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.
