Thursday 11 September 2008

Jury discharged in terrorism book trial

Khazal's barrister said his client wrote just two paragraphs in the book, with most of it written by other people.

A Supreme Court jury has been discharged after failing to make a decision on a second charge against a Sydney man who compiled a book on terrorism.

Belal Khazal pleaded not guilty to two terrorism-related charges after producing a book published on the internet.

The court heard it had information on how to blow up planes and an assassination hit-list.

Khazal's lawyer argued he was the author of just a few paragraphs and that he compiled information that was available to anyone on the internet.

Yesterday a Supreme Court jury found the 38-year-old guilty of one charge - producing a book knowing it was connected with assisting a terrorist act.

But the jury has been unable to make a decision on the second charge of attempting to incite a terrorist act.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is yet to decide if Khazal will face a re-trial on that second charge.

Quote: Seems clear that writing a couple of paragraphs that landed in some book doesn't commit any deed in relation to what others may think? Or do about it. Let the man go this trial is a witch-hunt.

Yesterday's quote.

Quote: It will be interesting to see what sentence he gets in relation to the Suspended sentence given in the winery terrorist plot case. Where there was prime evidence to commit a terrorist act on Australian soil.

In this case found guilty of merely submitting a couple of paragraphs to the authors of a book would hardly be classified as "producing a book knowing it was connected with assisting in a terrorist act."

What terrorist act? And what if the said alleged terrorist act was in resisting occupation? Seems then it's only a matter of what race you belong to? Or who wanted to win an illegal occupation of a sovereign nation? And Draconian Laws in the land of the occupier - upon which those who dissent against occupation and murder - even in their own homeland - in relation to an illegal and degrading war - and crimes against humanity can be punished for words and not deeds.



Related:

Jury finds man guilty of terrorist book charge
A Supreme Court jury has found a man guilty of one terrorism-related offence and is still considering its verdict on a second terrorism-related charge.

Judge attacks disparity in laws
Justice Kirby was at the University of NSW last night to accept an honorary Doctorate of Laws for his ''eminent service to the community''.

Suspended sentence in winery terrorist plot
A Victorian grape grower who planned to blow up a rival winery in the state's north-east has been given a suspended sentence.

High Court rejects appeal against Thomas retrial
The High Court has rejected an application for an appeal by Melbourne man Jack Thomas against his retrial on terrorism-related charges.

Bill: Independent reviewer for terrorism laws
Two Liberal Senators have introduced a private member's bill calling for an independent reviewer of terrorism laws.

Push for overhaul of laws on terrorism
In a paper in Judicial Review he said that the National Security Information Act "gives the appearance of having been drafted by persons who have little knowledge of the function and processes of a criminal trial".

Court denies Lodhi leave to appeal
Lodhi claimed the trial did not establish that he had actually decided to carry out a terrorist attack.

Thomas to appeal retrial order
Lawyers for Victorian man Jack Thomas will appeal to the High Court against a decision to retry him on terrorism related charges.

Court orders retrial for Jack Thomas
The Court of Appeal has ordered that Victorian man Jack Thomas must be retried on terrorism-related charges.

Push for overhaul of laws on terrorism
In a paper in Judicial Review he said that the National Security Information Act "gives the appearance of having been drafted by persons who have little knowledge of the function and processes of a criminal trial".

Court denies Lodhi leave to appeal

Lodhi claimed the trial did not establish that he had actually decided to carry out a terrorist attack.

Hicks media gag order ends
As part of the deal, he was also banned from speaking to the media after his release in December 2007.

Terror trial halted over prison conditions
A Supreme Court judge has put a Melbourne terrorism trial on hold and ordered Corrections Victoria to change prison conditions of the 12 accused men

Faheem Lodhi - another non-terrorist jailed under Australia's 'anti-terror' laws? Jack Thomas, a non-terrorist, has been jailed under Australia's anti-terror laws. Now Faheem Lodhi has been convicted under the terror laws on flimsy, circumstantial evidence. It is likely he is another non-terrorist jailed for political purposes under the terror laws.

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