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US ex-imam jailed over fake plot
BBC ^ | Thursday, March 8, 2007

Posted on 03/08/2007 12:04:06 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu

Munir Akram, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations

Munir Akram was the target of the fictional plot

The former imam of a mosque in the US state of New York has been jailed for 15 years after being caught in a sting operation involving a fake plot.

Yassin Aref was convicted in October along with Mohammed Hossain, who is still awaiting sentence.

The two men had agreed to take part in the plot, which appeared to target Pakistan's ambassador to the UN.

They were convicted among other things of supporting terrorism, lying to FBI agents and money laundering.

In a speech before the sentencing, Aref claimed he was innocent.

"I swear to God, I had no intention to harm anyone in this country," he said. "I don't know why I am guilty."

The plot

The plot involved an FBI informant pretending to be an illegal arms dealer.

He asked Hossain to launder money from the sale of a shoulder-fired missile which was to be used for an assassination of the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram.

Aref acted as a witness to the transactions.

Assistant US Attorney William Pericak argued that Mr Hossain wanted money, while Mr Aref was prompted by ideological reasons.

The men's defence said the transactions were innocent, noting that Muslims often lend money to each other with clerics watching as witnesses. Mr Aref and Mr Hossain claim they did not believe the plot involving a missile.

When the men were arrested in 2004, US Deputy Attorney General James Comey stressed they had not been engaged in a terrorist act.

But he went on to claim they were willing to assist someone who they believed to be involved in what he called "pretty bad stuff".

When the plot came to light Pakistan protested that the US had endangered Mr Akram's life.





TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004; albanycell; ally; aref; assassinationplots; comey; hossain; imam; islam; islamofascism; jamescomey; mohammed; mohammedhossain; muhammadsminions; pakistan; plot; un

1 posted on 03/08/2007 12:04:11 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

The article didn't mention whether he is an American (and if so, whether he is American born or naturalized). If he is American, that would be pretty bad.


2 posted on 03/08/2007 12:06:29 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: All
The BBC shouldn't translate Allah as God.

And they shouldn't lowercase Bible--then it would simply be book.

And if they are going to refer to Mohammad as a prophet, then they should refer to Jesus as Christ.

Et cetera, et cetera.

3 posted on 03/08/2007 12:35:08 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu


4 posted on 03/08/2007 12:37:57 PM PST by JoeSixPack1 (Arrive, Raise hell, Leave.)
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To: JoeSixPack1
They do have a striking resemblance.....
5 posted on 03/08/2007 12:38:35 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: JoeSixPack1

Though part of it has to do with Rangel's hat, and the Pakistani's slicked back hair.


6 posted on 03/08/2007 12:39:27 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Blood brothers. And I mean that...


7 posted on 03/08/2007 12:40:44 PM PST by EternalVigilance (With "Republicans" like these, who needs Democrats?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

Hey, it's Rangel without hat & stash. Long upper lip, jowels,, it's rangel!!


8 posted on 03/08/2007 12:45:33 PM PST by JoeSixPack1 (Arrive, Raise hell, Leave.)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

bookmark


9 posted on 03/08/2007 2:27:22 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: All

Blog:

http://www.makingsenseofjihad.com/2007/03/case_closes_on_.html

“Case Closes on the Moussed Mujahideen”

SNIPPET: “Yassin Aref and Mohamed Hossain were both sentenced to 15 years in prison this past week. The sentence wasn’t long enough, but it will do. Case closed. “

March 11, 2007 at 08:03 PM


10 posted on 05/29/2009 1:31:41 PM PDT by Cindy
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