really don't support terrorism by fellow Muslims. Black Americans should not have been happy to see OJ get off, and patriotic American Muslims shouldn't be happy to see this guy get off. They tried to paint that trial as racist when the evidence was ample, despite his not getting convicted.
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Old 12-12-2005, 09:00 PM
zipo zipo is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

The acquittal of this terror supporter was disgusting.

The only consolation is that this scumbag will be getting a one-way ticket back to some islamic sh*thole very shortly.
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Old 12-12-2005, 09:41 PM
Autocratic Autocratic is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

[ QUOTE ]
The acquittal of this terror supporter was disgusting.

The only consolation is that this scumbag will be getting a one-way ticket back to some islamic sh*thole very shortly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Where he can help terrorists without our being able to hinder him.
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:17 PM
BluffTHIS! BluffTHIS! is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

Well they do have the option to retry him on the charges on which the jury was deadlocked.
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:19 PM
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

[ QUOTE ]
Well they do have the option to retry him on the charges on which the jury was deadlocked.

[/ QUOTE ]


Only if the DA thinks he/she can do something different next time around and get a conviction. Or, if he/she thinks the jury was screwy and can get a better one.
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:25 PM
BluffTHIS! BluffTHIS! is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

[ QUOTE ]
Or, if he/she thinks the jury was screwy and can get a better one.

[/ QUOTE ]

How could he not think that, or that he couldn't find a better one?
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:28 PM
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

This part bothers me, a lot...


[ QUOTE ]
While in many cases it might be reasonable to forgive a defendant acquitted by a jury of his peers, it is not with al-Arian. Regardless of whether or not the jury believed his actions constituted a specific legal violation by acting “in furtherance of” terrorist attacks, there is no mistaking what is in al-Arian’s heart.

[/ QUOTE ]

Our system doesn't allow for juries figuring out what is in someone's heart. They do, I'm sure, but juries are charged with rendering a verdict based on evidence - nothing else. If I'm on a jury and "know in my gut" someone is guilty, but the prosecution did not prove it, beyond a reasonable doubt - I've got no choice but to acquit. Supposedly.

A juror who decides to vote "guilty" because of his "feelings" or "suspicions," is no different than a cop who renders "street justice." Actually, I'd trust the cop's gut before the juror's.
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:31 PM
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

[ QUOTE ]

How could he not think that, or that he couldn't find a better one?

[/ QUOTE ]


Sometimes the prosecution doesn't do the best job they might have. They presented something wrong or didn't present something. A witness they thought would testify and come across to the jury one way, does the opposite. It happens. They don't always walk into the courtroom with their "A" game.
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Old 12-12-2005, 10:33 PM
BluffTHIS! BluffTHIS! is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

The key part of the statute and what is seems the jury didn't find him guilty of, was the "in furtherance of" clause. Although I am sure he argued free speech, his promotion of terrorism is the same as verbally inciting any other crime.
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  #10  
Old 12-12-2005, 10:42 PM
ACPlayer ACPlayer is offline
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Default Re: Muslim Groups Cheer Aquittal of Cheerleader of Islamic Terrorism

While I have only cursorily followed the facts of the case -- when it first came up it appeared to be much ado about nothing except fear mongering and perhaps racism on the part of those who opposed the professors speech -- I would give more weight to the opinion of the sworn jury, than to the opinion of some internet "pundit" writing on some website of dubious provenance.

The jury system works well, IMO.
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