A US court has jailed a prominent Islamic scholar for life over exhortations to his followers to join the Taliban and fight US troops after the September 2001 attacks.
Ali al-Timimi was convicted in April of soliciting treason, inducing others to aid the Taliban, and others to use firearms in violation of federal law.
Ali al-Timimi
"I will not admit guilt nor seek the court's mercy. I do this simply because I am innocent," the Fairfax cleric said in a 10-minute address before sentencing.
Al-Timimi's legal team argued he was unfairly prejudiced at trial by inflammatory evidence of his religious beliefs - and accused prosecutors of misconduct for unfairly linking al-Timimi to Osama bin Laden.
Prosecutors portrayed al-Timimi, a native US citizen, has having "rock star" status among his followers, who frequently heard his lectures at a small mosque in Falls Church.
In particular, prosecutors said, the defendant wielded enormous influence among a group of young Muslim men in northern Virginia who played paintball games in 2000 and 2001. Authorities said they were a "Virginia jihad network" training for holy war around the globe.
Nine members of the group have been convicted for their roles in the conspiracy, with prison terms ranging from three years to life.
Al-Timimi's lawyers argued their client merely suggested Muslims may want to leave the United States after September 11th because of the potential for a backlash against them.
But he was accused of telling a group of young Muslim men just days after the attack an apocalyptic battle between Muslims and nonbelievers was at hand, and that Muslims were obligated to engage in holy war.
He told the group defence of the Taliban was a requirement and US troops were a legitimate target, according to court testimony.
Several of the men who heard Al-Timimi's speech travelled days later to Pakistan and began training with a militant Islamic group, officials said. None made it to Afghanistan.