ALQAEDA MEMBER IN NEW YORK

OSAMA BIN LADEN SON-IN-LAW 

ON TRIAL IN NEW YORK

Son-in-law of Osama bin Laden and former al Qaeda spokesman goes on trial in New York, accused of complicacy to kill American and supporting terrorists. Suleiman who spent time with bin Laden in Afghanistan, is best known for making incendiary threats in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks that killed 3000 people in New York.

The 48 years old suspect from Kuwait is one of the most senior alleged al Qaeda members to face trial in the United States and faces life behind bars in an American prison if convicted. His trial, which could feature testimony from the self-declared mastermind of the 9/11 attacks will be watched closely by those pushing for all terror suspects to be tried in civilian courts. The defendant is best known for appearing alongside bin Laden and the current leader for al Qaeda.

He was married to bin Laden’s daughter Fatima, US prosecutors say Suleiman worked for al Qaeda until 2002, when he fled the US military presence in Afghanistan for neighboring Iran. The prosecution claims he was complicit in the December 2001 plot to bring down an airliner flying from Paris to Miami.

British al Qaeda recruit is serving a life sentence for trying to blow up the jet with bombs hidden in his shoes. But the defense says the United States has  no evidence that Suleiman was involved for even aware of such plots.

The defendant pleads not guilty to all three counts against him. Highlights in the trial are likely to be two witnesses testifying by video link from Britain and Yemen.

The defense tried repeatedly to delay the trial, most recently on the grounds of mistaken identity, but Kaplan ruled that selection for the anonymous jury will begin on Monday.

The trial in the US federal court in lower Manhattan is expected to last a month. Lawyers claims that Suleiman has effectively been declared guilty on the basis of his mere association with bin Laden and that he was tortured while being brought to the United States.

A string of terror cases has been transferred to New York in the last two years as US President has promised to close down the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. The same US federal court in Manhattan will put on trial radical preacher Suleiman who was extradited by Britain in 2012 and indicated on 11 terror counts that include kidnapping.