Three Convicted in Va. Jihad Case

Three American Muslims were convicted Thursday for a conspiracy to aid the Taliban in its fight against U.S. troops, convictions that will result in the longest prison terms the government has obtained in its war on terrorism following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The government obtained convictions on all of the most serious charges it filed against the three men: Masoud Khan, 32, of Gaithersburg, Md.; Seifullah Chapman, 31, of Alexandria; and Hammad Abdur-Raheem, 35, of Falls Church. All three face a potential maximum of life in prison.

All three were acquitted on some lesser firearms charges and charges of commencing an expedition against a friendly nation.

Khan, who faced the most serious charges, was convicted of conspiracy to levy war against the United States and conspiracy to contribute services to the Taliban. All told, he faces a maximum of life plus 50 years, and related firearms convictions require mandatory minimum sentences of 90 years.

Chapman and Abdur-Raheem were convicted of providing material support to a Pakistani terrorist organization called Lashkar-e-Taiba and firearms charges. Chapman faces a manadatory minimum sentence of 35 years; Abdur-Raheem does not face a mandatory minimum.

Prosecutors said the three were part of a "Virginia jihad network" that used paintball games in 2000 and 2001 to train for holy war around the globe. After the Sept. 11 attacks, the group turned its intentions toward America, and several members, including Khan, traveled to Pakistan in the days after the attacks to train with Lashkar in the hopes of joining the Taliban and fighting against the United States.

Two defendants -- Chapman and Abdur-Raheem -- testified in their own defense and said the paintball games were innocent fun and fellowship among a group of Muslim friends. Chapman admitted attending the Lashkar camp in August 2001 but said he did so not to train for holy war but for a grueling physical challenge in the rugged Pakistani mountains.

Khan did not testify, but his lawyers denied any hostile intent.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who imposed the convictions, said she did not believe Chapman and Abdur-Raheem's testimony.

"I could not find the testimony of the two defendants credible," calling their assertions that they were unaware of any hostile intentions "deliberate ignorance."

All three defendants waived their right to a jury trial, leaving Brinkema to decide guilt or innocence.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said the convictions are "a stark reminder that terrorist organizations are active in the United States. ... We will not stand by as United States citizens support terrorist causes."

Abdur-Raheem's father, King Lyon, said the government's case was "cerebral," meaning prosecutors tried to read the minds of the defendants and show hostile intent.

"As far as my son is concerned, not for one minute do I believe that he had in his head any intent to do harm to this country," Lyon said. "The guilty verdict was based on this broad conspiracy. Let's hope this doesn't happen again and let's hope this serves as a warning to everyone that these are different times we live in."