Federal Jury Mulls Fate of Al Qaeda Recruiter

The jury began deliberations Tuesday in the federal trial of Osama bin Laden’s advisor and son-in-law after the panelists were warned by the judge that, “Freedom of speech and religion do not apply when they are intended to break laws.”

Judge Lewis Kaplan encouraged the jury to deliberate without prejudice and without sympathy in the historic case of the former Al Qeada public relations operative. “It’s not your job to send messages,” he added.

Suleiman Abu Ghaith, 48, stood trial accused of working with Al Qaeda after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to conspire to kill Americans and provide support and resources to terrorists.

The three-week-long trial took place mere blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center towers.

On Monday, the prosecution and the defense made their closing arguments.

“You can convict the defendant on those videos alone,” said Assistant US Attorney Michael Ferrara on Monday, referring to the videos that they had presented of Ghaith appearing with bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks.

Referring to the video in which the defendant appeared to be recruiting Al Quaeda followers, Assistant US Attorney Jonathan Cronan said, ” He had energy. He had passion. He was dynamic. He could fire people up.”

Defense Attorney Stanley Cohen accused prosecutors of attempting to tear at the jury’s hearts by showing in his closing 9/11 imagery, including a video of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers.

The defense also said that while Ghaith may have said terrible things in the videos, it might not n represents conspiracy.

“It was intended to sweep you away in anguish and pain and to ask for retaliation,” said defense lawyer Stanley Cohen. “It was intended to make you look away from the evidence.”

Surprisingly, Ghaith — the highest-ranking Al Quaeda officer to face trial in a civilian American court, testified in his own defense, saying that he originally declined to appear in the videos. He admitted in cross-examination that he was aware something “big” was going to happen, but nothing “specifically.”

Cronan said that the night of 9/11 Ghaith was asked to deliver a speech to recruit and encourage young Muslims to attack.

“There’s no one who was capable of recruiting anyone except Osama Bin Laden. My intention was not to recruit anyone,” said Ghaith. “I wanted to proclaim the message that Muslims had to bear responsibility and defend themselves.”

The defendant faces life imprisonment, if convicted.