RUTHFULLY YOURS

According to the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida indictment of Imam Hafiz Muhammad Sher Ali Khan, law enforcement agents recorded a series of phone calls in 2009 and 2010 during which the elder Khan — between numerous transfers of money for the Taliban — called for an attack on the Pakistani Assembly.  It was to be patterned after the September 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, which killed 52 while wounding more than 250.  Khan further advocated for the overall destruction of the Pakistani government through violent revolution, citing Iran as precedent; expressed his desire to see full implementation of the totalitarian Sharia (governance by Islamic Law, alone) in Pakistan; and, after hearing about a deadly attack on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan which killed seven, declared a wish that Allah murder fifty thousand more.

But the good imam’s unindicted son, Ikram Khan, reportedly “seethed with anger” about his father’s arrest, claiming that the charges were “100 percent  —  no, 200 percent  —  a big lie.” After all, said Irfan, “If he sent money [to Pakistan] it was for good purposes. We are peaceful people. We do not support the Taliban. We support this country. That is why we are here.”

Except the hard evidence — an abundance of taped conversations obtained via wiretaps — demonstrates otherwise.  To which Irfan Khan replies that his father must be a victim of “a misinterpretation of language.”

Back to the indictment and its unambiguous language:

On or about June 25, 2009, Khan and Irfan [a son] participated in a conversation in which Khan called for an attack on the Pakistani Assembly that would resemble the September, 2008 suicide bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islambad Pakistan.

On or about July 21, 2009, Khan participated in a conversation with an unindicted co-conspirator in which he cursed the leaders and army of Pakistan, and called for the death of Pakistan’s President and for blood to be shed in a violent revolution similar to that which occurred in Iran.

On or about August 20, 2009, Khan participated in a conversation with (son) Irfan in which they discussed sending money to the “Sharia people,” after which Khan called for Pakistani government officials to be destroyed and eliminated by an explosion.

On or about September 19, 2009 Khan participated in a conversation with Zeb (a grandson) in which Khan advised that, if Sharia were not implemented, there should be resistance and bombings that would leave no trace and no names.

On or about August 16, 2010 Khan participated in a conversation with an individual in which he called for all opponents of Islam to be destroyed and advised that Zeb could assist in sending money to the Pakistani Taliban for guns.

On or about September 22, 2010 Khan participated in a conversation with an individual in which they discussed contact information for Pakistani Taliban militants in Karachi, after which Khan, upon hearing that mujahideen [jihad “warriors”] had killed 7 American soldiers declared his wish that Allah bring death to 50,000 more.

Once again, the adult wisdom of U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-Plantation) rose above both the defendants’ taqiyya, and misplaced media sympathies.  While applauding the efforts of the U.S. attorney’s office, West urged continued vigilance, reminding Floridians and Americans in general that the arrests were:

[…] further proof that there are individuals among us aiding and abetting terrorists who want to destroy our way of life. The United States clearly continues to be a prime target.These men were living among South Floridians, worshiping at mosques in our own back yard, and using United States banks to wire money back to terrorist groups. We must recognize that a very real, dangerous faction of Islamic extremism exists in our communities. These terrorists are recruiting American citizens, infiltrating our schools and our military, and using our own resources against us.