From: Christian Weisgerber (naddy@mips.inka.de)
Date: Sat Feb 22 2003 - 06:55:02 MST
Mike Lorrey <mlorrey@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Germany ain't much better. A key co-conspirator to the mass murder of
> 3,000 people gets only 15 years (10 years with good behavior) for 3,000
> convictions of accessory to murder.
He was sentenced to the maximum penalty possible under the law, in
the notable absence of firm proof. I'm at a loss what more favorable
outcome, from your point of view, you could have expected.
I don't have the court proceedings, but from what I picked up in the
press the charges rested on these facts to which the accused readily
admitted:
- He was friends with the guys of the Mohammed Atta terrorist cell.
- He shared an appartment with them for some time.
- He transferred some money for them.
- He has been to an Al-Quaida bootcamp in Afghanistan.
Also, he is known to have expressed violently anti-Jewish sentiments
in the past.
None of this constitutes damning evidence. The personal relationship
is perfectly compatible with just being friends with some fellow
students, without being privy to their conspiracy. Also, a key
testimony was withheld from the court. This case is likely to make
the revision circuits and it is within the realm of possibility
that Motassadeq might be cleared of all charges at the next level.
I certainly find the prospect of being charged as a terrorist just
because you have unpopular opinions and happen to know some Arab
students quite terrifying.
(Mind you, I share the suspicion that Motassadeq was deeply involved
in the whole thing, but accusation does not constitute proof. At
least in modern judicial systems.)
-- Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de
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