Tarek Mehanna
Tarek Mehanna | |
---|---|
Born | Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Occupation | Pharmacist |
Known for | his translation of jihadist documents resulted in a conviction of providing material support to terrorism |
Tarek Mehanna is a
Early life
Mehanna was born in Pennsylvania[3] and grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a small town near Boston. His parents emigrated to the United States from Egypt in 1980.[4]
Terrorist activities
In 2004, Mehanna spent two weeks in Yemen, where prosecutors proved that he tried but failed to seek out training in a militant training camp, with the aim of going to Iraq fighting with Iraqis against the US-led invasion and occupation. When he returned to the US, Mehanna began to translate and post online materials described by prosecutors as Al-Qaeda propaganda.[5] Mehanna has said that he supports the right of Muslims to defend themselves.[6] His lawyers argued that his internet activities were protected under the U.S. First Amendment.[7]
Trial and conviction
Following Mehanna's sentencing, the
Mehanna appealed his case to the
Oral argument for the appeal was held on July 30, 2013, in Boston,
Mehanna appealed his case to the Supreme Court on March 17, 2014.[16]
On March 18, 2014,
Denniston reported that Mehanna's lawyers would argue that while Mehanna was philosophically sympathetic to the tenets of al Qaeda, his translation of the documents was spontaneous — was not done at anyone's request, and this meant the translations weren't part of al Qaeda's operations.[17]
On October 6, 2014, the Court announced that it declined to review the case, thereby upholding Mehanna's conviction.[19] He was released on December 13, 2023.
See also
References
- ^ FBI (April 12, 2012). "USA v. Mehanna et al". Retrieved March 24, 2014.
Tarek Mehanna Sentenced in Boston to 17 Years in Prison on Terrorism-Related Charges
- ^ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/07/25/tarek-mehanna-challenging-conviction-for-helping-qaeda/EhIasqEv5oZdv52NyGU9eK/story.html
- ^ Lovering, Daniel (April 12, 2012). "Massachusetts man convicted of aiding al Qaeda to be sentenced". Reuters U.S. Edition. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- Agence France Presse. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ Crimaldi, Laura (April 12, 2012). "US man sentenced in plot to help al-Qaida". The Daily Star (Lebanon). Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Caputi, Ross (April 16, 2012). "Tarek Mehanna: punished for speaking truth to power". The Guardian. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ Ariosto, David (April 12, 2012). "Man gets 17½-year prison term in Massachusetts terror case". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ Holmes, Rick (April 16, 2012). "RICK HOLMES: Incapacitating Tarek Mehanna". Taunton Daily Gazette. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- Salon magazine. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ Valencia, Milton J. (April 13, 2012). "Mehanna gets more than 17 years in jail". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ "Mehanna Verdict Compromises First Amendment, Undermines National Security". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (April 13, 2013). "USA v. Mehanna et al". Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
#433: NOTICE OF APPEAL by Tarek Mehanna in re 432 Judgment
Alt URL - ^ a b United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (November 13, 2013). "Opinion: USA v. Mehanna".
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(help) - ^ United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (June 18, 2013). "US v. Mehanna". Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
CASE calendared: Tuesday, 07/30/2013 AM Boston, MA Panel Courtroom.
Alt URL - ^ United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (June 19, 2013). "US v. Mehanna". Archived from the original on February 14, 2014.
DESIGNATION of attorney presenting oral argument filed by Attorney Peter Sabin Willett for Appellant Tarek Mehanna
Alt URL - ^ Supreme Court of the United States. "No. 13-1125: Mehanna v. United States". Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ Scotusblog. Archivedfrom the original on March 19, 2014.
On Monday, lawyers for a U.S. citizen asked the Court to confront that very issue in a case that has achieved wide notoriety and stirred civil liberties protests. It is the case of Tarek Mehanna, of Sudbury, Mass., who was sentenced to seventeen years and six months in prison after being convicted by a Boston jury of several charges of providing "material support" to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
- ^
United States Solicitor General (July 25, 2014). "Tarek Mehanna v. United States: Brief for the United States in Opposition (cert. stage)".
- ^ "Order list: 547 U.S." (PDF). October 6, 2014.